Cody Casey
Collard greens are a Southern staple and a tasty side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or a barbecue. They are also a great side for crockpot mains like chicken thighs or ham. Cooking collard greens in a crockpot is a great way to ensure they are tender and packed with flavour. The low and slow cooking method allows the greens to soak up the flavours of the broth, which can be made with vinegar, maple syrup, or brown sugar. The prep work takes minutes and the crockpot does the rest, freeing up valuable stovetop space.
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What You'll Learn
Choosing and preparing collard greens
When choosing collard greens, look for fresh greens that are deep in colour with firm leaves. Collard greens are a leafy dark green vegetable with a tough stem that travels up the entire leaf. This stem needs to be removed before cooking.
To prepare the collard greens, start by washing them well, rinsing off any debris or dirt. Bugs tend to hide on the leaves, so make sure to give each leaf a good rinse. You can soak the leaves in cold water, swishing them around to encourage any dirt to fall to the bottom. Once cleaned, remove the stems by folding each leaf in half and tearing the stem away, or use a knife or scissors to cut them out. Then, slice the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
Some recipes recommend cutting the leaves before washing, folding and rolling the leaves, then slicing them into strips. However, others suggest tearing the leaves into strips after washing and removing the stems.
If you're using canned collard greens, they are already cooked and may be seasoned. You can add extra ingredients like bacon, brown sugar, vinegar, and red pepper flakes to enhance the flavour.
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Crockpot cooking times and temperatures
Slow cookers typically have two settings: "Low" and "High". Food cooked on the "Low" setting tends to be better as it cooks more gently over a longer period. However, the "High" setting can be used if you are short on time. The cooking time will vary depending on the ingredients used, including the type and amount of meat, vegetables, and liquids. For example, collard greens, a leafy dark green vegetable, take approximately 4-6 hours to cook on the "High" setting. On a stovetop, this time is reduced to about 2 hours.
When preparing dishes with beef or pork, browning the meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker is recommended as it will cook more evenly. Roasted meats, chicken, and turkey quantities can be increased, and seasonings adjusted accordingly. It is important to note that strong spices such as garlic and chili powder will intensify during long, slow cooking, so these should be added in smaller quantities.
Additionally, the placement of ingredients in the slow cooker matters. Foods at the bottom of the cooker will be closest to the heating element, while those on top will be farther away. Therefore, arranging the ingredients in the correct order is crucial for even cooking. Finishing touches like herbs and citrus flavors should be added at the end, as they may disintegrate or become muddled if cooked for too long.
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Making vegetarian collard greens
First, select fresh collard greens that are deep in colour with firm leaves. Wash them well in a sink full of water with some baking soda, then rinse with cold water. Next, fold each green in half over the stem and use a knife to slice along the stem to remove it. Discard the stems. Then, stack some leaves on top of each other and roll them up. Slice the leaves into thin strips.
Now you are ready to add your ingredients to the crock pot. For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or water. You can also add a splash of liquid smoke or smoked paprika to give it a smoky flavour. Add vinegar to the crock pot to reduce the bitterness of the collard greens and add a tangy flavour. You can also add brown sugar to balance the flavour. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours or until the collard greens are tender. You can also cook them on low for 6-8 hours. Once they are tender, taste and add more seasoning if needed.
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Using alternative meats
Collard greens are often cooked with meats like ham hocks, bacon, or smoked turkey. However, you can use alternative meats or make it vegetarian or vegan.
For a meaty flavor without using ham hocks, you can use smoked turkey wings or necks. You can also use cured or dried duck and goose parts, or smoked beef sausage. If you're not a fan of meat, you can use liquid smoke, smoked paprika, or powdered dried chiles to add a smoky flavor to your collard greens.
If you want to make vegetarian collard greens, you can use vegetable broth instead of meat. You can also add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Another option is to make Ethiopian-style stewed collard greens, which can be made vegan by swapping out the ghee.
For a vegan option, you can replace butter with oil or coconut fat. You can also add chipotle pepper canned in adobo sauce for a smoky flavor without using meat.
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Serving suggestions
Collard greens are a Southern staple, and they pair well with a variety of comfort food sides and mains. Here are some serving suggestions for crockpot collard greens:
Beans & Peas
Serve collard greens alongside slow cooker black-eyed peas for a classic New Year's combo. This combination is said to symbolise good luck and prosperity in the new year. You can also serve them with pinto beans for a milder option.
Hearty Mains
Collard greens make a great side dish for hearty mains such as crockpot chicken thighs or ham dinner. The smoky flavour of the ham especially complements the collard greens.
Carbs
Try serving collard greens with steamed white rice or creamy crockpot mac and cheese for a simple and comforting meal.
Bread
No Southern meal is complete without cornbread! Serve collard greens with a batch of slow cooker cornbread or mini cornbread muffins for a delicious and traditional pairing.
Other Sides
Collard greens can also be served as a side dish alongside other Southern favourites such as potato salad, green beans, or skillet cornbread with biscuits and gravy.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need collard greens, ham hock, cider vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper. You can also add smoked turkey wings, cooked bacon, chopped smoked ham, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, garlic salt, onions and butter.
It is recommended that you cook collard greens for at least 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. However, some recipes suggest cooking for up to 8 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high.
Wash the collard greens in water with baking soda and then again with cold water. Remove the stems and slice the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
