There's something magical about the tender, flavorful texture of Slow Cooker Collard Greens. By letting them simmer away in the crockpot, we unlock their full earthy potential, accented by a dash of tangy vinegar and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper. This easy-to-follow recipe provides a delicious side dish, ensuring your weekend dinners are always a hit!
As a Southern girl, collard greens have always been a part of my diet.
Cooking them low and slow is the perfect way to get perfectly tender collards without a hint of the bitterness that can come with overcooking them.
Plus, I love not to have to babysit them the way I would if I prepared them on the stove.
This easy slow cooker collard greens recipe is a fabulous way to add more green to your diet.
Serve this with Air Fried Chicken Breast or Air Fried Chicken Legs and round out the meal with Cauliflower Mash, Gluten-Free Corn Muffins or Cast Iron Cornbread.
Let's Talk Ingredients
- Bacon: Use your favorite type of bacon - turkey, pork, or beef. The higher fat will add more flavor, but if you are watching your fat intake, turkey bacon works fine. (Though to may need to add a little olive oil to cook the onion and garlic.) You can even use turkey wings or ham if you like.
- Onion: I like a yellow onion in this recipe, but white would work as well.
- Garlic: If you don't have fresh garlic, garlic powder works as well.
- Broth: I like homemade broth (I use this Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth recipe), but purchased broth works too. Vegetable broth is also a great option.
- Collard Greens: If you are short on time, you can often find pre-shredded and washed collard greens.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Red wine vinegar could be used as a substitute.
- Sweetener: It is a small amount that really brings out all of the other flavors in these crock pot collard greens. You can use whatever sweetener you like - honey, maple syrup, sugar, or brown sugar all work.
Buying & Storing Collard Greens
Firstly, make sure you pick collard bunches that have sturdy, vibrant leaves and stiff stems. Look for dark green colored leaves. (It's normal for the leaves to have light-colored veins and stems.)
Do not to wash them before storing. Wrap your collards in a paper towel and place them in an unsealed plastic bag. If stored properly, fresh collard greens can last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Variations
- For Vegetarian and Vegan Slow Cooker Collard Greens, omit the bacon. Prepare the recipe as directed and add 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika and 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
- Add a ham hock for even more flavor.
- For an extra touch of sweetness in this crockpot collard greens recipe, increase the honey to 2 tablespoons.
Tools Needed to Make Crock Pot Greens
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- Slow Cooker
- Sharp Knife
- Skillet (if your crockpot does not have a saute' function)
How to Make Slow Cooker Collard Greens
First, start by gathering all of your ingredients.
Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray, and set to sauté. If your slow cooker doesn't have a saute function, use a skillet.
Cook the bacon for five minutes.
Add the onion and cook 8 more minutes.
Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
Change the mode to slow cooker. Add chicken broth, collard greens, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay seasoning, celery seeds, honey, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, and sea salt.
Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the greens are tender.
Slow Cooker Collard Greens
Ingredients
- 8 ounces turkey bacon or bacon of choice, chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound collard greens washed, trimmed and chopped
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1 teaspoon honey or sweetener of choice
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and set to saute, Cook bacon for 5 minutes. Add onion and cook 8 more minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Alternatively, if your slow cooker does not have a saute function, use a skillet and follow the directions as written. Transfer to your slow cooker and proceed with the recipe.
- Change to slow cooker. Add chicken broth, collard greens, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay seasoning, celery seeds, honey, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper and sea salt.
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Nutrition
More Crockpot Sides to Try
- For a hearty, nutritious side dish that's easy to prepare, you'll love our Slow Cooker Black Beans recipe, packed with flavor and perfect for any family meal.
- Looking for comfort food at its finest? Our Crockpot Mac and Cheese is incredibly creamy and delicious, sure to become a favorite in your household.
- Who doesn't love the creamy, buttery goodness of mashed potatoes? Our Crockpot Mashed Potatoes recipe will show you how to perfect this classic side dish in a whole new way.
- Add a sweet and savory touch to your dinner table with our Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole, a delightful blend of flavors that's as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
Sarah Bailey says
It is amazing the things you can make in a slow cooker, I really should get more adventurous with mine. This sounds like a delicious healthy meal.
Leah says
This looks really good! I've never had collard greens.
Ruth I. says
The slow cooker sounds cool! I would love yummy and easy food with fewer dishes while preparing. lol! I would love to try your recipes!
Kathy says
This recipe sounds delicious. I do love my greens, except I've never had collard greens before. I'm up for giving it a try.
Darlene Parisi-Dunne says
Wendy, thanks for all you do. Your generosity radiates throughout.
sara says
I have never made collard greens in the slow cooker! This is such a great idea and I will definitely be trying it.
Carol Cassara says
I am so thankful for slow cookers! They make cooking so much easier for us all. And the flavor is really good in the dishes as well. At least that's what I think! This recipe's something that I'd love to try!
Lynndee says
I love using my slow cooker but I've never tried preparing this recipe yet. I love collard greens so I will definitely give this a try soon. Thanks for the recipe!
Cherri Megasko says
Collard greens are one of my absolute favorite foods, but can you believe I've never tried them in a slow cooker? I'm out of the country now, but you can bet that as soon as I get home I'm going to give this recipe a try.
Marielle Altenor says
Oh, That looks soo good! I know that Collard Greens are popular in the USA, but I have never tasted them.
Jennifer Bash says
I cant get enough! Its so delicious! I made it as a side for Christmas yesterday. I used pork bacon ends and pieces instead of Turkey bacon though and used what was left in the warmer and made a soup with corn and potatoes. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone!
HARRY MCGOWAN says
Good Good and Good!