Black Folks Collard Greens Recipe

Collard greens are more than just a Southern side at family gatherings. Yes, they’re both nutritious and delicious—but also a soulful celebration of flavor and history, when made the Black folks’ way, seasoned to perfection. These greens turn humble leaves into a bowl of comfort, culture, and community.

A true staple of soul food, collard greens embody the remarkable resilience of African American cooking. Blending African roots, Southern traditions, and the love that’s simmered in every pot ever since.

Sourced from generations of Southern cooking and crafted by soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole, these collard greens from The Soul Food Pot® simmer with savory seasoning and classic soul food flavor that feels like Sunday after church.

Collard greens the Black way

A Black folks’ collard greens recipe is a whole vibe! A cultural staple of traditional soul food cooking, these greens are slow-simmered with love, layered with smoked meat, a splash of vinegar, and just the right kick of seasoning. Because when we cook, bland has never been on the menu!

The result? Tender, flavorful, and greens so good they’ll have you saying that famous soul food line — “Make you wanna slap yo’ mama!” (But seriously, don’t do that… just get yourself another helping!)

Ingredients 

As Grandma always said, “A pinch of this and a dash of that. That’s how you know it’s good!” Making authentic soul food collard greens is simple once you’ve got the right seasonings and a little soul in your pot.

To prepare these greens the traditional Black folks’ way, you’ll need a few hearty bundles of collards, an onion, chicken stock, garlic, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Just a handful of humble pantry staples. Yet together, they create a pot full of rich, soulful flavor that’ll have your kitchen smelling like Sunday dinner!

What does baking soda do to collard greens?

Some cooks sprinkle in a pinch of baking soda to keep collard greens bright and green, since it helps preserve the chlorophyll found in leafy veggies from the cabbage family.

🥄 Shaunda says: But truth be told, that’s not how my Grandma did it… And it’s not how most Black home cooks do it, either. We let the flavor, not a little fizz, do the talking. The greens may deepen in color as they simmer, but that’s just soul food’s way of saying, “I’ve been seasoned right!”

How to make collard greens

Seasoning is the soul of these greens. The secret that transforms a humble leaf into a savory masterpiece. A medley of garlic, onions, and a touch of smoked meat (ham hocks for the purists or smoked turkey for a lighter twist) infuses every bite with that deep, down-home flavor rooted in African American cooking traditions. It’s all about patience and love, letting these greens simmer slow and steady until they soak up every rich, smoky note.

Need that same soulful flavor in a hurry? Try my Instant Pot collard greens recipe HERE! Tender, flavorful greens in just 15 minutes!

1. Prep the greens – Before you get started, make sure you thoroughly clean and cut the collards.
2. In a large stockpot, bring the liquid to a simmer with the onion, red pepper flakes, and chicken stock.
3. Then, add the collard greens and the remaining ingredients and cook. Optionally, add an already seasoned and cooked turkey leg to the pot for enhanced smoky and meaty flavor.

🎙Listen to the recipe on The Soul Food Pod episode: Soul Food Southern Collard Greens

✨ Shaunda’s Soul Food Sense: tips, truths & traditions

A few lessons, memories, and must-knows from my kitchen to yours. This recipe is written for real-life kitchens. Tradition first, shortcuts second, flavor always!

How to avoid bitter greens

Every bite of my collard greens tells a story. One simmered in history, heart, and the rich flavors that honor our ancestors’ ingenuity and strength. This soulful recipe calls for a carefully curated mix of ingredients like apple cider vinegar and chicken stock, braising the greens low and slow in a savory elixir we proudly call pot likker. 

It’s that magic touch — The traditional African American way that transforms these once-tough leaves into tender, flavorful greens with not a hint of bitterness, just pure comfort in every spoonful!

How to know when collard greens are done

Collard greens need time to do their thing. A slow, gentle simmer for 2 to 3 hours until they turn tender, silky, and full of soul. The longer they cook, the more that flavor seeps in. And don’t worry… These hearty greens don’t go mushy. You’ll know they’re done when they’re soft enough to melt on your tongue and make your kitchen smell like home!

❤️ Serve it like a Southerner… What to serve with Southern collard greens

Southern collard greens are the darling vegetable of the South, bold enough to shine all on their own, yet always ready to share the plate. They truly sing when served alongside soul food legends like candied yams, cornbread dressing, and baked macaroni and cheese, turning any meal into a full-on Southern spread worthy of the holidays or Sunday dinner.

Black Folks Collard Greens Recipe

Black folks’ collard greens are a soulful Southern classic seasoned to perfection and simmered with love, honoring African American roots and timeless flavor traditions.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food

Servings: 8

Calories: 240kcal

Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

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Equipment

• Large stockpot with a lid

Ingredients

• 2 pounds collard greens 3 bundles
• 1 turkey leg pre-cooked/smoked (this ingredient is optional)
• 1 cup yellow onion diced
• 2 cups tomatoes diced
• 4 cups chicken stock use vegetable stock to make vegan and vegetarian-friendly
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce or sriracha sauce
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or Cajun or Creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• Clean the collard greens, stack several leaves on top of each other, and cut off the stems.
• Roll the leaves up lengthwise, tightly like a cigar. Using a knife or kitchen shears, cut the rolled collard greens into half-inch ribbon strips.
• Add the smoked turkey leg, onion, red pepper flakes, and chicken stock to a large stockpot over medium heat.
• Cover the pot with the lid and simmer for 1 hour.
• Then, add the collard greens, tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, hot sauce, garlic, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Stir to combine the ingredients. (The collards will wilt down as they cook.)
• Cover the pot with the lid and simmer for 2 hours.
• Serve this Black folks' collard greens recipe right away and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 1238mg | Potassium: 786mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 6095IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 302mg | Iron: 3mg

❤️ Why trust this recipe?

Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide

What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!

Check out this recipe!

This recipe is celebrated on Soul Food Thanksgiving Classics That Hold It Down Every Year and by multiple national media outlets that recognize Southern and African American culinary traditions.