Growing up a Southern girl, collard greens have always just been a way of life for me. I remember when I was little watching my grandma fry up fatback and the cook down the greens until they were perfectly seasoned. Personally, I had never really done much collard green cooking and figured I’d learn how to make them at some point. The my hubby decided that they are his favorite veggie and I decided that I better figure out how to make them quickly. With some of my grandma’s best secrets, a few tips from my mom and a little creativity on my own, I’ve upped the ante and am so excited to share my recipe for Skillet Braised Collard Greens.
While I’ll fully admit that collard greens used to be a totally Southern thing, they are huge everywhere right now! When I travel I’m often surprised to see them on the menu at fancy restaurants but I guess everyone has discovered what us Southerners have always know….that collard greens are SO good! So let’s make them.
- 8 cup of collard greens (washed and chopped)
- 4 pieces of hickory smoked bacon
- ½ of a sweet onion (diced)
- 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
- ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of pepper
- Cut the bacon into small pieces and add it to the cast iron skillet.
- Cook over medium for five minutes, stirring regularly.
- Without removing the grease, add in the onions and garlic.
- Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar and immediately add the collard greens.
- Toss gently, covering the collard greens with the bacon mixture.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Continuing to cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Using foil, tent the top of your pan and place it in the oven.
- Cook at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, stir and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Enjoy.
While I know you can make collard greens a number of ways, my Southern upbringing won’t let me go any way but Skillet Braised Collard Greens. My trusty skillet that was handed down from family has been seasoned over time and is the perfect vessel to hold this tasty dish. So, to start my dish I cut my bacon into small pieces and add them to my cast iron skillet.
I cooked my bacon in the skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, just long enough to begin the cooking process without turning the bacon crisp. When my bacon was cooked, I added in my onions and garlic (without removing the grease) and continued to cook my mixture for an addition 2-3 minutes, until my onions began to look translucent.
Once my onions were translucent, I poured in my apple cider vinegar and then immediately added my collar greens. After seasoning them with salt and pepper, I mixed everything together to ensure my collard greens were covered with my bacon and vinegar mixture. I continued to stir the mixture, cooking it on the stove top for about 2-3 minutes.
I then removed my cast iron skillet from the stove top and used foil to tent the top of it (simply draped foil loosely over the skillet and tuck the sides in).
I placed the foil tented skillet into my preheated oven and cooked it on 375 degrees for 40 minutes. When my oven time went off, I removed my Skillet Braised Collard Greens from the oven, stirred them and seasoned them with a pinch of additional salt and they were ready to serve.
These Skillet Braised Collard Greens are flavorful and slightly tangy and totally delicious.
With every bite, my family gets the saltiness of bacon, the tang of vinegar and the one-of-a-kind taste of collard greens served up in a way that’s totally delicious.
Whether you’ve got Southern roots or simply want to try something new, trust me when I tell you that these Skillet Braised Collard Greens won’t disappoint!
Now this sounds like a really interesting way to do your greens! They really look like they would be tasty with a great flavour to them! I need to try it myself.
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Leafy Greens like collard greens – yep, they only really taste good with a meaty FAT like bacon! So sign me up!!! 🙂
I swear most people don’t even know what collard greens are yet how easy they are to make. Plus really good for you .
This recipe looks so savory. This would be perfect to make as a side for dinner tonight.
Tasheena recently posted..Money Saving Tips: 4 Things I Do Myself to Save Money
I haven’t had these in ages. I need to make them for sure. I tend to love anything with bacon.
Amber Myers recently posted..Hey, It’s Okay
I cannot wait to try this recipe! I may not be from the South, but I sure do love the food, and collard greens are no exception. Yum!
Marcie W. recently posted..Ways To Up Your Water Intake
My family love collard greens. But I have never thought to cook them in a skillet. This sounds yummy.
YUM! Collard greens are my fave! But since I stopped eating meat, I haven’t found a recipe that I really love.
Heather recently posted..St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Bait for Kids Plus Free Printable
I love a good batch of collard greens. I never thought to cook them in the oven! Thanks for the recipe!
Although my mom is from the south, she hardly ever made collard greens when I was growing up. I made them for the first time two summers ago, and they were so good! I wonder what else we missed.
I never tried cooking collard green but we always buy it from the store because our bunnies love it. I should try making it with your recipe.
My grandmother made these the same as you! We used to forage in the spring and made poke salad too! You are bringing up sweet memories!
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As much as I love southern food, I’m embarrassed to admit I have never tried greens. These look so good though, perfect texture.
I’ve never cooked collard green before. I think this will suit my taste, leafy and bacon. Yum!
This brings back memories with my grandma cooking these! I do prefer cabbage greens!
I’ve always wanted to make collard greens. I never attempted to make them homemade so I’ll definitely have to turn to your recipe!
This looks like the perfect side dish. I need to put it on my next week menu.
This recipe for greens sounds pretty yummy! I may need to try this for myself!
Ooh, what an interesting way to cook your greens! I think this is something I’d definitely try 🙂
Louise x