Easy Instant Pot Collard Greens Recipe (Vegan and Paleo)

This Instant Pot Collard Greens recipe is a healthy take on a classic Southern side dish. It is an easy way to create tender, flavorful collards in under 30 minutes without using meat or processed sugar.

I’m no stranger to the wonders of collard greens.

Having both grown and eaten collards for some time now, they have really become a staple in my diet. 

And there’s a lot love about these hearty delicious greens. 

They are loaded with nutrients like vitamin K and fiber, which means they leave you feeling full and satisfied.

While traditional Southern collard greens are prepared by simmering them for hours on the stovetop with a piece of smoked meat like a ham hock or piece of salt pork, an Instant Pot or pressure cooker makes cooking collards so much more convenient.

It reduces their cooking time from several hours to under 30 minutes. 

So instead of reserving collards for a special occasion like New Year’s Day, they can now be great option for a weekday side dish.

And in this healthy collard greens recipe, there’s no meat products needed to create greens that have incredible flavor.

A few common ingredients and some simple spices are all you’ll need to prepare collards that are sure to please any vegan, vegetarian, (or even meat-eater) in your family.

Ingredients and Equipment

• Collard greens – you’ll need a pound and a half of fresh collard greens, usually about one large bunch of collards. We’ll be using both the leaves and stems (which are perfectly edible) to help reduce food waste.
• Vadalia onion – aka sweet onion. I love the subtle sweet flavor it adds, but you can also substitute with yellow onion.
• Garlic – three minced fresh garlic cloves or you substitute with garlic powder if your in a pinch.
• Smoked paprika – this will be adding some wonderful smoky flavor
• Red pepper flakes – adds some great spice to the collards. Feel free to adjust the amount to your personal taste.
• Apple cider vinegar – brings some nice tang and helps balance out all the flavors.
• Maple syrup – it adds a touch of sweetness that perfectly compliments the spice from the red pepper flakes. Feel free to omit it completely to make this recipe Whole30 compliant, or use another sweetener of choice.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt or kosher salt
• Black pepper

For equipment you’ll just need a sharp knife, cutting board, and Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker.

How to Make Vegan Instant Pot Collard Greens

Start by rinsing the collards well. If the greens are extremely dirty, it’s best to dunk them in a large bowl of cold water.

Drain the greens, but don’t worry about drying them extremely well. Having a little moisture on the greens will actually aid in the cooking process.

Separate the stems from the collard leaves. Give the stems a good dice, and slice the leaves into thin ribbons.

Turn the Instant Pot on “Saute” setting and add two tablespoons of olive oil to the bottom of the pot. 

Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced sweet onion and the collard green stems to the pot. 

Cook until the onion is translucent and tender, about 7-8 minutes.

Stir in the minced garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes into the pot and cook for about a minute until everything is fragrant.

Press “Cancel” to turn the Instant Pot off, then stir in 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and a large pinch of salt. 

Stuff in the collard green leaves and lock the lid.

Set the Instant Pot on high pressure for twenty minutes and let it do its thing.

After the timer goes off turn the pressure lock to quick release pressure, then carefully open the lid.

Give the greens a stir and season them with a little more salt and black pepper to taste.

Helpful Tips and Recipe Variations

• Use vegetable broth instead of water for some extra added flavor.
• Add a dash of hot sauce before serving for more of a spicy kick.
• Try this recipe with other greens like turnip greens or mustard greens. You may need to reduce the cooking time based on the heartiness of the greens.

Serving Suggestions

These collard greens can be served in a variety of ways.

A few suggestions are:

• They make a perfect side dish for pretty much any protein
• Stir them into rice, quinoa, or other cooked grain.
• Top with a poached egg for an easy breakfast.

Storage

Store any leftover collard greens in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Re-heat them in a small pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warm.

More Greens Recipes

• How to Eat Radish Greens
• What To Do with Kohlrabi Greens

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