Slow-Cooker Collard Greens

Collard greens are a staple in southern cooking. With thick thick stems and broad, flat leaves, collards need a good braise. They’re dense and bitter when raw, but become milder when cooked. Like traditional southern collard greens made on the stovetop, these slow-cooker collard greens turn meltingly tender, and have a rich, smoky flavor from ham hocks. But because it’s a hands-off recipe, you’ll be free to make fried chicken or other Southern comfort foods to go along with them.

Most collard green recipes call for aromatics and some smoked meat, which could be anything from bacon to smoked turkey (every home cook has their own recipe). Ham hocks are traditional—they contribute smoky, fatty flavor; they turn the cooked greens silky; and they provides tender nuggets of meatiness for every bit—but you can replace them with other pork products or make them vegetarian. Vinegar and chicken broth create the pot liquor, a flavorful brew that begs to be sopped up with cornbread.

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens Ingredients

• Collard greens: These large-leafed greens are often stocked with other fresh greens in the produce department. Strip the leaves away from the thick stems before chopping them.
• Smoked ham hocks: Smoked ham hocks are leg joints with a lot of fat and collagen. They add flavor and richness. You’ll usually find ham hocks in the meat department.
• Chicken broth: Letting the collard greens simmer in chicken broth is an easy way to infuse them with flavor and add salt to the dish. Use one of our recommended chicken broth brands or homemade broth.
• Onion and garlic: Onion and garlic add aromatic flavor to the collard greens. All you need to chop an onion is a good, sharp knife. Mince garlic cloves with a rasp grater or a garlic press.
• Olive oil: Use a small amount of olive oil (or another vegetable oil) to briefly saute the aromatics before adding them to the slow cooker.
• Cider vinegar: A dash of apple cider vinegar adds a bright tang and a little sweetness to the long-cooked greens. The acidity helps balance the fattiness from the collagen-rich ham hocks.
• Seasonings: With so much flavor from the other ingredients, the only seasonings you need for this dish are salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Hot sauce: Any of the best hot sauce brands will add heat and vinegary flavor to the greens.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare ingredients for the slow cooker

In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Cook the onion until it’s tender, four to five minutes. Add the garlic and cook it for one minute longer.

Transfer the aromatics to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, 1-1/2 cups of water, the ham hock, the salt, the pepper and the crushed red pepper flakes.

Step 2: Add and cook the collards

Wash the collards thoroughly and remove the thick stems. Stack and roll up the collard leaves, then slice them into 1/2-inch-thick strips.

Add them to the slow cooker and cook them until they’re tender, stirring occasionally, for six to eight hours.

Step 3: Trim the hocks and finish the dish

Remove the ham hock and remove the meat from the bones, discarding the bones and fat. Return meat to the slow cooker, along with cider vinegar and hot sauce. Stir to combine everything, and serve.

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens Variations

• Make vegetarian slow-cooker collard greens: Omit the ham hocks and use vegetable broth instead of chicken. Add a few dashes of liquid smoke (such as Wright’s) to give the greens a smoky flavor.
• Add bacon: For even more smoky flavor, stir in diced, cooked bacon just before serving the collard greens.

How to Store Slow-Cooker Collard Greens

Once the slow-cooker collard greens are cool, transfer them, along with the meat and liquid, to a tightly covered food storage container. Store the greens in the refrigerator for up to four days.

How should you reheat slow-cooker collard greens?

You can reheat the collard greens by transferring them to a saucepan set over medium heat. Cook and stir the greens until they’re heated through. Or, reheat the greens in a heat-proof dish, loosely covered, in the microwave. Cook them in 45-second bursts, stirring each time, until they’re hot.

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens Tips

What can you use instead of ham hocks for collard greens?

One of our favorite meats to add to slow-cooker collard greens is smoked turkey legs. They give the greens lots of smoky, meaty flavor, and you can remove the meat from the bones after cooking and add it back to the pot.

How do you make these collard greens on the stovetop?

Our recipe for Southern collard greens comes together with similar ingredients in a stockpot on the stove. The ham hocks, aromatics and spices simmer until the meat is tender. Then, the collard greens are added to the pot to cook through. On the stovetop, collard greens are ready in about two hours.

What else can you serve with slow-cooker collard greens?

Slow-cooker collard greens have a thick, flavorful sauce called pot liquor, so serve them with a bready side to soak up the sauce. Try squares of Appalachian cornbread or spicy Creole cornbread. We love eating Dolly Parton’s buttermilk biscuits with collard greens, too. Serve slow-cooked collard greens with southern soul food dishes like fried chicken, smoked pork or spiced grilled ribs.