Crockpot Collard Greens

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This Crockpot collard greens recipe is a hands-off way to make Southern collard greens with smoked ham hock (or other smoked meat). It’s simple and requires minimal attention while it cooks. In fact, you can leave the greens to cook overnight before a big day like Thanksgiving (and check one thing off the cooking list). In this post, I’ll share how to make collard greens in a Crockpot, plus some practical tips on how to prep and cook this delicious side dish like a pro.

Crockpot Collard Greens with ham hocks in a large bowl

Why Make Slow-cooker Collard Greens

Collard greens are a classic Southern side dish and a staple in many homes. That said, here are a few reasons why you should make this wonderful side dish:

Hands-off cooking: Yes, cooking collard greens in Crockpot takes a while but doesn’t require you to do much. After prepping the greens and adding the rest of the ingredients, you can relax and let the slow cooker do the hard work.
Meal-prep-friendly: If you’re preparing for Thanksgiving or any other special occasion that requires a lot of cooking, this recipe and easy dish will save you time. You can have the greens cook overnight in the crockpot.
Easy Recipe: This easy collard greens recipe is a great way to make and enjoy some delicious, tender greens. Add this to your list of slow cooker recipes!

Ingredients Needed

Collard greens: I buy washed, chopped, and packed collard greens.
Onion: I use diced onions
Smoked pork ham hocks: I use fully cooked smoked ham hocks for the smoky flavor. But, you can make collard greens with bacon or collard greens with smoked turkey.
Garlic cloves: You can use freshly minced or jarred
Chicken broth: Low-sodium chicken broth will allow you to salt the greens to taste later. If you prefer, you can use vegetable broth.
Red pepper flakes: Add these if you like spicy greens. Otherwise, you can omit the pepper.
Apple cider vinegar: Sometimes, collard greens have a bitter taste, so apple cider vinegar helps balance the taste.
Herb & Spice blend: This all-purpose spice mix (which includes garlic powder, black pepper, and more) is one of my favorites. It incorporates different flavors into one.
Sweetener (Sugar Substitute): You can choose keto-friendly brown sugar or keto white sugar to cut the carbs and calories. This does not make the greens sweet. I add it as a way to balance some flavors.
Chicken broth paste: This paste is great for extra flavor.
Salt: I use fine sea salt and add it at the end.
Butter: I prefer unsalted butter, but salted butter is also fine.

How To Make Crockpot Collard Greens With Ham Hocks

My collard greens crockpot recipe is simplified into the following steps:

Add onions, pork, butter, broth, vinegar, and garlic cloves to the bottom of the slow cooker pot.
Pack the bunches of collards on top of the other ingredients and cover the slow cooker. Slow cook on high for a cooking time of 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Remove the ham hocks and pick off the meat. Discard the bones and skin.
Add the remaining ingredients (red pepper flakes, herb seasoning, sweetener, broth paste, and salt to taste) to the collard greens with the meat and stir.

step-by-step instructions for how to make Crockpot Collard Greens with ham hocks

Top Tips & FAQs

Buy washed and chopped collard greens: Cleaning collard greens is hectic and takes a lot of time. Buying them already washed and chopped will save you time and unnecessary trouble.
Remove the hard stem ends: Removing the hard stem ends will help eliminate the bitterness from your crockpot collard greens. The packaged kind comes with these already removed
Season in the end: If you want bold flavors in your slow cooker collard greens, save the seasonings until the end. This not only allows you to season to taste, but it also preserves some of the flavor of dried spices that is lost during the long cooking process.

How to Store Leftover Crock Pot Collard Greens

If you have any leftovers from this easy slow cooker collard greens recipe, the best way to store them is in an airtight container for next time (up to 5 days).

You can also freeze leftover collard greens for up to 4 months.

How long does it take for collard greens to get tender?

Generally, one and a half hours is enough to cook collard greens to tender on the stove. However, if you’re slow-cooking them, you’ll need a little more than 4 hours on ‘high’ and 7 hours on ‘low.’

Why do you put vinegar in collard greens?

Apple cider vinegar helps eliminate bitterness from the collard greens. The acid in the vinegar also balances out the butter and pork grease.

What takes the bitterness out of collard greens?

Let’s face it – no one likes bitter greens. Removing the hard stems before cooking and adding apple cider vinegar will take the bitterness out of collard greens. That’s how you’ll get the best collard greens.

What does baking soda do to collard greens?

Baking soda helps in softening the vegetables. It also increases alkalinity and preserves chlorophyll in the collard greens, giving them a rich green color. However, it can cause a loss of essential nutrients, so I skip it and instead cook my greens long enough.

Can you overcook collard greens?

Collard greens normally take a long time to cook, so it’s hard to overcook them. That said, when you’re done, you should have tender collard greens.

Do you have to soak collard greens before cooking?

I prefer buying washed and chopped collard greens to save time and energy. But, if you’re using fresh unprepared collards, soaking is necessary to loosen up the dirt.

What if I can’t find fresh collard greens?

I’m using fresh collard greens. Depending on where you live and the season, it may be difficult to purchase these. If that’s the case for you, you can use other fresh leafy greens (like mustard greens, turnip greens, and kale greens) as an alternative.

Recipes to Enjoy Slow Cooker Greens with

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