How to Make Instant Pot Greens

Instant Pot greens! Perfectly cooked pressure cooker turnip greens & collard greens, brussel sprouts, spinach and broccoli made in just minutes. If you love our Instant Pot spinach with some bacon or diced salt pork inside this will be a hit too.

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. (affiliate links present, originally published 4/20)

Instant Pot Collard 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.

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.

Ninja Foodi Collard Greens

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.

Instant Pot turnip greens

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.

What are the benefits of eating turnip 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, 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 bok choy!

• 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
• Chicken broth
  • or make Instant Pot chicken broth homemade beforehand
• Bacon could be skipped if you are looking for lower fat but the taste won’t be the same at all
• Sweetener – a bit of sugar works
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Red pepper flakes

How do you get the bitter taste out of turnip greens?

Using salt (or bacon in this case) on your 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.

• The first thing you’ll do is set your machine to the saute function. Add you olive oil and bacon, or diced country ham is good too. Cook until browned.
• Then deglaze Instant Pot with broth. Add seasonings.
• Set to high pressure cook for 10 minutes followed by a quick release.
• After releasing the pressure, sprinkle with salt and pepper and enjoy!

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 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 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.

Ninja Foodi Turnip Greens

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.
• Instant Pot broccoli takes 0-1 minute to make to perfection every time.

I have a printable recipe card at the bottom but here is a quick rundown of how this is done.

• You will start off my setting your pot to saute. Add some olive oil and bacon (if you want to add meat). Cook until browned but not really crispy.
• Turn pot off and add your broth. Use a wooden spoon to deglaze pot – that means to scrape all stuck on meat off bottom of the pot.
• Add your prepared and chopped collard greens or 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. 

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.

What vegetables are used in collard greens?

Collard greens are a staple vegetable in the South. Usually prepared with other similar green leaf vegetables; spinach, kale, turnip greens, and mustard greens is usually called “mixed greens”. Note: you can use the same timing for turnip or Instant Pot collard greens as shared below.

What do you eat with greens?

Smothered baked pork chops and fried chicken with mashed potatoes are pretty common.

• black eyed peas with ham hock rocks
• potato salad
• pinto beans and Instant Pot corn bread
• meat loaf and macaroni and cheese
• we love fried catfish for sure
• Ninja Foodi jambalaya is always a favorite alongside this as well. Make it spicy or mild depending on your tastebuds.

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 collard 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.