These Instant Pot collard greens are a zesty side dish that can pair with most main dishes. The dark and vibrant greens cook in much less time when you use an Instant Pot. They are perfect for when you’re short on time but still want to have a tasty vegetable side dish on the table.
I don't know why more people aren't eating collard greens. They are delicious and hearty. While they do take a lot of time to cook, that's cut down when you use an Instant Pot.
"Southern Style" collard greens usually have vinegar and sugar in it. I'm not a fan of sugar in these greens so it's not in the recipe. These flavorful greens are both a great side dish and also a tasty topper.
I love using my Instant Pot to cut cooking time on busy weeknights. Check out my Instant Pot cabbage and potatoes and Instant Pot pinto beans for more recipes.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick to make: Cooking collard greens in an instant pot takes a fraction of the time it would take on the stove top.
- Bold flavor: The vinegar and red pepper flakes gives this delicious side dish a tangy, spicy flavor.
- Nutritious: According to Healthline, collard greens are an excellent source of calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and more.
What Are Collard Greens
Collard greens are leafy green veggies that belong to the cabbage family. They're known for their large, dark green, and sturdy leaves.
People often cook them by boiling, sautéing, or even adding them to soups and stews. You can eat the dark leafy greens raw but they will be tough and have a bitter taste.
If you are looking to include more leafy greens in your diet, check out my vegetable orzo soup, sauteed rainbow chard and oven roasted bok choy recipes.
Ingredient Notes
- Collard greens: I use whole bunches but you can also buy bagged chopped greens.
- Apple cider vinegar: You can substitute white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Vegetable broth: Use homemade broth or packaged.
Please see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and amounts needed.
Variations
- If you want more mellow tasting greens, you can lessen the amount of vinegar and omit the red pepper flakes.
- Southern-style collard greens often have a touch of sweetness. You can add 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar or maple syrup if desired.
- Add more smoky flavor by adding a little liquid smoke, about ¼ teaspoon.
- You can make it even spicier by adding a splash of hot sauce and a dash of cayenne pepper on your cooked greens.
- If you love garlic, you can add in 2 cloves worth of minced garlic.
How To Make Instant Pot Collard Greens
Step 1: First, prepare your collard greens by washing them well and removing the stems. The easiest way is to hold the large leaf in one hand and grab and pull the stem out with the other. Roughly chop the leaves and set aside.
Step 2: Next, add the olive oil and chopped onions to your Instant Pot and use the sauté function. Cook for 5 minutes with the lid off, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Press "cancel" to stop the sautéing. Add in some of the veggie broth to deglaze the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
Step 4: Stir in the collard greens and all the remaining ingredients. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure and cook for 10 minutes. When done, either use the quick release feature or let it vent naturally.
Remove the lid, stir, and enjoy these easy vegan collard greens.
What To Serve With Instant Pot Collard Greens
I love pairing this zesty side dish with a more mellow main dish. My absolute favorite way to eat these greens is spooning it on top of my mushroom quinoa. It's also amazing with my crispy air fryer tofu katsu and a side of rice.
Storage and Recipe FAQs
Once cooled, store leftover collard greens in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Believe it or not, those tough stems are edible. The reason most recipes (including this one) have you only use the leaves is that the stems take much longer to cook. If you want to eat the stems, finely chop them first.
Adding vinegar to collard greens gives it a tangy flavor and is popular for Southern-style greens. Collard greens can have a bitter taste to them but they mellow out once cooked. The vinegar helps balance out the flavors.
Yes, as long as you have a large pot you can make these collard greens on the stove top. The only change you will need to make is to increase the cooking time. On the stove top it will take 35-45 minutes for the collard greens to get nice and tender.
In the South, it's tradition to eat collard greens and black-eyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck! You can learn more about it from Why We Eat Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens On New Year's Day from Southern Living.
More Side Dishes
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Recipe
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 3 bunches collard greens about 1½ to 2 lbs worth
- 1½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or less
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- First, prepare your collard greens by washing them well and removing the stems. Roughly chop the leaves and set aside.
- Next, add the olive oil and chopped onions to your Instant Pot and set it to sauté. Cook for 5 minutes with the lid off.
- Press "cancel" to stop the sautéing. Add in some of the vegetable broth to deglaze the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
- Add in the collard greens and all the remaining ingredients and stir well. Set the Instant Pot to high and cook for 10 minutes.
- When done, either use the quick release feature or let it vent naturally. Remove the lid, stir, plate and enjoy.
- Store any leftover collard greens in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Cutting board
Notes
- For best texture, use the collard greens leaves only and not the stems as they take much longer to soften.
- Deglazing the pot with a little vegetable broth is important so the Instant Pot doesn't send signals that the bottom of the pot is burning.
- These greens are tangy! Feel free to scale back on the vinegar and/or pepper if you want them to be more mild.
Jen says
I love cooking collard greens in the Instant Pot. They take forever to get tender on the stove top. I make these greens a lot and serve them with a milder dish.