How to Cook Collard Greens

Collard greens are an essential part of any Southern feast, and learning how to cook collard greens is a rite of passage for any Southern cook. Our guide for How to Cook Collard Greens will help you learn how to make an authentic, flavorful batch of Southern collard greens with ease. Collard greens are not difficult to prepare, so even beginners will be able to learn how to cook collard greens with this step-by-step tutorial.

For another great cooking tutorial, be sure to check out How to Make Meatloaf.

How to Cook Collard Greens

Table of Contents

• What You Need

• Making the Greens

• Other Tips and Tricks for How to Cook Collard Greens

• Southern Greens Recipes

What You Need

• 2 bags washed and cut collard greens
• 1 lb. bacon, diced
• two onions, diced
• minced garlic
• 7 oz. smoked ham
• 2 tbs. apple cider vinegar
• 32 oz. chicken stock
• salt
• black pepper
• white pepper

Making the Greens

1. Cook the bacon in a large stock pot for about 10 minutes.
   
   
    
2. Add the diced onion and cook for another 8 minutes. The onion should be soft and translucent.
   
   
    
3. Add the ham and garlic.
   
   
   
   Cook for 1 minute.
   
   
    
4. Add the stock, vinegar, seasonings, and some of the greens to the pot.
   
   
    
5. Stir the greens. As the greens wilt and cook down, slowly add more to the pot.
   
   
    
6. Cover the greens and cook for about 2 hours, or until the greens are tender.
   
   

Want to learn how to make more classic Southern recipes? Check out our guide for  How to Make Grits.

Other Tips and Tricks for How to Cook Collard Greens

• Use the largest stock pot possible. Usiong a large pot will allow the bacon to get crispy, and it will also make adding all of the greens and liquid to the pot easier.
   
• Don't skimp on the vinegar. If you do not have apple cider vinegar on hand, substitute another light vinegar. The vinegar helps to make the greens tender.
   
• Ham hocks can be substituted for the diced, smoked ham. If using ham hocks, add them to the pot with the stock in step 4.
   
• The longer the greens cook, the better. Longer cooking times will result in tender greens with a lot of flavor.
   
• Make the collard greens your own by adjusting the seasonings to your taste preferences.

Southern Greens Recipes

• Cajun Greens and Cornbread
   
• Creamy Mixed Greens with Pecans
   
• Mom's Best Collard Greens
   
• Turnips and Greens