How to Cook Collard Greens with Chicken Broth

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See how to cook collard greens with chicken broth. If you love southern-style collard greens but have been unsure about the best way to make them, no more worries. This easy collard greens recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time. 

southern collard greens recipe

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Southern Collard Greens Recipe Ingredients 

To make these southern style collard greens you only need a few things. Often, we see that recipes can be complicated with too many ingredients, and we like to keep things simple. This is all you will need:

  • 8 oz pkg bacon
  • 16 oz fresh collard greens
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
collard greens ingredients recipe

Clean Collard Greens

First, make sure to clean the collards. You can clean collards in a clean sink with cold water or over a large bowl with a colander. Make sure to rinse well to remove any dirt and grit. We like to use this produce wash to clean our fruit and vegetables. You can find it online here: produce wash.

wash and clean large collard greens leaves

How to Trim Collard Greens

Next, you will need to decide whether or not to keep the tough stems of the collard greens. The thick stems of these leafy greens are tough but filled with nutrients. Some like to leave them in the recipe while others prefer to trim them out. This comes down to personal preference. For the sake of this easy recipe, we will be trimming and removing the center stem from the dark green leaves.

Lay the large leaves flat on a cutting board, one at a time, and use a sharp knife to cut alongside the stem on each side. 

how to remove stem of collard greens

Pull the stem up and out to remove it from the center of each leaf. Then fold one side of the leaf over the other side. 

fold large leaf in half to trim collard greens

Next, we like to roll the hearty leaf up. 

roll collard greens leaves to cut

Then slice down the center of the rolled leaf longways.

how to cut and trim collard green leaves

Lastly, chop the rest of the collard green leaf into small pieces. 

how to cut collard greens

Do this for each collard leaf and set aside in a clean bowl. 

trimmed collard greens in bowl with stems

Now that the collard greens are trimmed and chopped, go ahead and also cut up the bacon. The ingredients are ready to get started. 

ingredients to make easy collard greens recipe with chicken broth and bacon and garlic

Cooking Collard Greens with Chicken Broth and Bacon

First, cook the chopped bacon in a large pot, over medium heat until all fat is rendered. Many southern collard green recipes use ham hocks, which is a great option. We find that bacon tends to be easy to find and just as delicious. You can use smoked ham hock or bacon if you’d like. 

cook bacon to render fat

Then remove the bacon from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside on a few paper towels. 

bacon pieces on paper towels

​Leave the bacon grease in the pot. 

large pot with leftover bacon drippings

Next, add the chopped savory collard greens to the pot with the bacon fat, and continue to cook on medium-high heat.

bacon fat in large pot to cook collards

Stir until the collards are slightly wilted and coated in the bacon grease. The bacon dripping is what adds to the amazing flavor of the recipe. 

collard greens in bacon grease

Then add the chicken stock to the pot. 

chicken stock in collard greens recipe

Add the apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. 

garlic powder and red pepper flakes in collard greens recipe

Reduce the heat and simmer the delicious collard greens for an hour. Keep the collards covered for the first 50 minutes, and uncover them for the last 10 minutes.

simmer collard greens with chicken broth

Collard Greens Cooked with Chicken Broth

When it’s time to serve the best southern collard greens go ahead and stir the bacon into the pot. If you keep them in the pot the entire time, they may become soft. By adding the bacon at the end they maintain their hard crisp bacon texture. The salty bacon pairs perfectly with the classic collard greens bitter taste. 

easy collard greens recipe, collard with chicken broth

What To Eat with Collard Greens Cooked with Chicken Broth and Bacon

This authentic Southern collard greens recipe is an easy side dish that is quite versatile. It’s one of our favorite recipes to eat with sausage, cornbread, and potato salad. 

how to cook collard greens

Collard greens traditionally pair well with black-eyed peas and can be eaten as is, or topped with hot sauce. 

easy authentic southern collard greens recipe with chicken broth and bacon

Leftover collard greens can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. 

Collard Greens with Chicken Broth and bacon
How to Cook Collard Greens with Chicken Broth

How to Cook Collard Greens with Chicken Broth

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

See how to cook collard greens with chicken broth and bacon for the best southern collard greens.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz pkg bacon
  • 16 oz fresh collard greens
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Wash, trim, and chop collard greens.
  2. Cut up bacon and cook bacon in a large pot over medium high heat.
  3. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels.
  4. Leave bacon grease in pot and add chopped collard greens to the pot.
  5. Stir, then add chicken broth, AVC, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
  6. Lower heat, and simmer for 50 minutes covered.
  7. Remove cover and simmer for 10 more minutes.
  8. Before serving add cooked bacon back to the pot with cooked collards.
  9. Enjoy.

Notes

Store leftover collard greens in an airtight container for 3-5 days in refrigerator.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 224Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 1013mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 17g

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2 Comments

  1. Amazing, wow, thanks for sharing this wonderful veggie with the bacon, Pinned it as I MUST make this soon.
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    I linked up this week with = 95+96. Come and join us Mon – Saturday at SeniorSalonPitStop as well as #WordlessWednesday #Photography Wednesday – Saturday. You will find the info under BLOGGING

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