Instant Pot Collard Greens are tender collard greens flavored with ham that cooks quickly right in your Instant Pot.
Y’all know that I was born and raised in Georgia. Down here in the south greens ae a staple vegetable in our diets. Greens are the epitome of soul food. I grew up eating collard greens and I still to this day make them for my family.
Why do people eat Collard Greens on New Years?
It is a common superstition that eating collard greens and black eyed peas on New Years day will bring good fortune. In the New Years tradition it is believed that collard greens represent dollar bills while black eyed peas represent coins. It is also believed that eating cornbread on New Year’s Day represents bringing gold into your life.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t need a superstition to tell me to eat cornbread, greens and black eyed peas. I love a good home cooked southern meal any day of the week.
Can I cook other greens in the Instant Pot?
Yes! You can cook any type of greens using this same recipe in your Instant Pot. Turnip greens happen to be my favorite type of green and I cook them the most often using this same recipe. You could also cook mustard greens or even kale with this recipe.
Turnip greens have a slightly less bitter taste than collard greens. If you want the least amount of bitterness use kale.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR INSTANT POT COLLARD GREENS
Bacon – Any type of bacon, I use center cut
Ham – Any type of ham, just not deli ham. I bought pre cubed ham to save time.
Onion – White or yellow onion
Broth – Chicken or bouillon and water
Vinegar – I used apple cider vinegar but while vinegar would also work
Spices – crushed red pepper flakes, table salt, and ground black pepper
Collard Greens – Chopped and washed collards. I bought the pre-chopped bag kind
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the electric pressure cooker by setting the “saute” function. When the pressure cooker reads “hot,” add the bacon, ham, and onion. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 6 minutes or until the onion is softened.
- Deglaze the bottom of the electric pressure cooker pot by adding the chicken broth and scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon.
- Add the vinegar, brown sugar, and seasonings to the meat and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
- Top the meat broth with the collard greens. Pack in tightly to fit. (If using a smaller electric pressure cooker, allow the collards to cook uncovered on the saute function until all of the collard greens fit.)
- Cover the electric pressure cooker, setting the valve to sealing, and program on the “manual” or “pressure cook” function for 6 minutes.
- When the cook cycle is complete, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release the pressure for 5 minutes before using a quick release to allow the remaining pressure to escape.
- Remove the lid and stir the contents.
COOKING TIPS FOR INSTANT POT COLLARD GREENS
- Optional: Add three tablespoon of brown sugar to your collard greens while they are cooking to take the bitterness out of them.
- Another way to up the flavor in your collard greens is to add bacon grease. Add one tablespoon of cooked bacon grease to your collard greens while they are cooking.
- Leave out the vinegar if you are not fan of the slightly acidic taste in your greens
- If you are using green whole collard greens be sure to watch them and destem your greens before adding to your Instant Pot.
- I always rinse collard greens including the pre rinsed, pre chopped variety.
- Leave out the crushed red pepper if you do not like a little spice in your greens
MORE DELICOUS RECIPES
Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas and Sausage
Slow Cooker Lemon Turkey Breast
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Equipment
- Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon sliced into pieces
- 2 pounds ham cubed
- 1 onion diced
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 lbs collard greens chopped. One bag of pre-chopped greens
Instructions
- Prepare the electric pressure cooker by setting the “saute” function. When the pressure cooker reads “hot,” add the bacon, ham, and onion. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 6 minutes or until the onion is softened.
- Deglaze the bottom of the electric pressure cooker pot by adding the chicken broth and scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon.
- Add the vinegar, brown sugar, and seasonings to the meat and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
- Top the meat broth with the collard greens. Pack in tightly to fit. (If using a smaller electric pressure cooker, allow the collards to cook uncovered on the saute function until all of the collard greens fit.)
- Cover the electric pressure cooker, setting the valve to sealing, and program on the “manual” or “pressure cook” function for 6 minutes.
- When the cook cycle is complete, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release the pressure for 5 minutes before using a quick release to allow the remaining pressure to escape.
- Remove the lid and stir the contents.