Tantalize your taste buds with a Southern classic - Collard Greens with Bacon, a delectable dish brimming with flavors and textures. This traditional Southern recipe features tender collard greens slow-cooked with savory bacon, onions, garlic, and a hint of spices. The result is a soul-satisfying dish that perfectly balances the bitterness of the collard greens with the smokiness of the bacon. Whether you serve it as a side dish or as the main event, this flavorful treat is sure to leave you craving for more. Along with the Classic Southern Collard Greens recipe, this article also offers variations to cater to diverse preferences. Explore the Keto-Friendly Collard Greens for a low-carb option, the Vegan Collard Greens for a plant-based alternative, and the Crockpot Collard Greens for a hassle-free cooking experience. With step-by-step instructions and detailed ingredient lists, these recipes make it easy for you to recreate this classic dish in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Here are our top 14 tried and tested recipes!
COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON
Good ole country collard greens with bacon and onion. These are so hearty and satisfying, even those who say "I don't like greens" will eat these up! You might even get a "Wow!" after the first bite and a "not at all like I remember them tasting". You can eat them alone but they're best with hot buttered cornbread. Mustard and turnip greens are great this way too. Enjoy!
Provided by MA McBridges
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 1h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place bacon in a heavy pot and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Drain off 1/2 of the bacon grease.
- Reduce heat to medium and add onion. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Increase heat to high and immediately pour in 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add chopped collard greens and 1 more cup of water. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 80.6 calories, Carbohydrate 6.3 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 4.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 5.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 304.9 mg, Sugar 1.1 g
BRAISED COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON
Steps:
- Cut and trim the collard greens, removing the tough stems. Roughly chop the trimmed greens into 1/2-inch ribbons.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to leave behind all of the delicious bacon fat to cook the collard greens in.
- Add the onions and red pepper flakes to the same skillet. Depending on the bacon you use, you may need more fat in the pan, so add the canola oil if needed. Saute until the onions are softened, fragrant and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and sweat 30 seconds. Then add the collard greens, stirring constantly until softened. Pour in the chicken broth and wine and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the greens are tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Once the greens are tender, return the bacon to the pan, add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
BACON COLLARD GREENS
Collard greens are a staple vegetable of southern cuisine. This side dish is often eaten alongside smoked or salt-cured meats, such as ham hocks, pork or fatback. -Marsha Ankeney, Niceville, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h20m
Yield 9 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Trim thick stems from collard greens; coarsely chop leaves. In a Dutch oven, saute bacon for 3 minutes. Add onion; cook 8-9 minutes longer or until onion is tender and bacon is crisp. Add greens; cook just until wilted., Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45-50 minutes or until greens are tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 157 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 651mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 7g protein.
COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON
Stewing the collard greens a few hours ahead of time allows their flavor to deepen.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Working in batches, stack greens; cutcrosswise into 2-inch-thick strips. Gatherstrips; cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces.Transfer to a large bowl of cold water;swish to remove grit. Transfer greens toa colander using a slotted spoon; letdrain. Repeat until greens are free of grit.
- Heat oil in a very large skillet overmedium-high heat. Add onion andbacon; cook until onions are translucent,about 4 minutes. Add greens; cook, stirring,until greens begin to wilt and arereduced in volume.
- Raise heat to high; add vinegar. Cook,scraping up brown bits from bottom ofskillet, until vinegar has evaporated,about 1 minute.
- Add stock; reduce heat. Simmer, covered,until greens are just tender, 12 to 14minutes. If making ahead, refrigerate,covered; reheat over low heat.
TURNIP, MUSTARD, AND COLLARD GREENS WITH BACON
Turnip, mustard, and collard greens, adapted from one of my favorite recipes.
Provided by Michael Todryk
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 3h40m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Saute bacon in a large stockpot over high heat for 5 minutes. Add onions and saute, stirring often, until transparent, about 5 minutes.
