Tastebuds

Southern-Style Collard Greens

Collard greens are slow-simmered with smoked ham hocks in broth until tender for a classic southern side just like mama used to make

Southern Collard Greens Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this southern collard greens recipe:

Onions
This southern collard greens recipe starts with two finely diced sweet onions.

Ham
The greens are cooked with smoked ham hocks — this is what gives them their savory, meaty, authentically southern flavor.

Garlic
Four cloves of garlic give these collard greens a powerful punch.

Broth
Cooking the collard greens in chicken broth instead of water takes the flavor up a notch.

Collard Greens
This convenient recipe calls for packaged collard greens, which are usually pre-trimmed. If you use fresh greens, just make sure to thoroughly clean and prepare them first.

Vinegar
Acidic apple cider vinegar cuts the fattiness from the ham hocks and adds flavor.

Sugar
Just two tablespoons of sugar is all you need to balance the bold flavors in this southern collard greens recipe.

Seasonings
These collard greens are simply seasoned with just salt and pepper. You can add more seasonings, such as cayenne pepper, to taste.

Ingredients

2 medium sweet onions, finely chopped
2 smoked ham hocks
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 (32-ounce) containers chicken broth
3 (1-pound) packages collard greens, trimmed
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
¾ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

Directions
Gather all ingredients.
Combine onions, ham hocks, and garlic in a stockpot; add chicken broth and simmer over medium heat until meat is falling off the bone, 1 to 2 hours.
Stir collard greens, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper into the broth mixture; cook until greens have reached desired tenderness, about 2 hours.
Serve and enjoy.