Name: Bacon Collard Greens
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 bunch collard greens, washed, trimmed, and cut into ribbons; 4 oz. bacon; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed

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Whether you want to start the new year strong or serve a delicious and simple side dish along with dinner, Bacon Collard Greens are the recipe for you! A nod to Southern lore about greens consumed on New Year’s Day bringing money and luck in the new year, this recipe is perfect any time of year. Ready in less than 15 minutes, Bacon Collard Greens are quick, flavorful and a wonderful way to get in some greens!

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Y’all should know by now that I’m a Southern girl.

Yes? Yes.

Glad we got that straightened out… because today’s post is of the Southern variety.

There’s a Southern tale that goes along the lines of eating greens on New Year’s Day brings luck and money in the new year.

I’ve always found this a little silly, but you know what? There’s nothing wrong with a food tradition in my book, especially when it features something absolutely tasty. And this recipe? Bonkers delicious.

Because of this folklore, I whipped up some collard greens for New Year’s Day. They’re a bit on the decadent side, but they’re totally worth it… and completely easy to make. They’re also perfect year-round, assuming you can get your hands on collards.

Essential Products/Tools for Bacon Collard Greens

Cast Iron Skillet or a nonstick skillet.
Tongs.
Garlic press.
Citrus juicer.

Other Dishes with Greens (Collards, Kale, Chard, etc.)

Hearty Holiday Quiche
Lemon Kale
Sauteed Greens
Creamed Kale
Rainbow Chard and Scallion Frittata
Mandarin Kale Salad

Ready to make these beauties? Scroll on down to see how easy they are…

4 servings

Bacon Collard Greens

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Whether you want to start the new year strong or serve a delicious and simple side dish along with dinner, Bacon Collard Greens are the recipe for you! A nod to Southern lore about greens consumed on New Year's Day bringing money and luck in the new year, this recipe is perfect any time of year. Ready in less than 15 minutes, Bacon Collard Greens are quick, flavorful and a wonderful way to get in some greens!

Ingredients

1 bunch collard greens, washed, trimmed, and cut into ribbons
4 oz. bacon
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Instructions

In a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until it has cooked through (or is as crispy as you like.) Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Leave the bacon fat in the skillet.
Turn the heat down to medium-low, and add the minced garlic. Stir around the skillet with a wooden spoon until well cooked (but not burned!)
Add the collards slowly, piling them into the skillet and stirring until they wilt and continuing the process until the entire bunch is in the skillet. Sauté in the bacon fat until all the collards have wilted down and are bright green.
Remove from the heat, and top with the lemon juice and the cooked bacon crumbles. (I sometimes leave these off, and the collard greens are as delicious with or without the bacon, so it's up to you!)
Serve warm, and enjoy!