Easy Pioneer Woman Collard Greens Recipe for Perfect Dinners

Southern kitchens buzz with excitement over these Pioneer Woman collard greens, a soul-warming dish that transforms humble ingredients into culinary magic.

Rich, emerald-green leaves promise deep, complex flavors that dance between smoky and tangy notes.

Traditional cooking techniques blend with modern kitchen wisdom to create a side dish bursting with nutrients and comfort.

These robust greens carry generations of cooking wisdom in each tender bite, connecting family recipes across generations.

Slow-simmered techniques unlock subtle layers of taste that elevate this humble vegetable into something extraordinary.

Nutritional powerhouses like these greens pack incredible health benefits alongside incredible taste, making them a smart addition to any meal.

Hearty and satisfying, this recipe promises a delightful journey into Southern cooking tradition: pull up a chair and get ready to savor:

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens

Step 1: Craft the Flavor-Packed Turkey Stock

Place 2 smoked turkey legs in a large pot and cover with 2 quarts of water. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, creating a rich base for your greens.

Step 2: Slow Simmer the Turkey

Reduce heat to medium-low and let the stock gently bubble for 1.5 hours. The goal is to create tender, fall-apart turkey meat and a deeply flavored liquid.

Step 3: Prepare Turkey Meat

Remove turkey legs from the pot and set aside to cool. Carefully strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer, preserving the flavorful liquid for later use.

Step 4: Shred the Turkey Meat

Once cool enough to handle, discard bones and skin. Tear the turkey into bite-sized pieces, ready to be reunited with the greens later.

Step 5: Awaken the Aromatics

• Chopped onions
• Minced garlic
• Salt
• Paprika
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes

Sauté until the vegetables turn golden and release their enticing aroma.

Step 6: Introduce the Collard Greens

• Reserved turkey stock
• Chicken broth
• Apple cider vinegar
• Granulated sugar

Ensure the greens are just submerged in liquid. Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes until greens become tender and deliciously soft.

Step 7: Final Touches and Serving

Uncover the pot and let the liquid reduce for an additional 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt or vinegar if needed. Serve piping hot, accompanied by hot pepper sauce for those who love an extra kick.

Pro Tips for Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens

• Select Premium Greens: Look for vibrant, deep green bunches with crisp leaves and no brown spots or wilting edges.
• Customize Salt Levels: Experiment with low-sodium broths and reduce additional salt for a heart-friendly dish that doesn't sacrifice flavor.
• Elevate Smokiness: Sprinkle smoked paprika or drop a bay leaf into simmering stock to intensify the rich, complex taste profile.
• Embrace Plant-Based Options: Swap turkey for smoked tofu or liquid smoke, transforming the recipe into a delicious vegetarian-friendly creation.
• Prep Like a Pro: Thoroughly wash greens under cold water, removing tough stems and chopping into uniform pieces for even cooking and consistent texture.

How to Store Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens

• Vacuum Seal Method: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer for maximum longevity. Extract all air from the bag to prevent freezer burn and preserve the rich, hearty flavor of collard greens. This technique maintains the greens' nutrients and texture for up to 9 months, significantly extending their shelf life beyond traditional freezing.
• Portion Control Freezing: Divide cooked collard greens into individual serving sizes before freezing. Use small freezer-safe containers or silicon freezer bags to create convenient, single-serving portions. Label each container with the date and contents to track freshness and easily grab a quick, nutritious meal straight from the freezer.
• Glass Container Storage: Transfer cooled collard greens to glass containers with tight-fitting lids for refrigeration. Glass prevents flavor transfer and allows you to see exactly what's inside your container.

Creative Twists on Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens

• Smoky Bacon Boost: Crisp up diced bacon before sautéing vegetables, using bacon fat for extra depth and adding crumbled bacon bits on top for a rich, smoky flavor profile.
• Vegan Green Revolution: Replace turkey stock with vegetable broth, swap shredded turkey with roasted sweet potatoes or crispy tofu cubes, maintaining the authentic southern green cooking technique.
• Spicy Caribbean Kick: Incorporate scotch bonnet peppers instead of red pepper flakes, add fresh thyme and allspice, using coconut milk to create a creamy Caribbean-inspired green side dish.
• Southern Ham Infusion: Use smoked ham hock instead of turkey leg for a traditional southern approach, letting the meat slowly render its rich flavor into the collard greens while providing tender, succulent protein pieces.

Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens: A Flavorful, Savory Side

Southern cuisine finds its soul in Pioneer Woman’s collard greens, a recipe where heritage meets modern culinary craft.

Smoky turkey stock creates profound depth, while carefully selected spices elevate humble greens into a remarkable dish.

