Slow-Cooked Southern Braised Beef with Collard Greens

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-29 · Updated 2026-04-29

Tender slow-cooked beef braised in a rich, savory broth served alongside seasoned collard greens for a comforting Southern meal. This Southern American-inspired holiday recipe, ready in about 205 minutes, pairs beef chuck roast, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, diced yellow onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 lb, chopped collard greens
• 3, chopped bacon slices
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season 2 lbs beef chuck roast with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp smoked paprika. Sear the beef on all sides until deeply browned, about 4 minutes per side, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves. Sauté over medium heat for 4 minutes until fragrant and softened.
3. Step 3: Return the beef to the pot and pour in 3 cups beef broth, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 3 hours until the beef is fork-tender.
4. Step 4: While beef cooks, heat a skillet over medium heat and cook 3 chopped bacon slices until crisp, about 6 minutes. Remove bacon and add 1 lb chopped collard greens to the bacon fat with 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 5-7 minutes until wilted and tender.
5. Step 5: Shred the braised beef with forks and serve topped with the sautéed collard greens and crisp bacon pieces.