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Square overhead shot of a rustic bowl full of the best southern collard greens recipe.
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5 from 6 votes

Southern Collard Greens

Smoky and tender, these Southern collard greens are a delicious side dish for any homecooked meal.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
Keyword collard greens, collard greens recipe, collard greens with bacon, Southern collard greens, southern collard greens recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 8 people
Calories 174kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces hickory smoked bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic (about 3-4 large cloves garlic)
  • 48 ounces (6 cups) chicken broth
  • 2 lbs. fresh collard greens, trimmed and washed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional garnish: crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce

Instructions

  • Cook bacon in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, or until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the drippings in the pot.
    Process shot showing how to make a southern collard greens recipe with bacon.
  • Add the onion to the bacon drippings and sauté until translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Stir in garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
  • Add the broth, collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir in about half of the cooked bacon, reserving the other half to use for a garnish at the end. With a wooden spoon, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
    Pouring broth into a cast iron Dutch oven full of collard greens.
  • Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and gently simmer (uncovered) for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally (or until collards reach desired level of tenderness). Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with the reserved crispy bacon, and crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
    Square side shot of a bowl of collard greens on a wooden table.

Notes

  • Buy pre-washed and pre-chopped collard greens for a shortcut. If you choose to wash and trim your own greens, be sure that you rinse them really well to get out any sand or sediment in the leaves.
  • Adjust the total cooking time to suit you preferences. An hour might be sufficient if you like slightly more crisp greens, while a full 2 hours might be necessary for really tender, broken-down collards. That's the beauty of using a Dutch oven (rather than a slow cooker or Instant pot) -- you have full control and can easily take them off of the heat when necessary.
  • Recipe adapted from Southern Living

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the recipe | Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 975mg | Potassium: 459mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 5700IU | Vitamin C: 53.5mg | Calcium: 281mg | Iron: 1mg