This slow-cooker collard greens recipe is the easiest way to whip up this classic southern-style side dish!

These southern-style, slow-cooker collard greens with smoked turkey are the only side dish you need to sign up to bring this holiday season!

To be completely transparent, whenever we make collard greens that aren’t for a special holiday occasion, we would typically use the canned version.

I used to be so intimidated by the thought of making collard greens on my own and I honestly have no idea why! I promised you guys more easy slow cooker recipes and I intend to fully deliver with this recipe!

The slow-cooker makes this pretty much a zero-effort recipe (minus washing and trimming the greens – but you can also buy them pre-washed, trimmed, and bagged at Walmart 😉). It eliminates the need to consistently watch over a hot stove since the slow-cooker does all of the work for you!

Needless to say, with this easy recipe, you get tender, smoky, perfectly seasoned collard greens every single time!

If you love easy slow-cooker recipes like this one, you should also check out this Slow Cooker Taco Soup or this classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe that would be a great compliment to these collard greens!

I must warn you though, once you make this recipe for your family this holiday season, you will be in charge of the collard greens from here on out!

Here’s what you need to make these southern-style Slow-Cooker Collard Greens

Collard Greens
Smoked Turkey Necks
Chicken Broth
Onions
Apple Cider Vinegar
Minced Garlic
Various Seasonings

Preparing the Collard Greens

Preparing the collard greens to cook is one of the most important steps. Don’t get me wrong, the prep can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s totally worth it. To simplify the process as much as possible, I’ve broken it down into three easy steps!

How To Prepare Fresh Collard Greens in 3 Easy Steps

1. Remove the Stems

First things, first, you have to remove the stems. My mom will be the first to tell you that she is not a fan of collard greens that still have the stems in them. The stems are pretty tough and many recommend removing them to improve the overall texture of the greens. To remove the stems, place each collard green leaf on a cutting board and cut the stem away from each side of the leaf. You can also fold the leaf in half and cut the leaves off that way.

2. Chop the Greens into ‘Ribbons’

Once you have removed the stems, it’s time to chop up the greens into what I like to call ‘ribbons’. If you’ve ever made cinnamon rolls then you’re in luck because I use a similar method to cut the greens into ribbons before cleaning them. Once you’ve trimmed the stems, simply stack the leaves on top of each other and roll them up together the same way that you would roll up your cinnamon roll dough. Then slice the leaves across, according to your desired level of thickness, and place the ‘ribbons’ in a large bowl.

PRO-TIP

If you’re short on time or you simply don’t care to do all the prep for fresh collards, you can grab a bag of prewashed, pre-cut collard greens and skip this step altogether.

3. Clean your collard greens thoroughly

Once you have cut all of your collard greens into ‘ribbons’ and added them to a large bowl, take that same bowl, place it in the sink, and cover the leaves with cold water. Swish them around with tongs (you could also use your hands), drain, and repeat 1-2 additional times. On the final rinse, transfer the greens into a colander for any extra water to drain off.

Once your greens are cleaned and washed, it’s time to prepare them to cook in the crock pot.

Preparing to Cook the Collard Greens in the Slow-Cooker

Now that your greens have been prepped (or bought), it’s time to add everything to the crock pot and let them cook!

First things first, line your slow-cooker with a crock pot liner! I highly, highly recommend using a liner when making any slow cooker meal! They literally make clean up a breeze!!

Next, add in your cleaned collard green ribbons, the diced onion, minced garlic, and apple cider vinegar.

Next, sprinkle in your seasonings and pour in your chicken broth.

For this recipe, I opted to use smoked turkey necks but you can use hammocks, turkey wings or you can forego the meat altogether. I found these at my local grocery store but I’m sure you can get a butcher from any grocery store to prepare some for you.

Simply lay the smoked turkey necks on top of the bed of greens, cover with the lid, and cook low and slow for 6-8 hours. You could also cook these greens on high for 4 hours if you’re in a pinch!

When you have about 1 hour remaining, using tongs remove the smoked turkey necks from the slow cooker. Allow to cool for a few minutes before carefully removing the meat from the bone.

Then add the smoked turkey meat back into the slow cooker with the collard greens. Give everything a good mix and allow it to continue cooking.

Once done cooking, serve with your favorite meal or a piece of honey cornbread (yes, I am on team sweet cornbread) and enjoy!

Feel free to add your favorite fixings and garnishes (my mom likes to add hot sauce to hers) to make these collard greens your own!

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

Although these slow-cooker collard greens are best when enjoyed immediately after cooking, it’s important to store them properly so that they maintain their delicious flavor and texture.

To store in the fridge:

Allow the collard greens to cool completely before transferring them into an air-tight container. Be sure to keep all of the liquid when transferring them since the extra liquid helps the collard greens retain their flavor and is helpful when reheating. Once placed in an air-tight container, they can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

To store in the freezer:

If you would like to make these collard greens to freeze for later, allow them to cool completely. Pour the greens, along with the extra liquid into a freezer-safe container or plastic bag. If using a freezer bag, make sure to remove as much air from the bag as possible for the best results. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.

These collard greens reheat extremely well, maintaining their delicious flavor and texture!

**To reheat in the microwave (best for individual servings):**

Place an individual serving on a microwave-safe plate or bowl, being sure to include some of the liquid. If reheating from frozen, add 1-2 tbsp of water or broth. Cover and heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Continue to reheat until it is at your desired temperature.

**To reheat from stovetop (best for maintaining a flavor and texture):**

Add the collard greens, along with some of the liquid in a small saucepan (pot) over medium heat for 6-8 minutes, continuing to stir occasionally until the greens are completely warmed through.
If reheating from frozen, allow them to thaw overnight before cooking, or add 1/4 cup of water or broth to the frozen collard greens and heat for 10-12 minutes.

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens

Name: Slow-Cooker Collard Greens
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 10 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 6-8 cups Collard Greens; 1lb Smoked Turkey Necks; 1/2 cup Onions (diced); 2 tbsp Minced Garlic; 4 cups Chicken Broth; 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar; 2 tbsp Light Brown Sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (use 1/2 tsp for milder flavor)*; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; 1 tsp Onion Powder; 1 tsp Paprika

Yield: 12 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes

This slow-cooker collard greens recipe is the easiest way to whip up this classic southern style side dish!

Ingredients

6-8 cups Collard Greens
1lb Smoked Turkey Necks
1/2 cup Onions (diced)
2 tbsp Minced Garlic
4 cups Chicken Broth
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tbsp Light Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (use 1/2 tsp for milder flavor)*
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Paprika

Instructions

Add the cut and washed collard greens to a lined slow cooker.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and apple cider vinegar to the slow cooker.
Combine the brown sugar, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Sprinkle the seasonings over the collard greens.
Pour the chicken broth over the collard greens.
Gently lay the smoked turkey necks on top of the bed of collard greens.
Cover with the lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
When there is one hour of cooking time remaining, use tongs to remove the smoked turkey necks from the slow cooker.
Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes. Then carefully remove the smoked turkey meat from the bone.
Place the meat back into the slow cooker with the collard greens.
Mix in the smoked turkey meat with the collard greens and continue to cook until time expires.
Once done, pair the collard greens with a slice of cornbread or your favorite dish, and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 315Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 974mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 31gSugar: 7gProtein: 27g

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