• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Fork's Tale
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Projects
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Reviews
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Reviews
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    How to cook collard greens- Southern Collard Greens Recipe

    October 22, 2020 Updated: September 27, 2022 By Katie Crenshaw 22 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    If you love Southern Soul Food, then you will love this Southern Collard Greens recipe. I take you step-by-step on how to cook collard greens just like your grandma would have made them.  They turn out soft, tender, and flavorful. #howtocookcollardgreens #southerncollardgreens

    If you love Southern Soul Food, then you will love this Southern Collard Greens recipe.

    I take you step-by-step on how to cook collard greens just like your grandma would have made them.

    They turn out soft, tender, and flavorful.

    collard greens in large pot with wooden spoon to the side

    Collard Greens can be a little tricky. If you don't wash them correctly, they can have sand hidden in them.

    There is nothing more awful than taking a bite of collards and chewing grits of sand.

    If you don't cook them long enough, they are crunchy and tough.

    If you don't season them properly, they are bitter and earthy.

    HOWEVER!!! If you don't make these mistakes, they are a delicious Southern side dish that just warms your belly with comfort.

    Serve these greens with vinegar or hot sauce and a side of cornbread; and you can have a delicious meal all on its own!

    Watch how to cook collard greens

    I am going to tell you the tips and tricks on how to cook collard greens as good as any real country cooking home cook can in the South!

    Ingredients to cook collard greens-ham hocks, chicken broth, collard greens, and hot sauce

    Ingredients

    To make tasty collards, you will need the following ingredients:

    • chicken broth- Chicken broth adds additional flavor, but you can substitute with water.
    • smoked ham hocks-You can substitute smoked turkey wings or smoked turkey neck bones, or bacon.If using bacon, chop bacon, then cook bacon. Do not remove the grease. Then add broth.
    • collard greens- I suggest fresh and unpackaged. The pre-cut packaged collards often have a bunch of unwanted stems.
    • hot sauce- This is optional. It adds a little extra flavor.
    steps on how to cook collard greens

    How to cook collard greens

    1. Make your broth with your choice of smoked meat. The broth is the key to making tender, flavorful collards. While the broth is cooking, work on cleaning and prepping the collards.
    2. Wash your collards thoroughly.
    3. Remove the stem that runs down the center of the collard green leaf. This part is tough, bitter, and not tasty. The smaller, tender, young leaves won't need stripping. Then cut your leaves into strips. (pictured above)
    4. Once the broth is ready, add the collards in big batches. You won't be able to put them all in at once. Add a big batch, cover them, and cook about 2 minutes. Remove the lid and mix the collards around. This will make room for you to add another big amount in. Keep doing this until you fill the pot. 3lbs sounds like a lot of collard greens, but they are cooked down to half the size of your pot once they are finished. Once they are all in, cook them covered for an hour at low heat, stirring occasionally.
    5. Do a taste test to see if they are completely done after an hour. If they are not completely tender and flavorful, cook them another 15 minutes. An hour usually does it. Most of the liquid will be sopped up by the collards. Any extra is the tasty  pot likker that is delicious to dip cornbread in!
    6. The smoked ham hocks have flavorful meat. You can add the ham meat back into the collards. To do so, remove skin and fat. Then dice the meat and mix in the collards. This is optional.
    cooked collard greens in a large pot with ham hock

    How to clean collard greens

    Collards grow best in sandy soil. Therefore, they often have hidden sand and dirt caked on their stems.

    Rinsing them off usually isn't enough to remove all the sand.

    Follow these steps to clean collard greens:

    • Fill your kitchen sink with water and let the collards soak in it for about 10 minutes.
    • Swish them up and down and side to side to try to loosen any lingering dirt.
    • Then rinse them off individually to double check for any remaining sand.

    What is the best smoked meat for making collards?

    I like to use smoked ham hocks for making Southern collard greens.

    You can also use smoked turkey wings or smoked turkey neck bones.

    My mom likes to use bacon. If you use bacon, ½ lb should work. Cut bacon into pieces, cook the bacon, and then add the chicken broth. Do not remove the grease. This is what flavors the broth.

