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Blog > Recipes > Long-Cooked Collards with Apples and Bacon
Nov 26, 2025

Long-Cooked Collards with Apples and Bacon

Long-Cooked Collards with Apples and Bacon
Ingredients
2
tablespoons butter
2 medium red cooking apples (such as Jonathon or Braeburn), cored and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
½ teaspoon dried thyme
4 slices bacon
1 onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
16 cups stemmed collard or mustard greens
1 14 ounce can reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Hot sauce
Salt
Black pepper

Instructions
  • In a deep 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples and thyme, stirring to coat. Spread evenly; cook 7 minutes or until browned and tender, turning once. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Leaving drippings in skillet, transfer bacon to paper towels; crumble and set aside. Add onion to skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Using tongs, add collard greens to skillet, about 2 cups at a time, folding greens into onion mixture. When all the greens have been incorporated, add about 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, leaving 1 inch of greens not submerged. Increase heat and bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer until tender but not mushy, 30 to 45 minutes.
  • Stir vinegar and a few dashes hot sauce into greens. Gently stir in apples. Season with salt and black pepper. Top with bacon before serving.

Photo and Recipe Credit Midwest Living

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