How To Cook Greens In The Crockpot + VIDEO

Here, I show you how to cook greens in the crockpot. Using the slow cooker to cook your greens means the end result is flavorful, tender greens with minimal effort. This classic Southern dish is perfect for the holiday season, Sunday brunch, or busy weeknights. Add smoked meat like ham hocks or turkey legs or keep this meat-free for a vegan slow cooker greens recipe. Instructions to make this easy greens recipe in the Instant Pot are also included. 

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Greens

• Greens
• Onion
• Garlic
• Chicken Broth
• Apple Cinder Vinegar
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sugar (optional)
• Smoked Meat (optional)

How To Cook Greens In The Crockpot

Slow Cooker

1. Wash greens & remove stems. Add greens to the slow cooker.
2. Add onion, garlic, salt, and sugar if using. Pour apple cider vinegar and broth on top.
3. Rinse off smoked meat. Add the smoked meat on top of the greens.
4. Cook ohn HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW 6 to 8 or until the greens are tender.  
5. Remove smoked meat, shred the meat, and stir the meat back in the greens in the slow cooker. Add salt, pepper,  & sugar to taste.

Instant Pot

1. Add the broth to the Instant Pot. Stir in greens. Add onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar if using. Add the smoked meat on top.
2. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 30 minutes. When cook time is complete, let the pressure naturally  release pressure for 10 minutes then manually any remaining pressure.
3. Remove the smoked meat, shred the meat meat, and stir meat back in the pressure cooker. Add salt, pepper,  & sugar to taste.

FAQs & Tips

What are greens?

Greens is a broad term that refers to a lot of foods like collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, kale, spinach, swiss chard, etc. They have different tastes & textures. This recipe is meant for tough, sturdy greens like collard greens. Greens are a superfood; they’re high fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals, and low in calories.

What type of greens should you use?

As mentioned earlier, greens come in different forms. Most restaurants serve collard greens. Personally, I prefer collard greens. Other suggestions include mustard greens, turnip greens or kale greens.   

How do you prep greens?

Bagged greens are usually pre-washed & pre-cut. Even if the greens you buy says they are pre-washed, I recommend you wash them again. I also recommend removing any large stems you might see. After you wash the bagged greens, they’re ready to be added to the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Loose leaf greens will sometimes have a lot of dirt on them so you will need to clean them properly before you cook them. The way I learned to clean greens is to fill a clean sink with cold water and add the greens. Mix them around with your hands for a few minutes. Remove the greens, drain the water and clean out any dirt that’s leftover in the sink. Repeat the process until the greens are clean and there’s no more dirt. One they’re clean, rinse & pat dry the greens. Next cut off the tough stem & main vein and then chop the greens into one-inch pieces. Now they’re ready to be added to the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Should you add sugar?

Personally I do not add sugar to me greens but I understand that some people do I would start with 1 to 2 teaspoons and go from there. You can always add more sugar at a later time. 

Can you add smoked meat? 

Absolutely. Of course you can make this a slow cooker vegan greens recipe by using vegetable broth and keeping this meat free. I have a feeling that most people will add meat, which is what I alway do. I suggest smoke meat like smoked turkey or ham hocks however other meat like smoked sausage, bacon, or cooked ham can also be used.  

Turkey is a great option for people who do not eat read meat. I like to use smoked turkey wings. Use as little or as much meat as you want. I like my greens meaty so I like to use a full pound of smoked turkey meat.

Ham hocks are a part of the pig. I refer to them as pig ankles since they’re the joints that connect the foot to the leg but technically ham hocks are not pig ankles they’re pig knuckles. Ham hocks are mainly ligaments, skin and tendons. When cooked, the fat & collagen in ham hocks dissolves leaving a nice, smoky taste. The little meat on there will be falling apart tender. Most ham hocks that you will find at the grocery store are cured with salt and smoked. Of course you do not have to use ham hocks in this recipe.

How do you store leftovers?

If you have leftover slow cooker greens, you can store them in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. After that, you should freeze any remaining leftovers. Frozen greens can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months.

What size slow cooker should you use?

I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Slow Cooker Side Dishes

• Black Eyed Peas

• Cornbread

• Sweet Potatoes

• Mac & Cheese

How To Cook Greens In The Crockpot

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Here, I show you how to cook greens in the crockpot. Using the slow cooker to cook your greens means the end result is flavorful, tender greens with minimal effort. This classic Southern dish is perfect for the holiday season, Sunday brunch, or busy weeknights. Add smoked meat like ham hocks or turkey legs or keep this meat-free for a vegan slow cooker greens recipe. Instructions to make this easy greens recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 48 ounces greens
• 1/2 cup onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 to 2 pounds smoked meat
• 2 teaspoons sugar or sweetener of your choice (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Wash greens & remove stems. Add greens to the slow cooker.
2. Add onion, garlic, salt, and sugar if using. Pour apple cider vinegar and broth on top.
3. Rinse off smoked meat. Add the smoked meat on top of the greens.
4. Cook ohn HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW 6 to 8 or until the greens are tender.
5. Remove smoked meat, shred the meat, and stir the meat back in the greens in the slow cooker. Add salt, pepper,  & sugar to taste.

Instant Pot

1. Add the broth to the Instant Pot. Stir in greens. Add onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt, and sugar if using. Add the smoked meat on top.
2. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 30 minutes. When cook time is complete, let the pressure naturally  release pressure for 10 minutes then manually any remaining pressure.
3. Remove the smoked meat, shred the meat meat, and stir meat back in the pressure cooker. Add salt, pepper,  & sugar to taste.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 84
• Sugar: 0.9 g
• Sodium: 231.3 mg
• Fat: 2.1 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 10.1 g
• Fiber: 6.8 g
• Protein: 9.4 g
• Cholesterol: 6.4 mg

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