Collard Greens and Bean Soup – Easy to Make Beans and Greens

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Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new take on those classic southern collard greens. The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal. You can adjust all of the seasonings in this soup to make it fit your taste.

Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.

Collard Greens and Bean Soup Recipe

Are you familiar with Beans and Greens?  I usually order it this side at Cracker Barrel – a bowl of greens and a bowl of pinto beans. My love of southern greens started here, and I needed to share it with you.

Recently on a family trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama, my family ate at a restaurant called Fish River Grill known for their Famous OMG! Shrimp Feast Po’Boy and Swamp Soup. Of course, I had to try both, and they did not disappoint. I am now obsessed with the Swamp Soup. It featured collards, white beans, and black beans, and they served it in a tiny little Styrofoam cup.

So I did what I do, and I ran home, bought collards and recreated it. The soup had all the flavors of any yummy recipe – tang (acid), sweetness, salt and heat. That’s why you’ll find vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, salt and pepper in this recipe, and they are all to taste. I’ve included a range for each of these ingredients, and I recommend starting at the lower end of each, tasting it and then adding more of each until you get a taste that you love.

Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.

Recipe FAQs

  • You can make a ton of substitutions in this swamp soup.
    • Swap out mustard greens for collard greens.
    • Cannelinni beans can be used instead of Great Northern Beans, or use all black beans or all Great Northern Beans instead of a combination.
    • Vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth.  Use 2 large cartons if desired, or use 1 carton, and cover the collards the rest of the way with water.
    • A ham hock, or chunks of ham would be delicious instead of kielbasa. Use Polish, turkey or whatever kind of kielbasa you like.
  • The amounts of vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, salt and pepper are to your taste for this southern collard green soup.  The recipe has a range, so start at the bottom and adjust up.  Like a tang? Use more vinegar. Prefer a sweeter soup? Up the sugar.  Desire a kick of heat?  Tabasco is the way to go.  That’s the great thing about soup, it’s completely able to be customized.
  • Love collard greens? Try our Braised Collards with Tomatoes.
  • I’ve made this same recipe in the crock pot. Throw it all together and set on low for 5-6 hours.
  • Love greens?  Try Cold Fighting Kale Soup, Wilted Kale and Bacon, Instant Pot Tomato Braised Kale, and Simple Mango Kale Salad.
  • Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry essentials and kitchen items.
Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.

Ingredient List

  • Onions
  • Smoked Sausage (Kielbasa)
  • Olive Oil
  • Minced Garlis
  • Chicken Broth or Chicken Stock
  • Collards
  • Black Beans
  • Great Northern Beans or Cannellini Beans
  • White Vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Tabasco
  • Salt and Black Pepper

How to Make Collard Green and Bean Soup

Step By Step Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, saute onions and kielbasa in olive oil; add garlic and saute for an additional minute.
  2. Add collard greens, and wilt over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
  3. To the collards, add the broth, and then water to cover the greens.
  4. Reduce heat to low, and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hour or until the collards are tender.
  5. Add drained beans, and vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, salt and pepper to taste.

The full recipe for swamp soup can be found at the bottom of this post. 

Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.
Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.

Looking for more healthy soup recipes like collard green soup?

Collard Greens and Beans Soup

Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 15 minutes
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Collard Green Soup, Collard Greens and Bean Soup, Swamp Soup
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 241kcal
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
  • 14 ounces kielbasa, diced
  • 1 pound collard greens
  • 32 ounces chicken or vegetable broth
  • 15.5 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15.5 ounces Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4-1/2 cup vinegar
  • to taste salt and pepper
  • to taste Tabasco

Instructions

  • In a large stock pan or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add onions and kielbasa and saute until lightly browned; add garlic and saute for 1 minute longer.
  • Add collard greens that have been washed, chopped and have had the center core removed. Stir for 2-3 minutes or until collards begin to wilt; add chicken broth. Add water until the collards are covered completely. (additional chicken broth can be used instead.)
  • Cover and cook over medium heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until collards are tender.
  • Add vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • There are a ton of substitutions that can be made in this swamp soup.
    • Swap out mustard greens for collard greens.
    • Cannelini beans can be used instead of Great Northern Beans. Or, use all black beans or all Great Northern Beans instead of a combination.
    • Vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth.  Use 2 large cartons if desired, or use 1 carton, and cover the collards the rest of the way with water.
    • A ham hock, or chunks of ham would be delicious instead of kielbasa.  Use polish, turkey or whatever kind of kielbasa you like. 
  • The amounts of vinegar, sugar, Tabasco, salt and pepper are to your taste.  The recipe has a range, so start at the bottom and adjust up.  Like a tang? Use more vinegar. Prefer a sweeter soup? Up the sugar.  Desire a kick of heat?  Tabasco is the way to go.  That’s the great thing about soup, it’s completely able to be customized.
  • I’ve made this same recipe in the crock pot.  Throw it all together and set on low for 5-6 hours.
  • Love greens?  Try Cold Fighting Kale Soup, Wilted Kale and Bacon, Instant Pot Tomato Braised Kale, and Simple Mango Kale Salad. 
  • The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. 

Nutrition

Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 474mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1897IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 2mg
Collard Greens and Bean Soup is a new spin on those classic southern collard greens.  The addition of kielbasa, black beans and Great Northern beans make this healthy vegetable into a full meal.

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