This easy and delicious Slow Cooker Collard Greens recipe is a simple way to make the classic southern side dish. The crock pot infuses so much flavor into the collard greens with ham hocks and spices.
If you have ever been to a cookout, then you know that collard greens are a staple. The tender greens are full of salty flavor with a touch of vinegar and sweet onions to cut through the richness.
The secret to perfectly cooked collard greens is letting them cook long enough. Making collard greens in the crock pot lets you set it and forget.
Trust me, your kitchen is going to smell amazing! Enjoy this great side dish in your backyard or take the crock pot to a gathering and share it with family and friends. Whenever I bring this collard recipe, I never have leftovers to take home.
More incredible slow cooker side dish recipes to try include Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob, Slow Cooker Cabbage, and Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Collard Greens Recipe
- Easy side dish to make: Once all of the ingredients are in the slow cooker, you don’t need to do any more work to make tender collards.
- Crowd pleaser: The deep, sweet, smoky flavors of these collard greens in the slow cooker result in a winning dish everyone will enjoy.
- Balanced flavors: There is sweetness, smokiness, and a hint of tang and heat. This recipe hits all the right notes making the best collard greens.
Ingredients
These are all of the ingredients needed to make my favorite slow cooker collard greens recipe.
- Fresh collard greens: Prepare your collard greens by removing the stems and chopping them into bite-sized pieces. Collards on their own have a bitter flavor similar to raw kale. Cooking them down with ham hocks and lots of seasoning gives them a lot of tasty flavors. Wash them well to remove any dirt.
- Onion: Any variety of sweet onion will work in this recipe. It adds a subtle sweetness that’s not too overpowering.
- Garlic: I love the flavor that fresh garlic adds to food. The flavor of cooked garlic is soft mellow but rich.
- Oil: I use vegetable oil to coat the onion and garlic while it softens in the microwave. Canola oil is a great substitute.
- Spices: This collard greens recipe in the slow cooker uses salt and pepper to taste plus red pepper flakes for a dash of heat. It’s okay if you’re unsure of how to season collard greens. You can use any seasoning you enjoy!
- Chicken broth: Chicken stock or broth is what will make the collards soft and tender. It also adds a salty flavor as well that helps tone down the bitter taste that you get from raw collard greens.
- Ham hock: Traditional collard greens are cooked with a smoked ham hock for flavor and then the meat is shredded and added to the cooked greens. You can find smoked ham hocks in the meat section of your grocery store. You can also make slow cooker collard greens with other types of smoked meat such as bacon, a ham bone, smoked turkey wings, or turkey legs.
- Cider vinegar: The acidity of the apple cider vinegar balances all of the other flavors while cutting through the richness.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Variations
- Spicy: Add an extra pinch or two of red pepper flakes and your favorite hot sauce to bring the heat. You can even try a bit of our smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to add some smoky heat.
- Sweet: If you want to amp up the sweetness, add brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to the collard greens.
- Citrus Zing: Lemon juice or even orange juice is a fantastic way to add a fruity twist as well as more acid.
- Vegan Crockpot Greens: Omit the ham hock and replace chicken broth with vegetable broth. To get a smoky flavor, use smoked paprika or add a few dashes of liquid smoke.
How to Cook Collard Greens in a Slow Cooker
Here are instructions on how to make tender collard greens in the slow cooker. Before you get started, don't forget to spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 1: Microwave the onions and garlic. Add onions, garlic, oil, salt, and red pepper flakes to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat until the onions are soft, then transfer to the slow cooker.
Step 2: Add collards and broth. Pour in chicken broth and add the chopped collard greens and ham hock in the center of the greens.
Step 3: Cook. Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours or high for 6-7 hours. When it's done cooking, transfer the ham hock to a cutting board. Remove the fat, bones, and skin. Then shred the meat with two forks.
Step 4: Return the ham and add vinegar. Place the shredded ham and cider vinegar into the slow cooker with the cooked collard greens.
⭐️ Hint: Instead of using the microwave, you can slightly saute the onions and garlic on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
Prefer cooking collard greens on the stove? Try this Southern Collard Greens recipe!
Storage
- Storing: Place leftover collard greens in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing leftover collard greens. They become mushy and do not reheat well.
- Reheating: They can be reheated for 30-60 minutes in the slow cooker or the microwave at 30-second intervals.
Serving Suggestions
This southern slow cooker collard greens with ham hocks is a delicious side dish. Here are some recipes you might consider pairing with them.
- Southern Staples: Other southern staples that go well with this recipe are Homemade Cornbread, BBQ Mac and Cheese, and Red Red Rice.
- Main Dishes: Looking for a tasty protein to complete your meal? I recommend Air Fried Nashville Hot Chicken Strips and Smoked Catfish.
- Dessert: Finish your meal with a delicious dessert. If you want to keep with the theme, I suggest Banana Pudding Cups or Peach Cobbler.
Tips
- Use a liner. If you don’t have cooking spray, use a crockpot liner for super easy cleanup.
- Remove the stems. Don’t skip removing the stems when preparing the collard greens. They are tough to chew.
- Reserve the liquid. Save the liquid that the slow cooker leaves behind. It is super tasty and can be used in other dishes.
- Make it ahead: Since this collard greens recipe in the slow cooker takes several hours, you can set it up the night before and let it cook overnight so they are ready to eat the next day.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Mustard greens, turnip greens, and kale are in the same family as collard greens so they have a similar texture and flavor profile.
Also called “pot likker” or “pot liquor,” the liquid left behind from cooking the collard greens is great as a soup or stew base, poaching liquid, or added to a marinade for chicken or beef.
If you have never made them by slow cooking before and are unsure of how long to cook collard greens in the slow cooker, they are cooked when they are soft and tender. This can take anywhere from 6-10 hours depending on the setting and model of your slow cooker.
More Delicious Fresh Greens Recipes
Do you like cooking greens? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Slow Cooker Southern Collard Greens
Equipment
- 2 forks
Ingredients
- cooking spray or vegetable oil spray
- 2 cups sweet onion chopped
- 5 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 pounds collard greens stemmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 12 oz smoked ham hock rinsed
- 3 Tablespoons cider vinegar plus extra for seasoning
Instructions
- Lightly spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray,
- In a microwave-safe bowl combine onion, minced garlic, vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and red pepper flakes. Microwave, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, around 5 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Add collard greens and chicken broth and stir until blended. Place ham hock in the middle of the greens.
- Cover and cook until the collard greens are tender, either on low for 9 to 10 hours or on high for 6 to 7 hours.
- Once collard greens are cooked, transfer ham hock to a cutting board. Allow to cool somewhat and use two forks to shred it into bite-size pieces. Remove any fat, skin, and bones.
- Stir the shredded ham and cider vinegar into the collard greens and season with salt, pepper, and additional cider vinegar to taste.
Notes
- Use a liner. If you don’t have cooking spray, use a crockpot liner for super easy cleanup.
- Remove the stems. Don’t skip removing the stems when preparing the collard greens. They are tough to chew.
- Reserve the liquid. Save the liquid that the slow cooker leaves behind. It is super tasty and can be used in other dishes.
- Make it ahead: Since this collard greens recipe in the slow cooker takes several hours, you can set it up the night before and let it cook overnight so they are ready to eat the next day.
Nadine Wright says
Beyond delicious!!!!! The best collard greens I have ever tasted. Following the recipe to the exact measurements again today as I did five days ago.
Karin and Ken says
You just made my day. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Enjoy your day! Karin