Instant Pot greens with bacon is cooked quick and perfectly with turnip greens in just minutes. If you love our Instant Pot spinach this will be a hit as a healthy side dish with dinner.
Instant Pot greens are great for you and tasty too! If you’ve wondered the best way to cook turnip greens, it is here! This might become your new favorite side dish on our list of easy Instant Pot recipes.
Instant Pot Turnip Greens
I have all different types of green vegetables you can cook right now. If you are here you are likely looking for Southern collard greens or maybe how to cook turnip greens the best way. This only takes about 15 minutes compared to a lot longer on the stovetop so it is my preference.
If you grew up in the South I don’t have to explain anything to you. I’m sure you already have your Grandma’s recipe that you can now make a lot faster with this pressure cooker method and timing. New to this but trying to eat healthier? You can certainly omit the bacon and lower the fat and calories.
Want pure Southern comfort? Use butter (oh yes) with our slow cooker collard greens recipe. Throw those in in the morning and a perfect side dish erupts for dinner later.
Ninja Foodi Greens
You can make this as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe or Crockpot Express dish as well, doesn’t matter what brand of pot you might have. I have all of them and so long as they cook at high pressure it will work just the same.
Ingredient Notes
You need to of course start with an electric pressure cooker, Crockpot express and other brands all work the same. I recommend getting a non stick pot unless you have a Ninja Foodi with it already
- Fresh turnip greens or collard greens leaves chopped
- Chicken broth or make homemade stock beforehand
- Bacon could be skipped if you are looking for lower fat but the taste won’t be the same at all
- Salt and pepper are basic seasonings
- Olive oil
- Sweetener – a bit of sugar works
- Red pepper flakes to make spicy
What are the benefits of eating greens?
One cup raw provides over the daily limit of vitamin K and also provides one of the highest calcium contents per gram of any other fruit or vegetable. They also contain vitamin A and magnesium which helps to promote bone health. It is an inexpensive vegetable to buy, and it’s benefits far outweigh many other green vegetables out there.
What are the best greens to cook?
Dark leafy greens such as chard, our Ninja Foodi kale, mustard, beet, collards, and turnip greens are better known as cooking greens. All of them provide valuable nutrients along with great flavor and color to your table. The darker the better y’all, that is the general rule of thumb. It makes sense that the deeper the color the more nutrients are going to be in each bite for you.
Keep that in mind when you are choosing yours. Darker means tougher too though so keep that in mind too. Another unusual but yummy one is Instant Pot bok choy!
How Long to Cook Greens in Instant Pot
How long to take collard greens this way is just 10 minutes. Of course the timing may be adjusted depending on how soft you want them to become. Most prefer a bit of texture but quite tender with enough time to soak up the butter and / or bacon grease it’s cooked in to get rid of the bitter flavor.
How to Cook Frozen Turnip Greens in Instant Pot
Believe it or not it doesn’t matter whether yours are straight out of the freezer or fresh. Like other foods there isn’t a difference in cook times. Once again it depends more on your personal preferences on how wilted you want them to become. If you lift the lid and want softer just set to saute for a few minutes more.
Can you add bacon?
Yes and I suggest that you do add some salted meat. You can dice up a few slices of uncured bacon and saute in the first step. Or the best way I make it is after the holidays with leftover ham so I just throw that right in.
How do you get the bitter taste out of greens?
Using salt (or bacon in this case) on your collard or turnip greens is key. Salt eases the bitterness, and helps to retain a crispness to this vegetable. Just a dash is typically enough to do the trick. If you are using bacon you don’t need any additional sodium. If you’re using turnip greens in an Asian dish, use soy sauce to take out some bitterness. Some prefer apple cider vinegar. My choices are below in the recipe card.
This is not the only green vegetable you can make in a pressure cooker though! There are tons of others that even my kids love. We love throwing in mixed Instant Pot steamed vegetables so they’re all done at the same time.
Like I said if you want it more tender set to saute at the end and allow it to cook down even more. Season with salt and pepper or a little Lawry’s seasoned salt and enjoy.
Instant Pot Greens Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 oz collard greens, or turnip greens, fresh, trimmed, chopped
- 1/2 lb bacon
- 2 c chicken broth, or vegetable
- 2 tbsp sweetener, optional, sugar or sugar substitute
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- salt, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Set pot to saute, add olive oil and bacon. Cook until browned.
- Turn pot off and add broth. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze pot – scrape all stuck on meat off bottom of the pot.
- Add turnip greens with seasonings to the top.
- Cover and close steam valve. Set to pressure cook high for 10 minutes.
- Quick release steam and serve. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What’s the difference between collard greens and turnip greens?
Cooked collard greens and turnip greens are both in the cabbage family. The former is said to be somewhat more bitter than turnip greens, which tend to be sweeter. They’re also smaller and more tender than their cousin. The timing and instructions would work the same for either one, so choose your favorite. Both should be wilted and tender when served.
Some like it more so and others prefer a bit more texture. Use what is listed. If you want it softer then once the lid is lifted set to saute and cook it down a bit more.
- Speaking of simple cabbage recipes, we are kinda’ obsessed with those too!
- I don’t know what it is about getting older and loving this overlooked veggie but it’s super versatile.
- Once you fall in love with this easy side dish you should try a few others on The Typical Mom blog too. 😉
If you are from the south this will remind you of your childhood, but much easier to make than on the stovetop.
What do you eat with greens?
Instant Pot black eyed peas and ham hock with ham hocks or leftovers rocks, potato salad, pinto beans and Instant Pot corn bread, meat loaf and macaroni and cheese, we love fried catfish for sure
Looking for more Instant Pot vegetable recipes? Wondering how long to cook each one. You can find a printable sheet like you see here below in the link above.
How to save leftover cooked greens
They actually save rather well and reheat well the next day. I wouldn’t push it beyond 24 hours “old” but could be kept for up to 2 days. Wait until it is cooled and at room temperature first off. Then move to a sealable container and keep in the fridge.
When you are ready to reheat them pour into a microwave safe bowl. I like to add a fresh pat of butter to the top and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir contents and then heat again for another 30 seconds or so until it is as hot as you’d like it to be. Serve with some chicken or as a quick vegetarian snack.
This is my go to for cooking greens in my Instapot. Instead of pork bacon I use the hickory smoked turkey bacon (Columbus brand from Costco) and maple syrup as a sweetener. I also double the red peeper flakes for a but more spice. Everyone remembers and requests this dish as a side.
Oh so glad