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–+ servings
seasoned collard greens with bacon in a red bowl.
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5 from 11 votes

Southern Collard Greens with Bacon

Southern Collard Greens with Bacon is a delicious side dish that's loaded with smoky flavor. Learn how to make perfectly seasoned greens like a southerner with this easy recipe!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Sides
Cuisine: Southern
Servings: 8
Calories: 104kcal
Author: Debi Morgan | Quiche My Grits

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon sliced crosswise into ½ inch pieces
  • 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1 sweet onion (chopped)
  • 2 lb. bag of pre-washed and pre-sliced collard greens
  • 32 oz. carton chicken broth
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • ½ tsp. salt (optional)
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 dash or two of hot sauce (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large pot, cook bacon slices on medium heat until lightly browned. (Don't cook until crispy.)
  • Remove bacon from pot and drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.  Set aside.
  • Leave excess bacon fat in pot. Add butter and chopped onions.
  • Saute' butter and onions over medium low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  • Gradually add prewashed collards.  Stir, and let wilt for about 5 minutes by covering the pot.  Uncover, then stir again.
  • Turn up the heat to medium and add chicken stock.  Bring collards to a boil. This starts the pot likker.
  • Add garlic, salt and pepper and sugar if desired.
  • Stir well and cook over medium low heat for at least 1 hour until collards are tender, but still crisp.  
  • Continue to cook if collards are not done at this point.  They should be slightly crunchy, but not tough. Different types of collards cook differently, so cook yours until they taste how you prefer.
  • When collards are tender, add bacon back to the pot, along with vinegar and hot sauce.  Turn off heat and stir well.  
  • Allow collards to rest uncovered for 2 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • If your collards aren't pre-sliced they will need more time.  Cook until tender.
  • Serve with extra vinegar and hot sauce if desired!
  • View the Google Web Story for Southern Collard Greens!

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 668mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 282mg | Iron: 1mg