Making Collard Greens
Discover the ultimate Southern-style collard greens! Packed with flavor from bacon, garlic, and Cajun seasoning, this dish is a must-try side!
Collard Greens Are the Best Southern side dish
If you’re looking to bring a taste of the South to your table, you’ve got to try my Southern-style collard greens recipe. Seriously, these greens are packed with flavor, and they pair perfectly with all your favorite BBQ dishes. Plus, they’re super easy to make! Picture this: thick-cut bacon, fresh greens, and a punch of flavor from spices and vinegar—yum!
Here’s why I love this dish!
- These leafy greens are tender, nutritious, and full of that smoky flavor we all crave.
- When cooked down with bacon and spices, they transform into a delicious dish that will have everyone coming back for seconds (or thirds!).
My favorite way to serve collard greens is Saw’s Soul Kitchen style. Start with a bed of cheesy  jalapeño grits, top it with some slow smoked pulled pork, these collard greens, Alabama white sauce and crispy onion straws. I know…its as good as it sounds. Use my guide to making Pulled Pork, Cheesy Grits, and Collard Greens. Let me know how it goes in the comments and if you are ever in Birmingham, AL, I suggest stopping by Saw’s Soul Kitchen.
How to Make Southern-Style Collard Greens
- Cook the Bacon: Start by cooking your chopped bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat. You want it crispy but not burnt—just enough to get that delicious bacon flavor going.
- Sauté the Onions: Once the bacon is almost crisp, toss in the finely chopped sweet onion. Sauté until it’s translucent, which should take about three minutes. Your kitchen will smell amazing!
- Add Garlic: Throw in the finely chopped garlic and let it cook for another minute. This is where the magic really begins!
- Prepare the Greens: While the onion and garlic are cooking, trim and cut your collard greens. I like to roll the leaves up lengthwise and chop across them to get nice strips.
- Cook the Collard Greens: Add the collard greens to the pot and stir them around until they start to wilt. Make sure to stir every minute or so for even cooking.
- Mix in the Good Stuff: Pour in the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Give it a good stir to combine everything.
- Simmer: Cover the pot and let it simmer for 45-60 minutes. The longer they cook, the more tender and flavorful they’ll become.
Like Southern flavors? Try these recipes.
Brant’s Nashville Hot Chicken Wings Brant’s perfectly smoked, juicy, flavorful chicken wings with an airfry finish for the right crispy crust on the outside! Here’s how he does it.
Alabama Bliss Grilled Chicken: This recipe harmonizes the succulence of perfectly grilled chicken with the creamy, zesty notes of a sauce born in the heart of the South.
Pulled Pork, Cheesy Grits and Collared Greens — Pulled Pork, Cheesy Grits and Collared Greens with Crispy Onion Straws! This is a taste-alike recipe for the special at Saw’s Soul Kitchen in Birmingham, AL.
Easy Jalapeno Cheddar Grits are a Southern brunch side or hearty dinner companion, blend comfort with bold flavors. Spicy twist for heat enthusiasts!
Easy Alabama White Sauce Recipe: I fell in love with Alabama White Sauce and now consider it my go to for chicken, pulled pork, french fries and just about anything else that needs a sauce.
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Collard Greens
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Dutch Oven with Lid
- Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
- 4 sliced crumbled thick-cut bacon
- 1 finely chopped sweet onion
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 6 minced garlic cloves
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 chopped bunches of fresh collard greens (washed and stems removed)
- â…“ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Cook 4 sliced crumbled thick-cut bacon in a dutch oven over medium heat until almost crisp.
- Add 1 finely chopped sweet onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add 6 minced garlic cloves and cook for one minute.
- Add 2 chopped bunches of fresh collard greens and cook until wilted. Stir every minute or so.
- Add 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 3 cups chicken broth, ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt and ¾ tsp pepper.
- Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes.
Notes
These are good.