Garlic Butter Collard Greens

5 from 5 votes

Garlic Butter Collard Greens

These Southern-style Garlic Butter Collard Greens are flavored with brown sugar, shallots, and seasonings and are slow-braised until delicious and tender.

Prep Time5

Cook Time1 40

Total Time1 45

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: collard greens recipe

Servings: servings

Author: Katerina Petrovska

Equipment

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 small yellow onion diced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 shallots minced
5 cloves garlic minced
2 pounds collard greens stemmed and chopped
2 cups chicken broth
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
4 slices thick cut bacon diced

Instructions

Sauté the aromatics. Melt the butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Add the onion to the melted butter and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the pepper flakes and shallots; cook for 2 more minutes. Stir frequently. Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds.
Add the remaining ingredients and cook. Add the collards and cook for 3 minutes; stir in the chicken broth, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours or until very tender.
Cook the bacon. In the meantime, cook the bacon in a skillet set over medium heat; cook for 4 to 5 minutes or to a desired crispness. Remove from heat and spoon the bacon out with a slotted spoon.
Serve. When ready to serve the collard greens, top them with the cooked bacon. Taste the greens for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly before serving.

Notes

Collard Greens: If you get regular fresh greens, you should first soak and clean them to eliminate dirt and grit. However, if you get a bag of pre-chopped and pre-washed collard greens, you can bypass this step, although a quick rinse in a colander as a precaution is still advisable.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Incorporating apple cider vinegar boosts the taste of the collard greens and reduces their bitterness.
Braising: Begin with sautéing, then transition to a slow braise, which is essential for achieving tender collard greens.
Cooking Time: The precise cooking duration might differ just a bit based on the toughness of the greens. You'll know the collard greens are perfectly cooked when tender and not tough.
Storage: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for 3 to 4 months.

Nutrition