Instant Pot Collard Greens

Instant Pot Collard Greens with smoked turkey neck. This delicious southern pressure cooked greens are ready in under 1 hour and is infused with bold flavor.

If you’re ever ready to eat some good ol’ fashioned greens in no time, then this delicious dish is made for you, as it is cooked with a limited amount of seasoning which includes sautéed onions, and vegetable broth to help create delicious southern pressure-cooked collard greens with smoked turkey. 

These greens are perfect with this instant pot black eye peas.

These pressure-cooked greens are fresh and delicious, and come together in under 45 minutes, too!

But if you are pressed for time and would like to slow-cook this deliciousness, then feel free to allow the flavors to develop for three hours while you focus on much needed task. 

Why does this recipe work?

We get so many questions about how to pressure cook collard greens, so we thought we’d share our go-to method for making these instant pot greens, a few tips, and a couple of our favorite dishes to pair these delicious greens.

First things first, no, if you are unable to purchase fresh collard greens to make these southern greens, that’s fine. The bagged collard greens will work just as well.

Here are a few more reasons why this recipe works. 

1. No longer need to take hours to cook. 
2. It’s the perfect southern greens to accompany turkey and mac and cheese. 
3. It is straightforward to make, making it the perfect side dish for weeknight meals.
4. No need to trim or cut the greens.
5. This is the perfect soul food side dish as it is made with smoked turkey neck recipe 

What are collard greens?

Collard greens are a member of the Brassica genus of plants, like broccoli, cabbage, and kale.

These green vegetables come the plants that are native to North America and have been a traditional part of the Southern American for many years and decades.  

Collard greens are high in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which can provide significant health benefits.

Collard greens are a good source of vitamin K, which is vital for healthy bones.

How To Pick The Best Greens

To pick the best collard greens, choose from the pack with the greens that are not too tough and with no blemishes and they should also show no sign of yellowing.

Collard greens should not smell bad when they are fresh. 

If you come across collard greens that have been spoiled, they will be soft, wilted, they may have some sliminess to them or will start to become yellow. 

How To Clean Greens

If you are using fresh greens, it is important that you clean and wash your collards before you start to cook them in the instant pot. Fresh Collard Greens can be very sandy, so you must follow to these steps:

• Fill your sink with lukewarm water. I also like to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of distilled vinegar to help get rid of bacteria.
• Immerse the collard greens in water to loosen any sand.
• Thoroughly wash the greens by making scrubbing movements with your hands.
• Drain the water then rinse again. Repeat the step as necessary.

If you are using frozen collard greens as we used in this instant pot collard greens recipe, you can skip the step above, as the greens are already prepared for cooking. 

Should I Remove The Stems

It is completely up to you. Though some people do not like the stems, we do mind a small portion of it. Removing the stems before preparing your instant pot collard greens is a personal choice. The stems provide an abundance of nutritional value.

How To Cook Collard Greens In Instant Pot

As stated, only 45 minutes is needed to make these greens from start to finish. Here’s how to make it:

First, gather your ingredients. This recipe calls for a full bag of collard greens. I sometimes have bags of greens in the freezer. So, frozen bags of greens are just fine.

Next, you’ll want to Sauté the onions in the instant pot. Caramelizing for 1 minute or until fragrant. 

Next, add the turkey neck. Then add the broth, collard greens, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  

Pressure cook on high for 45 minutes.

Remove the turkey neck and shred the meat.

Place the greens in a large bowl and enjoy.

There are so many ways to cook collard greens. However, with this recipe, there’s no need to wait for hours to cook up something so delicious to serve to your family for weeknight dinner, or large gatherings. 

How Long To Cook Collard Greens In Instant Pot?

This recipe calls for 45 minutes. However, if you would prefer to slow-cook the collard greens, it will take about 3 hours to slow cook the collard greens.

Cook’s Pro Tips

1. You can always substitute the smoked turkey neck for the ham hock. 
2. You can make collard greens taste good and vegan in the pressure cooker by simply removing the meat.
3. Taste and adjust the seasonings when you’re ready to eat if needed.
4. This recipe also works if you prefer to slow-cook the collard greens in the instant pot. Simply add all of the ingredients and slow cook for 3 hours. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Favorite Instant Pot Dishes

If you love this pressure-cooked collard greens recipe, try one of these other instant pot dishes next:

1. Haitian Lalo (Jute Leaves Stew Recipe)
2. Braised oxtail stew
3. Haitian Legume recipe
4. Instant Pot Cabbage Soup recipe
5. Instant Pot Cabbage 
6. Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
7. Mashed Cauliflower Instant Pot Recipe
8. Low Country Shimp Boil

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