Complex layers of flavor dance between vinegar’s sharp tang and subtle sweetness, creating harmonious balance.

Generations of southern cooking wisdom pulse through each carefully prepared bite.

Passionate cooks understand that true connection happens around shared meals prepared with intention and respect.

You’ll discover southern comfort in this transformative recipe that celebrates tradition, nourishment, and pure deliciousness – so grab your skillet, share this recipe with friends, drop a comment below, and let the culinary journey begin!

What Makes Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens the Ultimate Southern Side Dish

• Craft Deeply Flavorful Stock: Slow-simmering smoked turkey legs creates an incredibly rich, complex base that infuses the entire dish with smoky, robust depth, transforming simple collard greens into a remarkable Southern-style delicacy.
• Master Tender Greens Technique: Gently cooking collards in seasoned liquid for nearly an hour breaks down their tough fibers, delivering melt-in-your-mouth texture while preserving their vibrant green color and nutritional integrity.
• Elevate with Balanced Seasonings: Clever combination of paprika, black pepper, red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sugar creates a harmonious flavor profile that balances spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet notes, making each bite dynamically interesting.
• Celebrate Comfort Food Traditions: This recipe honors classic Southern cooking methods, offering a soul-warming dish perfect for family gatherings, holiday meals, or when craving a hearty, nutritious side that connects you to culinary heritage.

Key Ingredients for Pioneer Woman’s Collard Greens

• Smoked Turkey Legs: Rich, flavorful base for stock with tender, shreddable meat that adds depth to the dish.

• Turkey Stock, Chicken Broth: Provides liquid foundation and enhances overall flavor of the greens, creating a robust cooking liquid.

• Collard Greens: Hearty, nutritious green with slightly bitter taste that becomes tender and delicious when slow-cooked.
• Onions, Garlic: Aromatic base that builds foundational flavor and adds complexity to the dish.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes: Spice blend that creates layered, warm seasoning with mild heat and depth.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Tangy ingredient that brightens flavors and adds subtle acidity.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the bitter greens and adds a hint of sweetness.

• Olive Oil: Provides base for sautéing vegetables and helps develop initial flavor profile.

• Hot Pepper Sauce: Adds extra heat and personal flavor customization at the table.

Pioneer Woman Collard Greens Recipe

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4.8 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Southern-style collard greens simmer with smoky bacon, onions, and a splash of vinegar, delivering rich, complex flavors that honor traditional cooking. Tender greens melt in your mouth, offering comfort and depth that connect you to generations of soulful Southern cuisine.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 lb (454 grams) smoked turkey legs (about 2)

Spices and Seasonings:

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Vegetables and Liquids:

• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 bag (2 lbs or 907 grams) chopped fresh collard greens
• 1 quart (946 milliliters) chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• Hot pepper sauce, to serve

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Instructions

1. Initiate turkey stock preparation by submerging smoked turkey legs in a large pot with 2 quarts (1.89 liters) of water, elevating heat to medium-high until liquid reaches a rolling boil.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low, allowing stock to simmer gently for approximately 90 minutes until turkey meat becomes exceptionally tender and easily separable from bones.
3. Carefully extract turkey legs from simmering liquid, then meticulously strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve, preserving the flavorful broth for subsequent cooking stages.
4. Once turkey legs have cooled sufficiently, methodically separate meat from bones and skin, shredding protein into delicate, bite-sized fragments.
5. Warm extra virgin olive oil in the identical pot over medium temperature, introducing finely chopped onions and minced garlic, complemented by precisely measured salt, paprika, freshly ground black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
6. Incorporate thoroughly washed and chopped collard greens into the aromatic vegetable mixture, carefully pouring reserved turkey stock and chicken broth, then introducing apple cider vinegar and granulated sugar to balance flavors.
7. Ensure greens are completely submerged in liquid, cover pot, and allow contents to simmer for 45-60 minutes until vegetables reach optimal tenderness.
8. Uncover pot, permit liquid to naturally reduce for an additional 10 minutes, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or vinegar as desired, then present the collard greens alongside optional hot pepper sauce for enhanced enjoyment.

Notes

• Unlock the secret to restaurant-quality collard greens with this Southern-inspired recipe that balances smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors.
• Turkey stock infuses deep, rich undertones that elevate these greens from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Slow cooking transforms tough collard leaves into melt-in-your-mouth tender bites packed with incredible depth.
• Tangy apple cider vinegar cuts through the richness, adding a bright pop that makes each forkful exciting.
• Smoked turkey legs bring a lighter alternative to traditional ham hock, creating a cleaner yet equally robust flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 215 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 570 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 17 g
• Cholesterol: 55 mg