Name: Black Folks Collard Greens Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 195 min
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

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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.

Black Folks Soul Food Collard Greens Recipe

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.

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!)

Collard greens the Black way — *Here I am, making my family’s collard greens recipe with my mom.*

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!

Prep the greens – Before you get started, make sure you thoroughly clean and cut the collards.
In a large stockpot, bring the liquid to a simmer with the onion, red pepper flakes, and chicken stock.
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

How to know when collard greens are done

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!

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Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.