- Add turnip, collard, and mustard greens, then pour in chicken broth. Add water, if needed, to cover. Stir in sugar, salt, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 3 hours.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 117.6 calories, Carbohydrate 9.3 g, Cholesterol 17.4 mg, Fat 5.8 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 1608.4 mg, Sugar 3.4 g
BREAD STUFFING WITH CRAWFISH, BACON, AND COLLARD GREENS
Categories Shellfish Vegetable Side Bake Sauté Thanksgiving Stuffing/Dressing Bell Pepper Fall Collard Greens Bon Appétit Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut bottom crust and short ends off bread; discard. Cut remaining bread with crust into 1-inch cubes (about 10 cups loosely packed). Place in very large bowl. Add oil, thyme, and garlic; toss. Spread cubes out on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until golden and slightly crunchy, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Return to same very large bowl.
- Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add next 3 ingredients. sauté until soft, about 10 minutes. Add crawfish; sauté 2 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl. sauté bacon in same skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to bowl with vegetables. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from skillet. Add greens and 1 cup broth. Cover and simmer until greens are almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add greens and broth in skillet to vegetable mixture. Add parsley. DO AHEAD Bread cubes and vegetable mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately. Store bread at room temperature. Chill vegetable mixture.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Stir vegetable mixture into bread. Add remaining 3/4 cup broth; toss. Transfer to prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil, buttered side down. Bake until heated through, 25 minutes. Uncover; bake until top starts to brown, 25 minutes longer.
COLLARD GREENS WITH RED ONIONS AND BACON
An easy Collard Greens recipe
Categories Leafy Green Onion Pork Winter Gourmet
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a deep heavy kettle cook bacon in 2 batches over moderate heat until crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but about 3 tablespoons drippings and in drippings remaining in kettle cook onions, stirring occasionally, until browned slightly and softened. Transfer onions with a slotted spoon to a bowl.
- To kettle add broth, vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and about half of bacon, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add about half of collards, tossing until wilted slightly, and add remaining collards, tossing until combined. Simmer collards, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in onions and simmer, covered, 30 minutes more, or until collards are very tender.
- Serve collards topped with remaining bacon.
CREAMY COLLARD GREENS AND BACON
Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 2h15m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large stockpot, add the water and bacon and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the collard greens by handfuls, stirring until each batch is wilted before adding more. Bring to a boil and add the onions. Cover and simmer over moderate heat until the collards are very tender, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool, then squeeze the water out of the collards until almost dry. Place collards on a cutting board and coarsely chop.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the dry bread crumbs with the Parmesan, minced parsley, sage, garlic and extra-virgin olive oil. Pulse until just blended.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Generously butter a shallow 4-quart casserole. In a large bowl, mix the collards with the cream and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the eggs until blended and spread the collards into the prepared casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the Parmesan crumbs over the collards. Return to the oven and bake for about 20 minutes longer, or until the crumb topping is golden. Preheat the broiler and broil the collards 10 inches from the heat until the bread crumb topping is golden brown and crisp. Serve hot. Tastes great with fried chicken.
COLLARD GREENS WITH TURKEY BACON
A twist on the classic collard greens using thick, wood-smoked turkey bacon.
Provided by ally-gator
Time 2h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot with chicken broth, salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne, celery seed, and dill.
- While the mixture comes to a boil, melt butter in a small pan over medium-high heat. Saute leeks and garlic in the hot butter until garlic is lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add to the pot of water.
- Cut collard leaves in half and stir into the boiling mixture. Add cooked turkey bacon and cook over high heat for 30 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until greens are tender and flavors have melded, about 1 hour.
- Serve hot with or without some of the juice, adding more salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 101.9 calories, Carbohydrate 10.7 g, Cholesterol 17.6 mg, Fat 5 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 5.6 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 1093.4 mg, Sugar 1.9 g
BOURBON BROWN SUGAR BACON COLLARD GREENS
This southern favorite with a twist will make you feel like a true southern belle or southern gentlemen!
Provided by Jasmin Stewart-Harbin
Categories Vegetables
Time 1h45m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. On medium high heat add to the sauce pan add bourbon,brown sugar,Worcestershire sauce,white vinegar,lemon juice bring to a simmer let sauce reduce for 10 min.
- 2. Heat a large dutch oven or large pot on Medium high heat. Add Chopped bacon and render for 3 min. Add chopped onion and cook for 3-5 min until translucent. Add in the minced garlic cook until slightly browned.
