This Soul Food Collard Greens recipe is sure to be a family favorite! Made with smoked turkey, these greens are full of southern flavor. These are sure to be a hit with any crowd!

Soul Food Collard Greens

Collard greens are a southern staple that is perfect for Sunday dinners, and the holidays alike! In the south, we make them with smoked meats which really compliments their natural flavor. 

These soul food-style collard greens can be made with smoked turkey legs, smoked turkey wings, or ham hocks.

I like to serve them with a little hot sauce, and vinegar on my plate. Trust me on this!

Ingredients

• Collard Greens - Feel free to use fresh collards or the kind that comes in the bag. I used the bagged kind and these came out perfect!
• Garlic and Onion - This adds another layer of flavor to the greens. Don't skip these!
• Smoked Turkey Leg - You could also use smoked turkey wings or ham hocks.
• Chicken Broth and Water -  A combination of chicken broth and water makes the perfect broth base for southern collard greens.
• Seasonings - Salt, pepper, and garlic powder

How to make soul food collard greens

1. Add a little olive oil to a large pot or dutch oven, and saute the onion and garlic.
2. Add the chicken broth, water, and turkey leg to the pot.
3. Next, add the collard greens and seasonings. Mix everything together so that the seasonings get evenly distributed.
4. Cover with a lid, reduce heat, and cook for 2 hours stirring the greens every 30 minutes.
5. Once the greens are done cooking, remove the turkey leg from the pot. The meat should be falling off the bone. Remove the meat from the turkey leg, and add it back to the pot with the greens. Mix everything together, and enjoy!

What to serve with

Storage and reheating

Recipe Tips and Variations

• You can replace the smoked turkey wings with smoked turkey wings, ham hocks, or any other smoked meat.
• To double the recipe, simply double the measurements and use a deeper stockpot.
• Serve with a dash of hot sauce and vinegar for extra flavor. I usually just add it to my personal plate!
• Store cooked collard greens in the fridge in a tightly sealed container or pot for up to 3 days.

More Southern Side Dish Recipes for you to enjoy:

• Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans
• Easy Fried Cabbage with Bacon
• Broccoli Cheese Casserole
• Best Keto Coleslaw Recipe

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Soul Food Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Soul food collard greens made with smoked turkey.

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Ingredients

• 2 pounds collard greens, cleaned and chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 smoked turkey leg, (you can also use a smoke turkey wing)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Instructions

1. In a large pot over medium-high heat add the olive oil, garlic, and onions. Saute for 2 minutes, or until tender.
2. Add in the chicken broth and water, and stir everything together.
3. Add in the turkey leg.
4. Add in the collard greens and season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir everything together, so that the seasonings are evenly distributed.
5. Bring the greens to simmer, reduce heat to medium, then cover with a lid.
6. Allow the greens to cook for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
7. Once the greens are done cooking, remove the turkey leg from the pot. Remove the meat from the turkey leg, and shred it. Add meat back to the pot with the greens, and stir everything together. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 92Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 830mgCarbohydrates: 10gNet Carbohydrates: 5gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

All nutritional information and calculations are provided as a courtesy. Nutritional values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product, and brand selection. You should not rely on this information for medical advice.

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Kay Johnson

Kay is passionate about living a healthy low carb lifestyle. She loves low carb comfort foods that are also family-friendly!