If you’re looking for a healthy, easy-to-make dinner that’s full of flavor and packed with nutrients, chicken and collard greens skillet is the answer. This one-pan meal combines lean chicken with hearty collard greens, creating a dish that’s both comforting and nourishing. Whether you’re looking to add more greens to your diet or simply want a satisfying dinner, this recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
The chicken is the star of this dish, juicy, tender, and full of protein. Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, you can season them with a blend of garlic, onion, paprika, salt, and pepper, giving the meat a delicious base of flavor. Once seared in the skillet, the chicken becomes golden brown, forming a savory crust.
Collard greens, known for their rich, earthy flavor, are the perfect complement to the chicken. These greens are not only packed with fiber and vitamins but also hold up well in a skillet, absorbing the flavors of the chicken and seasonings as they cook. After sautéing the greens with garlic and a splash of chicken broth or water, they become tender but still maintain a pleasant bite. You can even add a squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of vinegar to brighten the dish.
The beauty of this chicken and collard greens skillet is its simplicity. Everything comes together in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. The flavors meld beautifully as they cook, and the result is a well-rounded, hearty meal with a balance of protein, greens, and savory seasonings.
To make it even more filling, serve the skillet with a side of quinoa, brown rice, or mashed sweet potatoes. It’s a meal that’s perfect for those who are trying to eat cleaner or follow a low-carb, high-protein diet.
Whether you’re cooking for one or preparing a meal for the family, this chicken and collard greens skillet will quickly become a go-to recipe for a satisfying, nutrient-packed dinner.

Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bunch collard greens stems removed and leaves chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs with paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook for 5 minutes until browned and crispy.
- Flip the chicken thighs and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the chopped collard greens and chicken broth to the skillet.
- Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the collard greens are tender.
- Return the chicken thighs to the skillet and cook for another 5 minutes until heated through.
- Serve the chicken and collard greens skillet hot.
Easy recipe! I halved everything since I only had 2 thighs. It turned out great! 😋
So easy to follow! My kids ate it all, which is rare! 😂
Made it today. My kids loved it! Surprising since they usually hate greens. 😄
My kids loved it! They actually ate greens for once! 😄
That’s awesome! It’s so great when kids eat their veggies. 👏
Really? My kids would never touch collard greens. 🤔
This is not a healthy dish. How can you cook chicken with skin and feel good about it? #notforme
Tasty! But I kind of burnt my chicken. Maybe I’ll try cooking on lower heat next time.
Lower heat is good idea! But like, why not just try using a timer? That’s what I do!
Burnt chicken? It’s all good! Just keep an eye on it next time. Cookin’s a skill, right? 😊
Need to get a skillet like that, it seems to work magic! 🍳
Right? That skillet looks awesome! Definitely thinking of getting one myself! 🛒
Simple and delicious! I used chicken breasts instead of thighs, and it was still good. Thanks for sharing!
Why do you need chicken broth? Seems like an unnecessary step! 🤔
I actually think the chicken broth adds a lot of flavor and moisture to the dish. Without it, the greens might be too dry! 🥴
Love collard greens but I think there’s a typo. It says 1 cup broth but that’s not enough!
This was soooo good! The chicken was crispy like I love it! Will definitely make again.
I dont know what collard greens r but I just used spinach, still turned out nice. chicken was good.
I tried making this but the chicken was undercooked. Will definitely need to cook it longer next time.
I ain’t never had a problem with it bein’ undercooked. You sure you followed all the steps?
Maybe try using a meat thermometer next time. It helps to avoid undercooking for sure!
Great recipe! My grandma used to do something similar but with kale. Same vibe, love it!
Is collard greens really that good? Not sure I trust this. I’m more of a kale person.
The recipe seem 2 complicated for me. I just boil chicken most times lol.
Don’t worry! Boiling chicken is easy, but this recipe is really not that hard once you try it. Just take it step by step! 🍗
I made this and forgot the chicken broth, it was dry! 😩 Next time I’ll follow the recipe right.
I used kale instead of collard greens since that’s what I had. Still turned out great!
That’s awesome! Kale is such a great substitute, I bet it added a nice twist.
Yum! 👍 Best dish I’ve made in weeks!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! This recipe is a gem, isn’t it? 🔥
So good! The crunch on the chicken is just right. Will be making this again!
Yummy recipe but ugh, what’s collard greens? Honestly, didn’t even care, tasted good!
I tried making this but the chicken didn’t cook right. Maybe I misread the heat or something?
Absolutely loved this recipe! The chicken was so juicy and the collard greens added a nice touch. Will definitely make it again! 🍗💚
Did not turn out like the picture. What a bummer.🧐
Wasn’t a fan of the collard greens, too bitter for my taste. Chicken was good though.