- 3. Remove Bourbon sauce from heat set aside. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning & salt & pepper into onion, Bacon, & garlic. Stir until well mixed.
- 4. Pour 1/2 cup of Bourbon sauce into onion,Bacon, garlic pot and de-glaze pan by scraping bottom to release pan drippings. Mix until sauce is well mixed in. Add cans of Chicken broth and stir.
- 5. Add the chopped collard greens in and stir from bottom until collards are covered by liquid. Cook on medium heat covered for 1 hr or until greens are tender. Remove from heat and serve! Enjoy:)
SOUTHERN COLLARD GREENS W/ BACON & BROWN SUGAR
I love Soul Food! My mother was from the South, so Southern style cooking is what I grew up eating. Over the years, I have played around with different ingredients and came up with this recipe. Hope you all enjoy!
Provided by Jennifer J
Categories Vegetables
Time 5h
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- 1. In a large pot, boil turkey for 1 hour or until tender (covered)
- 2. Once turkey is tender, take meat off of bone and set aside in bowl. reserving broth, if you will use it in the recipe.
- 3. Fry the bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until just done but not quite crispy yet. Add the onion and collards, and sauté in the hot grease until they wilt.
- 4. Pour the water or broth in the pot --- it should just cover the collards. Add the turkey, brown sugar, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, all spices, jalapeno and hot sauce. Mix well.
- 5. Bring to a boil then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 ½ - 4 hours.
- 6. Season with additional salt, hot sauce and pepper to taste.
LINGUINE WITH COLLARD GREENS AND BACON
Categories Leafy Green Pasta Pork Side Thanksgiving Bacon Pine Nut Fall Gourmet Peanut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 4 to 6 main-course servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook bacon in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat from pot. Add pine nuts to pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and season with salt.
- Add shallots to pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add oil and half of collard greens and cook, stirring, until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add remaining greens and salt and continue to cook, stirring, until greens are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes more. Add water and cover pot, then simmer greens, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 15 minutes.
- While collard greens are simmering, cook linguine in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
- Drain linguine in a colander. Add drained linguine and tomatoes to pot with greens and cook over moderately high heat, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Season pasta with salt and pepper and serve topped with bacon, pine nuts, and cheese shavings.
BACON AND BOURBON COLLARD GREENS
Steps:
- 1.Cut bacon into strips, cook in olive oil til crispy 2. Saute onion in bacon fat; add bacon, ale, brown sugar, bourbon and hot pepper- cook 3 minutes 3. Add collards in batches til wilted, reduce heat to medium low; cover and cook 1 hour. 4. Stir in vinegar, salt and pepper.
COLLARD & MUSTARD GREENS WITH BACON RECIPE - (4.1/5)
Provided by LRay
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until fat is rendered. Reduce heat to low. Add onion and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add all greens and stock. Cover and cook until greens are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle greens with hot pepper sauce to taste if desired. Transfer to bowl and serve. This recipe can be prepared up to 4 1/2 hours ahead of service. Prepare, cook, and let stand at room temperature, then refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat. Transfer to bowl and serve.
Tips:
- Choose fresh, tender collard greens: Look for leaves that are deep green and free of blemishes.
- Soak the collard greens: Soaking the collard greens in cold water for at least 30 minutes helps to remove any dirt or grit.
- Remove the tough stems: Before cooking, remove the tough stems from the collard greens. This makes them more tender and easier to eat.
- Use a large pot: Collard greens shrink a lot when they are cooked, so be sure to use a large pot to prevent them from overcrowding.
- Season the collard greens well: Collard greens have a slightly bitter taste, so it is important to season them well with salt, pepper, and other spices.
- Cook the collard greens until they are tender: Collard greens should be cooked until they are tender but still slightly crunchy. This usually takes about 1-2 hours.
- Serve the collard greens with your favorite sides: Collard greens are a delicious side dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. Some popular choices include fried chicken, pork chops, and ribs.
Conclusion:
Collard greens are a nutritious and delicious Southern dish that is easy to make. With a few simple tips, you can make collard greens that are tender, flavorful, and packed with nutrients. So next time you are looking for a healthy and satisfying side dish, give collard greens a try!
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