Instant Pot Collard Greens Recipe

Instant Pot Collard Greens - Southern Living — Photo:
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Active Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

These Instant Pot collard greens are ready in just 40 minutes, so you don't have to wait hours for your collard greens to simmer on the stovetop.

"These are so tender. Bacon lends a really nice smoky flavor to these," said one Southern Living Test Kitchen professional. "The vinegar and hot sauce add a subtle kick of heat and nice balance of acidity to the dish."

These collard greens straight from the Instant Pot are the perfect companion to your Sunday supper or New Year's Day menu. You can use fresh collards or save even more time and buy them pre-chopped and pre-cleaned at the store. If you go that route, remember a tip from the Test Kitchen: "Sort through them first to remove any BIG stems from them."

Learn this simple, delicious recipe for Instant Pot collard greens. We have a feeling eating your greens won't be too difficult.

What Are Collard Greens?

Collard greens are a staple Southern green vegetable. A member of the cabbage family, they're known for their dark green, sturdy leaves, and are traditionally eaten on New Year's Day as a symbol of prosperity for the year to come. When braised low and slow, these hearty greens become tender and silky, with a flavorful boost from bacon, onions, vinegar, or other popular additions.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Collard Greens

With smoky bacon, onions, apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, and a dash of hot sauce, these flavorful collard greens truly have it all. To make Instant Pot collard greens, you'll need:

Bacon slices: For smoky, meaty bites throughout. Can swap with turkey bacon, smoked turkey, or ham if preferred.
Yellow onion: Adds depth of flavor to the greens.
Collard greens: Buy them pre-chopped to make this dish happen even quicker.
Lower-sodium chicken broth: For a flavorful cooking liquid to break down the toughness of the greens. If using standard chicken broth, adjust the amount of additional salt added.
Apple cider vinegar: Balances the bitterness of the greens and brightens the dish.
Light brown sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness for a balanced flavor.
Hot sauce: A kick of heat that can be increased or decreased to taste.
Kosher salt and black pepper: Enhances the flavor of the collards.

How To Trim and Clean Collard Greens

If you're new to breaking down collard greens, cleaning and chopping them is a simple process:

Step 1. Rinse the greens: Rinse under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
Step 2. Remove tough stems: Trim around any thick stems to remove.
Step 3. Stack and roll: Stack the leaves and roll, then slice into ribbons.
Step 4. Soak: Soak the greens in a bowl of cold water to release any remaining dirt.
Step 5. Drain and dry: Drain and thoroughly pat dry, then use as directed.

How To Make Instant Pot Collard Greens

Using an Instant Pot to cook collard greens offers a few key advantages, including freeing up your hands to prepare other parts of the meal. Collard greens cooked this way are ready faster, retain more nutrients, and turn out consistently tender every time. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Cook bacon: Select SAUTÉ and HIGH temperature on a pressure multicooker. Preheat 5 minutes. Add bacon and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon begins to crisp and onions soften.
Step 2. Add greens and broth: Stir in collard greens and broth and cook until collards begin to wilt.
Step 3. Add seasoning: Stir in vinegar, sugar, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Press CANCEL.
Step 4. Pressure cook collard greens: Cover cooker with lid, and lock in place. See additional cooking instructions below.
Step 5. Release steam, and serve: Carefully turn steam release handle to VENTING position, and let steam fully escape. Remove lid and serve with additional hot sauce.

How To Store and Reheat Leftover Collard Greens

Refrigerate leftover collard greens in an airtight container for up to four days, or freeze them for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of water or broth if needed, until heated through. Make sure to heat gently to maintain their texture, and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.

What To Serve With Instant Pot Collard Greens

Serve collard greens with your protein of choice, including fried chicken, or grilled or smoked meats. For a traditional Southern meal, pair with black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, rice, grits, fried okra, or corn, and of course, cornbread for soaking up the potlikker.

More Classic Southern Side Dish Recipes You'll Love

Comforting, easy, and crowd-pleasing, these classic Southern sides are always a welcome addition to the dinner table:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

8 bacon slices, cut into 1/2-in. pieces
1 medium-size (about 12 oz.) yellow onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 large (2 lb.) bunch collard greens, stemmed and chopped (about 14 cups)
1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. light brown sugar
2 tsp. hot sauce, plus more for serving
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions

Cook bacon:

Select SAUTÉ setting on a programmable pressure multicooker (such as Instant Pot). Select HIGH temperature setting, and allow to preheat 5 minutes. Add bacon and onion to cooker. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon begins to crisp and onion softens, about 12 minutes.
Add greens and broth:

Stir in collard greens and broth; cook, scraping up browned bits on bottom of cooker, until collards just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.
Add seasoning:

Stir in vinegar, sugar, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Press CANCEL.
Pressure cook collard greens:

Cover cooker with lid, and lock in place. Turn steam release handle to SEALING position. Select MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK setting. Select HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. (It will take 5 to 10 minutes for cooker to come up to pressure before cooking begins.)
Release steam, and serve:

Carefully turn steam release handle to VENTING position, and let steam fully escape (float valve will drop). (This will take 5 to 10 minutes.) Remove lid from cooker. Serve with additional hot sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you put vinegar in collard greens?

Vinegar can help balance the richness of the bacon, as well as brighten the overall flavor of the dish.
What takes the bitterness out of collards?

A hint of sugar and/or vinegar can help tamp down any bitterness present in the collard greens.
Do you need to wash bagged collard greens before cooking?

Even if a bag is labeled "pre-washed," we still recommend giving the collard greens a rinse and pat down before cooking.
Can collard greens be overcooked?

Collard greens can become overcooked, with a mushy texture and dulling of color and flavor. But not to worry, overcooked collard greens can be blended into soups or stews, made into a dip or spread, mixed into mashed potatoes, and more.