These Southern-style collard greens are simmered with onions, bacon, and seasonings until tender and oh, so flavorful! A must-have on the side with chicken, beef, or pork!
Collard greens with bacon are often overlooked in the grocery store, and it seems like not many people know how to make them. If you haven’t tried collard greens, you are missing out! They have so much flavor, are healthy, and they are usually made with bacon…what’s not to love!
Collard greens are one of my favorite side dishes to make because of how delicious they are! I also love making my easy Italian roasted vegetables or my garlic roasted red potatoes – so yummy.
What are collard greens?
Collard greens are a large leafy vegetable commonly eaten in the Southern United States, although they are found in many recipes worldwide. They are apart of the same family as kale, turnips, and mustard greens. They typically have a tough stem, which is why the stem is removed.
Collard greens can have a bitterness to the leaves, so they are great for low, slow cooking. They can be simmered, braised, and steamed to get rid of any bitterness.
With that being said, they aren’t hard to work with; they require a little tender, love, and care to achieve their optimal tenderness.
What can I serve with greens?
- Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Perfect Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
- Baked Cajun Chicken Breasts
- Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
When are collard greens in season?
Collard greens are in season from January through April. When they are in season, they are less bitter, and the leaves are more flavorful and tender.
How to clean greens:
Collard greens can contain a lot of dirt hidden in the veins and the backs of the leaves. To clean and to prepare for cooking, do the following:
- Dunk and swish the leaves in a sink or basin with cold water. Change the water until you no longer see any dirt or sand in the bottom.
- Cut out the tough stem and central vein by folding each leaf in half and slicing down the center.
- Cut into pieces by rolling the leaves into spirals and cross-cutting
How to make collard greens with bacon?
You will want to make sure your collard greens are cleaned during the process above. Cook the bacon until crispy, then remove half of the bacon as a garnish. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot or dutch oven with the bacon grease and cook until the onions are tender. Place the collard greens in the pot with the stock/broth and seasonings. Simmer until the collard greens are tender.
Are collard greens healthy?
They absolutely are! Collard greens are high in fiber and low in calories. They are high in vitamin a, vitamin c, and vitamin k contents.
Other side dishes you’ll enjoy:
- Lemon Butter Green Beans with Almonds Bacon and Feta
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Smashed Lemon Herb Baked Potatoes
These Southern-style collard greens are simmered with onions, bacon, and seasonings until tender and oh, so flavorful! A must-have on the side with chicken, beef, or pork!
- 8 slices of bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb collard greens, cleaned, stems removed, and chopped into 1 ½ inch pieces
- 2 cups chicken broth or stock
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- ½ tsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Place the bacon in a large pot or dutch oven and cook the bacon until crispy and remove half of the cooked bacon and set aside.
Add in the onion and garlic and cook on low heat until the onions are tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the collard greens into the pot and cook and cook for 2 minutes or until they are wilted. Pour in the chicken broth/stock.
Add salt and pepper and reduce the heat to low, then cover the pot and simmer for 1 ½ hours or until the greens are tender.
Uncover and stir in the hot sauce and apple cider vinegar. Cook for another 4-5 minutes.
Add reserved bacon on top and serve immediately.
Leave a Reply