Marianne Martinez
Collard greens are a nutritious and delicious vegetable that can be cooked in a crockpot to perfection. With their tough stems and leaves, collards require a longer cooking time to soften and develop a tender texture. The crockpot, also known as a slow cooker, is an ideal method for preparing collard greens as it allows for low and slow cooking, infusing the greens with flavour while maintaining their nutritional value. The cooking time for collard greens in a crockpot can vary depending on the desired texture and the efficiency of the crockpot, but generally, it ranges from 3 to 8 hours on high or low heat. The addition of ingredients like ham hocks, bacon, vinegar, and sugar helps to enhance the flavour and balance the bitterness of the collard greens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum cooking time | 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low |
| Maximum cooking time | 12 hours on high |
| Average cooking time | 4-6 hours on high or 8 hours on low |
| Canned collard greens cooking time | 1.5-2 hours on high |
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What You'll Learn
Prep and cooking time
Collard greens are a tough vegetable, so they need a fair bit of preparation and cooking time.
Preparation
Firstly, choose fresh collard greens that are deep in colour with firm leaves. Give them a good wash under cold running water to remove any dirt, as tiny bugs can hide on the leaves.
Once washed, you can remove the stems. To do this, lay a collard leaf flat and slice down both sides of the centre stem, separating the leaves into two pieces. Repeat this process with all the leaves and then discard the stems. Stack the leaves and slice again down the middle, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
Cooking
Place a ham hock in the bottom of your slow cooker. You can use smoked turkey wings, diced cooked bacon, or chopped smoked ham if you don't have a ham hock. Add the collards to the slow cooker on top of the meat. You can also add in the rest of your ingredients, such as cider vinegar, brown sugar, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and hot sauce, at this stage.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and set it to cook for 4-8 hours, depending on your preference. The longer you cook the collard greens, the softer they will become. If you prefer your greens with some chew, you can reduce the cooking time to 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low. If you want silky soft greens, you can cook them for 8 hours on low.
Serving
Before serving, remove the ham hock and shred the meat. Return the meat to the slow cooker and stir. You can then taste the collards and add more salt, pepper, sugar, or vinegar to your liking.
The collard greens can be served as a side dish with cornbread, black-eyed peas, or pork.
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How to serve collard greens
Collard greens are a versatile side dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas on how to serve them:
Southern-Style Crockpot Collard Greens
For a classic Southern-style meal, cook your collard greens in a crockpot with ham hocks or smoked turkey legs for that smoky flavour. You can also add bacon and bacon grease for extra flavour. Simmer the greens for 4-6 hours or until tender. Serve them with a splash of pepper vinegar and a wedge of cornbread to soak up the pot liquor (also known as pot likker), a nutrient-rich broth that forms during cooking.
Beans and Peas
Collard greens go well with beans and peas. Serve them alongside slow cooker black-eyed peas for a traditional New Year's combo, or try them with pinto beans for a milder option.
Hearty Mains
Collard greens make a great side dish for hearty mains like crockpot chicken thighs or ham dinner. The greens will add a pop of freshness to balance the richness of the main course.
Carbs
For a simple and comforting meal, serve collard greens with steamed white rice or a scoop of creamy crockpot mac and cheese. The greens will add some nutritional value to these carb-heavy dishes.
Salads and Slaws
Collard greens can also be eaten raw! Add them to your salads or slaws for a crunchy and nutritious boost. If you're looking for a recipe, try the Swiss Chard Slaw with Creamy Avocado Dressing.
Sandwiches, Wraps, and Tacos
Due to their sturdy nature, collard greens can be used as a wrapper for sandwiches, burritos, tacos, or even burgers. This is a great gluten-free alternative to tortillas.
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Crockpot cooking tips
Collard greens are a Southern staple and a delicious side dish for any meal. They are also super easy to make in a crockpot. Here are some tips to help you get the best results:
- Preparation: Wash the collard greens thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. Some people recommend removing the stems by slicing down both sides of the center stem, then stacking and cutting the leaves into bite-size pieces. Others suggest that you don't need to remove the stems as they will become tender during cooking. You can then fold and roll the leaves and slice them into thin strips.