    Southern Collard Greens in a pot with ham hock

    How do you get the bitterness out of collard greens?

    Removing the thick stem parts and cooking the collards in smoked meat will remove the bitterness out of collard greens.

    However, some people also add a dash of vinegar to the collards.

    The vinegar adds additional flavor and will also cut out any bitterness.

    I like to allow people to add the vinegar to the amount that they want.

    Traditionally you would serve the collard greens with apple cider vinegar, but some people like white vinegar, and some people like hot sauce.

    Therefore, when I cook collards, I set out a variety of vinegars and hot sauces. My Pickled hot peppers and  Hot Jalapeno Relish are amazing on collards if you like things really spicy!

    Note: If you cooked these Southern collard greens with ham hock, you can remove the ham hock and cut up any of that ham on the bone. Then add back the ham for extra flavoring.

    Can you freeze collards?

    Collards are easy to freeze. I often double the batch and freeze half.

    To freeze, place cooked collard greens in a sealed air tight container. Freeze up to 3 months. To serve, defrost and reheat on the stove top or microwave.

    How to cook collard greens

    If you like this recipe, check out:

    • Southern Cornbread Recipe
    • Stick of Butter Rice
    • How to Make Sweet Tea
    • Southern Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes
    • Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Tomato Grits Casserole
    • How to cook field peas
    • Instant Pot Fried Cabbage
    • Broccoli Bacon Salad
    • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

    When you make these collard greens, tell me what you think in the comment section! I would love to hear back! My readers will too.

    Also post your picture of your Instant Pot Fried Cabbage on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    How to cook collard greens- Southern Collard Greens Recipe

    How to cook collard greens- Southern Collard Greens Recipe

    If you love Southern Soul Food, then you will love this Southern Collard Greens recipe. I take you step-by-step on how to cook collard greens just like your grandma would have made them.  They turn out soft, tender, and flavorful.
    4.86 from 41 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Low Carb, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Paleo, Southern, Whole 30
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups chicken broth
    • 1 ½ lb smoked ham hocks you can substitute smoked turkey wings or smoked turkey neck bones, or bacon
    • 3 lb collard greens
    • 2 tbs hot sauce
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large stock pot, bring chicken broth and smoked meat to a boil. (If using bacon, chop bacon, then cook bacon. Do not remove the grease. Then add broth.) Cover and cook on medium heat for 1 hour. 
    •  Fill your kitchen sink with water and let the collards soak in it for about 10 minutes. Swish them up and down and side to side to try to loosen any lingering dirt. Then rinse them off individually to double check for any remaining sand.
    • Remove the stem that runs down the center of the collard green leaf. The smaller, tender, young leaves won't need stripping. Then cut your leaves into strips.
    • Once the broth, add the collards in big batches. You won't be able to put them all in at once. Add a big batch, cover them, and cook about 2 minutes. Remove the lid and mix the collards around. This will make room for you to add another big amount in. Keep doing this until you fill the pot. 3lbs sounds like a lot of collard greens, but they are cooked down to half the size of your pot once they are finished. 
    • Once they are all in add the hot sauce and mix. cook them covered for an hour at low heat, stirring occasionally. Do a taste test to see if they are completely done after an hour. If they are not completely tender and flavorful, cook them another 15 minutes. An hour usually does it, but sometimes it takes a little longer. Most of the liquid will be sopped up by the collards. Any broth left over is the pot likker which is delicious with corn bread.
    • Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with apple cider vinegar, vinegar, or hot sauce. 

    Video

    Notes

    Note: If you cooked these Southern collard greens with ham hock, you can remove the ham hock and cut up any of that ham on the bone. Then add back the ham for extra flavoring.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 738mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 6830IU | Vitamin C: 59.8mg | Calcium: 335mg | Iron: 1.8mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

    More Side Dishes

    • Bacon Pea Salad Recipe
    • Stick of Butter Rice
    • Corn Pudding Recipe
    • Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

    Primary Sidebar

    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Katie Crenshaw is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to A Fork's Tale at www.aforkstale.com to Amazon.com.

    creator expertise banner  for a fork's tale

    Copyright © 2020 A Fork's Tale