12 Collard Greens Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever

a photo of the Mainland Luau
Photo: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie Probst

Nutrient-packed collard greens are a delicious dark leafy green that can add a healthy and extremely flavorful set of staples to your repertoire. Whether you want it cooked into a cozy soup, added into a popular main or side or incorporated into a colorful salad, this collection of recipes has you covered with unforgettable and mouth-watering dishes. Recipes like our Mainland Lu'au and Spicy Meatloaf with Collards are rated with four and five stars for being what EatingWell readers have called, "absolutely delicious."

01 of 12

Mac & Cheese with Collards

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Dark leafy collards add bold flavor and boost the calcium in this healthy skillet mac and cheese recipe with a crispy topping. If you don't have collards, kale, Swiss chard and spinach are delicious substitutes.

02 of 12

Mainland Lu'au

a photo of the Mainland Luau
Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie Probst

The Hawaiian word lu'au can mean three things: a gathering or celebration, the young leaves of the kalo (aka taro) plant, or a dish made with those leaves, coconut milk and sometimes chicken or squid. This recipe is a version of the latter from chef Kiki Aranita, made with collard greens, which are easier to find on the mainland. This lu'au recipe makes a generous amount, but you won't regret it since it holds beautifully—you can even freeze it so you have a nutritious side dish at your fingertips.

03 of 12

Spicy Meatloaf with Collards

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https://www.eatingwell.com/gallery/12903/spicy-low-calorie-recipes/attachment/2002133/.

Plenty of dark leafy greens deliver the moisture needed to balance lean ground pork and beef in this spicy meatloaf recipe. Serve any leftovers with extra ketchup as meatloaf sandwiches.

04 of 12

Smoky Collards & Shrimp with Cheesy Grits

Smoky Collards & Shrimp with Cheesy Grits
Jacob Fox

Be sure to slice the collards extra thin; it will help expedite the cooking process and produce the most tender greens.

05 of 12

Collards & Portobello Grilled Cheese

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Meaty portobello mushrooms and sautéed collards turn this easy grilled cheese recipe into a healthy meal. If you don't have Dijonnaise on hand, make your own by stirring 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard into 3 tablespoons mayonnaise.

06 of 12

Gomen (Ethiopian-Style Collard Greens)

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These collards can be served as a vegan main dish or as a hearty side. If possible, serve with injera, the traditional crepe-like bread common in Ethiopia (see Associated Recipe).

07 of 12

Collard Green Salad with Peanut Vinaigrette

Collard Green Salad with Peanut Vinaigrette
Photographer / Jacob Fox, Food styling / Sue Mitchell, Food Styling / Kelsey Bulat

A Top Chef finalist and James Beard Award nominee, Dawn Burrell is also an Olympian. She found her love of food while traveling the world with the USA Track & Field team. That journey is what inspired her signature global comfort cooking style, which explores the intersection of African and Asian foods. Here, raw collard greens are massaged with a tangy peanut vinaigrette—featuring lime juice, ginger and fish sauce—to tenderize the leaves, like you would do with kale.

08 of 12

Lemony Lentil Soup with Collards

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You don't need broth for this lentil soup recipe--it's rich thanks to the browned bits in the bottom of the pan that meld into the soup, packing it with flavor. Ground coriander, from the seed of the cilantro plant, has a floral, citrusy flavor that dovetails nicely with the lemon.

09 of 12

Savory Oatmeal with Cheddar, Collards & Eggs

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Have you tried savory oats yet? It's a nice change-up from the sweet way oatmeal is typically served, plus you get a full serving of vegetables. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.

10 of 12

Slow-Cooker Jambalaya

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This hearty jambalaya is bursting with chicken, smoked turkey sausage, and shrimp. It takes just 25 minutes to prep in the morning and then your slow cooker will work its magic and deliver a tasty meal at the end of the day.

11 of 12

Collard Greens

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Collard greens are meltingly tender when cooked for a long period of time. Smoked turkey in place of bacon adds the traditional smoky taste.

12 of 12

Collard Green & Black-Eyed Pea Soup

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Antioxidant-rich collard greens and fiber-packed black-eyed peas have a starring role in this nutritious soup. There's no need for loads of ham or salt pork--just a small amount of bacon gives it a wonderful smoky flavor. You can skip the bacon and substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth for a great vegetarian dish.

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