- Ingredients: In addition to the collard greens, you will need a ham hock or smoked turkey wings/legs for that classic smoky flavor. You can also add diced cooked bacon or chopped smoked ham. Other ingredients include water or broth (chicken or vegetable), apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Cooking: Place the ham hock at the bottom of the crockpot and add the collard greens and other ingredients on top. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Stir occasionally, especially at the halfway mark and again 30 minutes to an hour before the end of cooking. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serving: Collard greens go well with cornbread, black-eyed peas, and pork. The liquid in the pot, also known as pot likker or pot liquor, is packed with flavor and can be drunk or used as a base for soups.
Tips:
- You can add a splash of vinegar to the collard greens to reduce bitterness and enhance their flavor. Lemon juice can also be used for this purpose.
- A small amount of sugar can be added to balance the flavor and cut through the bitterness of the greens.
- Slow cooking is the perfect method for collard greens as it renders them tender and flavorful.
- Plan for 1 1/2 bunches of collard greens per person, or 5-6 pounds for a group. They cook down like spinach, so you will need a good amount.
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Collard greens and ham
Ingredients
- Collard greens
- Ham hock or smoked ham
- Water or broth
- Spices (salt, pepper, sugar, vinegar, etc.)
- Optional: Bacon, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce
Preparation
Start by preparing the collard greens. Wash the greens well to remove any dirt or debris. You can choose to cut out the stems or leave them in, as they will become tender during the long cooking process. Then, slice or tear the leaves into strips or bite-sized pieces.
Next, prepare the ham. If using a ham hock, place it at the bottom of the crockpot. If using a smoked ham, you can cut or shred it into smaller pieces and add them directly to the crockpot.
Cooking
Add the collard greens to the crockpot, along with the rest of your ingredients. If desired, you can add some bacon grease to enhance the flavor. Cover the crockpot and set it to cook.
The cooking time may vary depending on your preference for the texture of the greens. For tender greens, cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. If you prefer your greens with a bit of chew, reduce the cooking time to 3-4 hours on high or 1 hour on the stovetop.
Serving
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Vegetarian collard greens
Collard greens are a Southern staple and a tough, leafy green vegetable. They are in the same family as cabbage, kale, mustard, and turnips. Collard greens need a lot of time to cook and soften up, which is why making them in a crockpot is ideal.
To make vegetarian collard greens, you can simply leave out the ham hocks and replace them with a splash of liquid smoke or smoked paprika to add a smoky flavor. You can also add a pinch of sugar to cut through the natural bitterness of the greens. The acidity in vinegar, along with the long cooking time, helps break down the tough, fibrous leaves.
Ingredients:
- 10 cups chopped collard greens (about one large bunch)
- 2 Tbsp white vinegar (to clean the collard leaves only)
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 5-6 garlic cloves, sliced or minced
- 1 cup vegetable broth, plus more if needed
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika, mild or hot, to taste
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/4 Tbsp cayenne pepper
- Finishing ingredients: 1/2 tsp liquid smoke, low-sodium soy sauce, and black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Wash the collard greens under cold running water to remove any dirt. You can also give the leaves a quick cold water bath in a clean kitchen sink to wash off any lingering bits of dirt and sand.
- Fold and roll the leaves, then slice them into strips. You can also use pre-washed, pre-cut collard greens to save time.
- Add all the ingredients to the crockpot, except for the finishing ingredients.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on high for 4-6 hours, or until the collard greens are tender.
- Once the collard greens are tender, add the finishing ingredients and adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Serve with a wedge of cornbread, black-eyed peas, or other sides of your choice.
Note: If you are using canned collard greens, you only need to heat them in the crockpot for 1.5-2 hours. Also, be careful not to cook collard greens on high heat for more than 12 hours, as they can overcook and become tough.
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Frequently asked questions
Collard greens should be cooked in a crockpot for at least 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Some recipes recommend cooking them for 4-6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Wash the collard greens to remove any dirt and trim off the stems. Then, cut the leaves into strips or bite-sized pieces.
You can add a splash of apple cider vinegar to collard greens to cut through the bitterness. Sugar can also be added to balance the flavour. Ham hocks are often added to collard greens for a tender, smoky flavour.
