These smoky collard greens with bacon prove that leafy greens can pack a lot of flavor. Complete the ode to Southern cuisine by serving them with creamy mac and cheese, fried catfish or honey cornbread.
Collard Greens with Bacon
Updated on Sep. 09, 2024
Collard greens with bacon or pork are a Southern staple. In fact, in 2011, South Carolina declared this green the official state vegetable. The classic preparation involves stewing the veggie with broth, smoky meat, and seasonings.
The Southern culinary preparation of collard greens involves braising them in a rich and savory stew, creating a flavorful broth known as potlikker. This comforting staple shines alongside creamy mac and cheese, crispy fried catfish, or sweet cornbread, but you can genuinely pair it with all kinds of dishes.
Ingredients for Collard Greens with Bacon
- Collard greens: The collard greens in this recipe absorb the savory flavors from the bacon, chicken broth, and seasonings, enhancing their taste.
- Bacon: We prefer thick-sliced bacon because this cut typically has more fat, which melts into the stew, resulting in more flavorful collard greens.
- Onion: Sweet onions add a caramelized flavor to these otherwise savory collard greens.
- Chicken broth: We add chicken broth to the stew to infuse savory flavors into the collard greens; the liquid absorbs the flavors from the bacon and seasonings, transforming into potlikker.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: To impart a hint of sweetness to the collard greens, we mix in sun-dried tomatoes.
- Seasonings: We sprinkle in garlic powder, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes to add savory and spicy flavors to these collard greens with bacon.
Directions
Step 1: Prep the collard greens
Wash the collard greens, then trim the thick stems from them and coarsely chop the leaves.
Step 2: Saute the bacon and vegetables
In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, saute the bacon for three minutes. Add the chopped onion and continue cooking until the onion is tender and the bacon is crisp, eight to nine minutes. Add the chopped collard greens to the pot and cook until they just begin to wilt.
Step 3: Stew the greens in broth
Stir in the chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic powder, salt and crushed red pepper flakes, and bring everything to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover the pot and let it simmer until the collard greens are tender, 45 to 50 minutes.
Collard Greens with Bacon Variations
- Use turkey leg meat: Try using smoked turkey leg meat as a classic Southern alternative to bacon or pork. It tastes just as delicious when stewed in collard greens.
- Add a dash of hot sauce: When preparing this collard greens with bacon recipe, consider adding a few dashes of your preferred hot sauce to the broth for an extra kick.
- Swap the collards for another green: If you want to switch things up, consider substituting the collard greens in this recipe with other tasty options like Swiss chard, kale or mustard greens.
How to Store Collard Greens with Bacon
Allow your collard greens with bacon to come to room temperature, then divide any large portions into smaller servings. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge for three to four days.
Can you make these bacon collard greens ahead of time?
For an upcoming celebration, prepare these collard greens by following the recipe. You can store them in your fridge for three to four days. On the day of the event, you can easily reheat them using a slow cooker, microwave or stovetop.
Can you freeze these collards with bacon?
If you have a lot of leftovers, you can freeze these collard greens for two to three months. To simplify the reheating process, we recommend freezing them in large silicone ice trays or freezer bags so you can easily remove them to reheat.
How long do collard greens with bacon last?
Collard greens with bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. or in the freezer for two to three months.
Collard Greens with Bacon Tips
Can I make a vegan version of these collard greens with bacon?
Even without the bacon, these collard greens still shine. To make a vegan version of this recipe, we recommend nixing the pork for mushrooms—try shiitake, oyster or portobellos, since they still have a smoky and savory flavor.
Can I make this collard greens with bacon recipe in a Crockpot?
If you’re not up for monitoring the stove for hours, we suggest using a Crockpot to cook this recipe. Follow the recipe instructions, but instead of simmering the greens for an hour, we recommend cooking them on low for five to seven hours or until they’re tender.
What can I serve with collard greens with bacon?
As an ode to Southern cuisine, serve these smoky collard greens with a helping of creamy mac and cheese, fried catfish or buttery honey cornbread. For an easy weeknight dinner, you can also take a different approach and pair them with grilled chicken or salmon.
Collard Greens with Bacon
Prep Time
25 min
Cook Time
55 min
Yield
9 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds collard greens
- 4 thick-sliced bacon strips, chopped
- 1 cup chopped sweet onion
- 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil), chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Directions
- Trim thick stems from collard greens; coarsely chop leaves. In a Dutch oven, saute bacon for 3 minutes. Add onion; cook until onion is tender and bacon is crisp, 8-9 minutes longer. Add greens; cook just until wilted.
- Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until greens are tender, 45-50 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
3/4 cup: 157 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 651mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 7g protein.
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Collard greens are a staple vegetable of southern cuisine. This side dish is often made with smoked or salt-cured meats, such as ham hocks, pork or fatback. —Marsha Ankeney, Niceville, Florida
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