Southern, soul food style collard greens seasoned to perfection and made with smoked ham hocks.
Southern collard greens are a staple in soul food homes. Collard greens, like most southern greens can be made several different ways. Sometimes I make my soul food collard greens with bacon ends. Other times, I use smoked pork neck bones, or even smoked turkey. However, this time around, I’m going to show you how I make my southern collard greens with ham hocks.
What Are Southern Style Collard Greens?
So let’s talk about the actual collard greens first. Some people are new to southern cooking, so let’s start with what collard greens are!
What are collard greens? It’s large leafy vegetable that’s similar to kale. It’s usually braised when made the southern way. Collard greens are usually a side dish, and served with a main dish such as chicken or fish, along with cornbread.
To cook soul food collard greens, I start off with the meat. As mentioned, for this recipe I will use smoked ham hocks. I like to cook the ham hocks first, in my slow cooker. Although you can definitely cooked them on your stovetop. I just prefer to make them in the slow cooker, because it’s less time that I have to stand over the stove and watch something cook. Once the ham hocks are nice and tender, I remove transfer from the slow cooker to a large pot.
FYI – I prefer to use fresh collard greens. However, frozen greens cook well. Before adding my fresh collard greens into the pot with the ham hocks, I wash them really good! I make sure to remove all the dirt and grit. I also tear or cut the collard greens into small pieces.
This soul food style collard greens recipe is not spicy, because I don’t use any hot peppers or anything, but if you’d like to and some heat to your greens, feel free!
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Southern Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Ingredients
- 3 lbs collard greens washed, and cut
- 2-3 medium sized ham hocks
- 8 cups water
- 1 large red bell pepper diced
- 2 tsp seasoning salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp vinegar white or apple cider vinegar will do
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
Instructions
- Start off by placing the smoked ham hocks and the 8 cups of water into a slow cooker.
- Set the slow cooker on high, and let cook for 3 hours, or until tender.
- Next, transfer the ham hocks, and the liquid to a large pot.
- Place the pot over medium high heat, and start adding in the collard greens.
- Once all of the collard greens are in the pot, add in the onions, peppers, garlic, and seasonings.
- Give everything a nice stir, then add in the vinegar.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and let the greens cook for about an hour, or until tender.
- Serve with cornbread.
- Enjoy!
I like to use smoked turkey necks.
Can I cook everything (at one time) in a slow cooker ?
You can check out my slow cooker collard greens recipe here.
Could you cook collard greens with smoked turkey. I do not eat beef or pork. Do you have any of the recipes where you can use turkey or chicken.
Sure, you can use smoked turkey.
I tried greens Monday and they was great.
Smoked turkey tails are delicious
Oh my gosh, before the kids took over Thanksgiving dinner, I would always snag the tail before food went on the table. I’ll never find smoked turkey tails here in Montana, but just the thought made my mouth water. I’ll do a little reseach, but where do you find them, other than prep them yourself?
Hi Christine! Believe it or not, Walmart has smoked turkey tails. Also check out your local butchers. XOXO
Albertsons and Wallymart has them here in Cali occasionally- maybe Vons too
Bertha, I use smoked turkey tails and they are delicious in most any Southern recipe! I get them from Walmart. Hope this is helpful.
I use a ham shank instead of ham hocks because they have more meat on them.
I also add a little sugar in my greens, my mom would do that when the greens were a little bitter, as well as the vinegar to tenderize them.
Now ya talking, Rosie. I love greens with ham hocks!
I cook my collards and ham hocks in a stovetop pressure cooker. I use 3 slices of chopped bacon, 1 medium onion, 3 minced cloves of garlic, chicken stock, 1 jalapeno pepper and apple cider vinegar.
Sounds good!
Looks amazing…I always use smoked turkey wings but have tried ham hocks and they’re delicious.
I like to use smoked turkey necks with my greens, but how do you stop the bones from the smoked turkey necks from getting in the greens after the meat falls off the bone?
I usually cook the turkey for a while, the shred the meat off of the bones. Then I place the meat back into the pot with the broth, and start adding the greens.
I think your collard greens recipe looks delicious, and even though my dad used to cook them the same way. I prefer smoked Turkey. I love your recipes. Its wonderful being able to go to a site to find good southern recipes.
Hello
Do find collard greens in the product section of the grocery store?
Yes 🙂
My step mom suggested I use ham bouillon to put in the water. Would that be okay for this recipe?
You can if you’d like.
I used smoke turkey tails OMG the boom mad i had to share with family lol
Over the last year or so, I have been using an electric pressure cooker for almost everything. Looking forward to trying your seasoning. Will precook ham hocks for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, add other ingredients and replace water with chicken broth while cooking for about 35 minutes. Thanks for sharing. …Real men loving to cook.
I’m from the South ., sometimes to cut the bitter of the greens,, instead of sugar I will grate an apple in the pot while cooking… Yum
Just printed 3 of your recipes. Can’t wait to try them. Will let you know. Go girl!!
I am so excited to read about using the crock pot to get ham hocks going. Frees me up to do other things. Using this trick today,
My mom always stripped the greens from their tough stems, and used some sugar, salt and bacon drippings. She liked pork steak in her greens, and so do I. I plan on giving your recipe a try. Thanks.
This is the 3rd time I’ve used your recipe and my family LOVES IT! I’d never made them before, but have of course eaten them, and this recipe is PERFECTION!
I use ham hocks, and cook them on the stovetop. Thank you so much for sharing!
This is the one that got me hooked, cousin
Your recipe is awesome! I like using smoked turkey tails.
I’m using your tip of putting the ham shank in the crock pot tonight. Never occurred to me before! Thank you!
Can you freeze this once it’s cooked
Yes , you can 🙂
slow cooker is better for collards yes thank u the smoked ham hocks really flavor the greens when you use the cooker,,,these were delicious i got the holy ghost when i ate them gloryyyyyyy.
Thank goodness I found this recipe. I was always taught to add a teasp of sugar to the collards? Have you heard of that? I just hope I can find these ingredients in this God Forsaken place of Hawaii. They eat other things here.
Hi Cherrie. Yes, I’ve heard of people adding sugar to their greens.
Yummy! No leftovers. My first time eating collard greens. Will definitely make this again!
This recipe turned out wonderful, delicious and very tender. The greens and ham hocks were so tasty. I will keep this recipe for my favorite when cooking greens.
I cook a pack of smoked neckbones with enough water to cover in oven at about 300 for a couple of hours then remove meat and store meat along with juice in freezer. Whenever I cook green beans, white beans or collards I use the some of the already cooked meat and juice from those neckbones. INSTANT FLAVA!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe. I use it twice a year. My family loves it. You are an OUTSTANDING cook. Thank you for teaching me to be a better cook.