Slow Cooker Southern Collard Greens

This is the only version my kids will eat! Easy to make in the slow cooker and makes the house smell yummy. Goes great with fried chicken (or anything fried!) or any Southern dish, and it's a perfect holiday side dish that's easy to prepare.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 12 hr
• Total Time: 12 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 332 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 3 ham hocks
• 4 bunches collard greens - rinsed, trimmed, and chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) package cubed fully cooked ham
• 4 teaspoons red pepper flakes

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until light brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a slow cooker and add chicken stock and ham hocks. Cover and cook on Low, 8 hours to overnight.

Step 2

Remove 2 cups of liquid from the slow cooker and set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 the collard greens, 1/4 the cubed ham, and 1 teaspoon red pepper; season with salt and black pepper. Pour in 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid. Cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are bright green and slightly wilted, about 4 minutes. Transfer mixture to the slow cooker. Repeat 3 more times with the remaining greens, ham, red pepper, and slow cooker liquid.

Step 3

Cook on Low until flavors meld, 4 to 6 hours.