This easy crockpot collard green recipe is foolproof. Within just a few hours, you’ll get perfectly cooked, tangy, smokey southern grandma approved collard greens with ease.
Table of Contents
What are Crockpot Collard Greens
I'd like to think that I'm making my Southern Grandma proud with these easy crockpot collard greens!
Imagine fresh, earthy collard greens, bathed lovingly in a nutrient rich potlikker bath, accented with the smokiness of ham hocks.
As they simmer gently in the crockpot, their tough fibers soften, melting into a tender, flavorful medley that's both deeply satisfying and soulfully nutritious.
It's a perfect balance of sweet, salty, meaty, and tangy.
To serve, I recommend pairing this easy greens recipe with a piece of cornbread, some black eyed peas and some pork.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Smoked Ham Hock - Any smoked ham will work but I recommend buy a smoked ham hock or a smoked turkey leg for the best flavors.
- Sweet Onion - Since this his a southern recipe, I'm using a sweet vidalia onion but you could use white or yellow onion or even shallot if that's what you have.
- Red Pepper Flakes - This adds just the right depth of flavor without getting it too spicy. If you like spicier greens, just add more than my recipe calls for.
- Water - My grandma always used water to make greens but you could absolutely use chicken stock or vegetable stock.
- Collard Greens - I buy the big bag of trimmed and washed collards to make my life easier but you could buy a bushel of greens and break them down yourself if you prefer. This recipe also works with turnip greens.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - You could swap out apple cider vinegar for red wine or rice wine vinegar.
- Brown Sugar - If you absolutely have to use white sugar you can but brown sugars adds more flavor.
- Kosher Salt - Kosher salt works the best for cooking. I do not recommend swapping it out for table salt.
How to make it
Making slow cooker collard greens is super easy and the prep work takes minutes.
All you need to do is add all of your ingredients to a crockpot, place the lid on, turn the heat to high, and cook for 4-6 hours or until they're tender.
Once the leaves are tender, carefully remove the hamhock and place in a small bowl.
Pull the meat off of the bone and add the pork back to the crockpot throwing the bones in the trash.
Before serving, give it a taste and add more salt, pepper, sugar or vinegar.
I also recommend serving with a splash of pepper vinegar which is how we eat it at our house.
What is Pot Likker?
Pot likker (aka Pot Liquor) is the liquid that's in a pot of collard greens. I grew up drinking it whenever I was sick as it's supposed to be packed with a ton of healing properties.
If you don't want to drink it, which is understandable as it's an acquired taste, you can also save and use it as the base for soups and pan sauces.
I recommend serving your collard greens with a wedge of cornbread to soak up all the pot likker.
How to make Greens without Meat
If you want to make vegetarian collard greens, just leave out the ham hocks and add a splash of liquid smoke or even smoked paprika.
My recipe calls for water but if you're using broth, just make sure to use vegetable broth.
Once you make those swaps, the recipe can still be followed as-is.
What goes with Crockpot Collard Greens
Here are some of my favorite Southern sides to pair with collard greens:
- Brown Sugar Cornbread
- Spicy Black Eyed Pea Dip
- Easy Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit Sandwich
- Super Simple Crock Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham
- Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip
- Southern Candied Yams with Crunchy Ritz Cracker Topping
- Southern Cheesy Squash Casserole with Ritz Cracker Crust
- Jiffy Spoon Bread Recipe with Cheddar Cheese & Candied Jalapenos
- 4 Rivers Inspired Skillet Corn
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to cut collard greens before cooking?
Yes, it's best to cut collard greens before cooking. I recommend washing them then folding and rolling the leaves and slicing them almost like how you julienne a piece of basil. You don't need to remove the stem because they will get super tender in the crockpot.
Why do you put vinegar in collard greens?
Adding vinegar to collard greens not only helps tame the bitterness of the leaf but it also adds a beautiful tang and helps breakdown the greens into more tender bites.
How long does it take for collard greens to get tender?
In the slow cooker, collard greens take approximately 4-6 hours on high. On the stovetop, it takes about 2 hours.
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Recipe
Southern Crockpot Collard Greens
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 large Smoked Ham Hock
- 1 large Sweet Onion roughly chopped
- ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 6 cups Water
- 3 lbs Collard Greens washed and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar or more if collards are super bitter
- Pepper Vinegar for serving
Instructions
- Add ham hock, chopped onion, red pepper flakes, salt, collard greens, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar to your crockpot.
- Stir it up then place the lid on it and turn the crockpot on high.
- Cook for 4-6 hours or until tender.
- Once the leaves are tender, carefully remove the ham hock and place in a small bowl. Pull the meat off of the bone and add the pork back to the crockpot --throwing the bones in the trash.
- Season with salt, pepper and more sugar if needed before serving. I also recommend adding a few splashes of pepper vinegar before serving.
