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The Magical Slow Cooker » Recipes » Side Dishes » Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

by Sarah Olson on December 12, 2019 | Updated June 19, 2022 57 Comments

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Slow Cooke Collard Greens
Collage of collard greens images with text of what ingredients are.
collage of collard green photos for pinterest

Prepare this easy Slow Cooker Collard Greens recipe for a delicious side. These collards have a smoky ham flavor and a great broth!

Collard greens are a southern style recipe with amazing smoke flavor. These greens go amazing with Slow Cooker New Years Day Black Eyed Peas, Pork Chops and much more!

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Collard greens need quite a bit of time to soften up and that’s why making them in the crockpot is the best! While they cook, a wonderful broth (pot liquor) is formed from the flavors of the bacon, ham, and spices. This broth is wonderful with the greens and some people even drink what’s left in their bowl.

What are collard greens?

  • Collard greens are a leafy dark green vegetable.
  • Have a very tough stem that travels up the entire leaf and needs to be removed before cooking.
  • Collard greens are in the same family as cabbage, kale, mustard and turnips.
Collard green indredients on counter

How to make the best collards greens:

  • Fresh Collard Greens – These should be dark and vibrant green. Trim off the stem and tear into strips.
  • Crumbled Bacon and Bacon Grease – Yes! I add a touch of bacon drippings to my collard greens. My mom would always cook with bacon fat and it really steps up a recipe.
  • Ham Hocks or Shanks – This is where the smoky element comes in and I shred the meat off the bone and put it into the finished collard greens.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – Just a touch of vinegar adds tanginess and depth of flavor.
  • Brown Sugar – This gives the greens a slightly sweet flavor and the helps flavor the broth.
  • Seasonings – Salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
  • Chicken Broth – This is the moisture for this recipe. You can use water here but be sure to add more salt to taste if needed at the end of the cooking time.
collard greens, ham hocks, bacon in slow cooker uncooked

How long do I cook collard greens in the slow cooker?

  • 4 hours on HIGH
  • or 7 hours on LOW
Finished collard green in slow cooker with spoon and cornbread

Can I use mustard, turnip or kale greens in this recipe?

Yes! It is sometimes hard to track down collard greens. Use the same amount of these greens instead.

cooked collard greens in slow cooker with broth and spoon

I can’t find a ham hock or shanks, what can I use instead?

  • Smoked turkey wings, drumsticks or necks
  • Kielbasa
  • Diced or sliced ham

Can I use bagged greens?

Yes, about two pounds is just the right amount for this recipe.

Can I use canned collard greens?

  • You can but will need to alter the recipe.
  • Canned collard greens are fulled cooked and sometimes already seasoned. You can add bacon, brown sugar, vinegar, and red pepper flakes to them to make them even better. I would skip the ham hock for it needs more time than canned greens to cook.
  • To heat canned collard greens in the crockpot: Add 2-3 cans to a slow cooker (add any extra seasonings if desired) and heat on HIGH for 1.5 – 2 hours.
Collard green in bowl with cornbread on the side

What goes good with Collard Greens?

  • Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas – Brings good luck in the new year.
  • Cornbread – Make a big pan or muffins
  • Pinto Beans – A great alternative if you don’t like black-eyed peas.
  • Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese – My recipe is made with cream cheese
  • Crockpot Smothered Pork Chops – Plenty of gravy on these
  • Steamed White Rice – the easiest side dish ever

Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

collard greens in the slow cooker with wooden serving spoon in them.

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

4.99 from 62 votes
Slow Cooker Collard Greens with bacon, ham hocks, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar.
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

  • Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger

Ingredients:

  • 8 cups collard greens (2 large bunches, remove ribs and stems and discard, rip the greens into bite sized pieces)
  • 2 ham hocks or shanks
  • 12 oz. package bacon sliced and cooked, drained (save the bacon drippings)
  • 3 Tbsp. bacon drippings (grease) (from above bacon) optional
  • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
US Customary – Metric

Instructions:

  • Add the collard greens to the slow cooker.
  • Add the ham hocks or shanks on top of the greens.
  • Add the cooked bacon, bacon drippings, brown sugar, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker.
  • Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours or until tender. Try to keep the lid on the entire cooking time or they won't tenderize.
  • Remove the ham hocks or shanks and shred any meat you can find on them. Add the meat to the greens and stir.
  • Serve with the broth (pot liquor) and your other favorite southern dishes.
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How to Video:

Recipe Notes:

I can’t find ham hocks or shanks, what can I used instead?
  • Smoked turkey wings, drumsticks or necks
  • Kielbasa
  • Diced or sliced ham
Can I use a different green than collards?
Yes you can use Mustard, Turnip or Kale greens instead of collard greens in this recipe.
Can I use bagged collard greens?
Yes, use about 2 pounds of bagged greens for this recipe.
Can I use canned collard greens?
  • You can but will need to alter the recipe.
  • Canned collard greens are fulled cooked and sometimes already seasoned. You can add bacon, brown sugar, vinegar, and red pepper flakes to them to make them even better. I would skip the ham hock for it needs more time than canned greens to cook.
  • To heat canned collard greens in the crockpot: Add 2-3 cans to a slow cooker (add any extra seasonings if desired) and heat on HIGH for 1.5 – 2 hours.
 

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 847mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1841IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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More slow cooker sides

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    14775 shares
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    Filed Under: Holidays, Side Dishes

    Comments

    1. Delta boy says

      March 4, 2022 at 10:52 pm

      I plan on keeping some of the stems that are in the beg of greens – do I need to lengthen the cooking time and if so do I need to add more broth?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        March 4, 2022 at 11:02 pm

        I woud cook for one hour longer and add a touch more broth.

        Reply
    2. Karen L says

      March 3, 2022 at 11:32 am

      The recipe looks great! My only suggestion is for the fresh greens is to wash the greens 3 times in salted water to get rid of any dirt and/or bugs. I was taught this and have done it my whole adult life. Nothing quite like biting into sand!

      Reply
    3. Pam says

      March 2, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      5 stars
      Wow. First timer here. I get it. These are really quite tasty!!

      Reply
    4. Tom says

      January 8, 2022 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      Made these today… first time making homemade collard greens… absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I will be making them on the regular now..

      Reply
    5. Joann says

      January 3, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      4 stars
      Hi, I gave this 4 stars just because I have not tried this yet. I have bones and pieces left from a country ham that I will be using. Any suggestions on using this? I will omit the salt. Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give me. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

      Reply
    6. Alyssa says

      January 1, 2022 at 9:58 am

      What are the instant pot directions ?

      Reply
    7. Dwayne says

      December 21, 2021 at 8:34 am

      Love your recipe with bacon grease and apple cider vinegar. Amazing!

      Reply
    8. Terri says

      December 1, 2021 at 5:13 pm

      I bought bagged collards and followed the recipe but they turned out really salty. I pored off the liquid and rinsed them & then our water in. They tasted fine, but what did I do wrong?

      Reply
      • Lynne Powell says

        December 23, 2021 at 2:38 pm

        This recipe seems salt-heavy; ham, bacon, chicken broth (if processed version is used), and salt are all significant sources of sodium. I use low sodium chicken broth or my homemade broth, reduce the amount of bacon, and skip the salt. I don’t want salt to overwhelm the incredible flavor of collards.

        Reply
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