Collard greens are bitter! Is there a way to take that taste out? I don’t know if I’ll make this again.
This recipe was so easy to follow and turned out delicious! My family loved it.
Yuk! Who eats greens with chicken like this? Give me pizza any day!
Pizza is way better, sorry! This sounds kinda gross to me.
OMG this chicken was so juicy! I added some hot sauce on top and wow!
Cooked this for my family. They disnt love it, but I thought it was decent. Just needs more flavor, maybe some lemon?
This recipe is nonsense! Can’t believe anyone would cook with collard greens. #NotMyStyle
It was okay, but my chicken got a bit overcooked. Maybe I should’ve watched it more closely.
It sounds delicious! Just be careful not to cook the chicken too long next time. That can dry it out.
Overcooked chicken? Just add some sauce! Helps cover it up LOL. But yeah, it happens to the best of us.
Seems like a lot of work, not sure I’m up for it. Could just grab takeout.
I get that! Sometimes takeout is just easier. But trust me, homemade is sooo much better! You got this!
Looks good but I’ll stick with my pizza. This seems like a lot of ingredients for a skillet. 🤷♂️
This dish was excellent! The chicken was crispy just like I love it. Great recipe!
It’s okay, but I think it needed more seasoning. I added some lemon juice and it helped a bit.
Simple, yet delicious! Can’t believe how easy it was! Will make again for sure!
Really easy to prepare but I wish it had more flavor. Maybe add some hot sauce next time?
I followed the instruction step by step but the collard greens turned out mushy. What did I do wrong?
Sooo good!!! I added some hot sauce for a kick and it was perfect! 🌶️🔥
Not sure about the hot sauce. Seems like it might overtake the flavor of the chicken and greens. 🤷♂️
I love the idea of adding hot sauce!🙌 Makes everything better, right? Adding more spice is always a win! 🌶️
Best chicken dish I’ve ever made! So juicy!
This dish sounds delicious! I’m definitely trying it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Juicy? I dunno, chicken can be kinda dry sometimes. Did you check the temp?
It was okay, but I think the collard greens would’ve been better cooked longer. They were still a bit tough.
This recipe was awesome! My family loved it! 👍
Too salty for my taste. Maybe lay off the salt a bit!
I thought it was perfect! Maybe you just need to adjust your taste buds? The salt really enhances the flavor.
I didn’t find it salty at all. Double check your measurements. Sometimes a pinch too much can ruin it.
I wasn’t sure about collard greens, but this recipe made them taste sooo good! Will def make again.
Followed the recipe but ended up burning the chicken. Next time I’ll watch it closer!
This recipe is delish! The chicken came out so crispy, and the collard greens were perfect! Will make again!
Collard greens? Never heard of it! What do they taste like? 🙄
Yum! I love how simple this is. Even my kids liked it, and they usually refuse greens! 😁
This took like 30 mins, way longer than I thought. Good taste tho, but not worth the time for me.
5 stars, 5 stars, 5 stars!!!
My kids didn’t like it much but I thought it was okay. Just average.
This was so easy and quick to prepare. I love one-skillet meals!
Sounds easy, but my chicken never comes out right. What am I doing wrong? 🤔
I totally agree! One-skillet meals save so much time. Can’t wait to try this one!
Didn’t have collard greens so I used spinach instead. It was still good but I think I messed it up a bit lol.
Eh, it was alright. Kinda bland if you ask me. Needs more spices!
I don’t know about collard greens tbh. The chicken was fine, but the greens had a weird taste. Maybe I cooked them wrong?
I made this for my husband and he said it was ‘meh’. Guess we have different tastes!
Maybe he just doesn’t like collard greens? I loved it! Everyone’s taste is different.
I think it sounds delish! But my husband would probably say ‘meh’ too. He’s picky.
Delicious! The chicken came out so juicy and the collard greens were perfect. Will definitely make again!
Y’all sure about the chicken skins? They just get greasy! But the flavor was good otherwise.
I tried this but used spinach instead of collard greens… did not taste right! 🙁
I think collard greens really make the dish! Spinach is too soft and watery for this recipe. Give it another go with collards!
Who knew spinach was a bad idea? I always use it. But maybe collards are better, I dunno. 🤷♂️
Yuk! I don’t like greens, why would anyone make this? Chicken is fine, just skip the rest.
Collard greens are the worst!! Chicken was fine and all, but I’d rather eat anything else than greens.
This is a tasty recipe! The chicken turned out so juicy and the collards were perfect. Definitely a keeper!
I totally agree! This recipe is a game changer! 🍗🥬
I tried it and found the chicken too greasy. Not my favorite.
Yum! Used kale instead since that’s what I had. Still turned out good, thanks for the idea!
Perfect combo of flavors! It remind me of my grandma’s cooking. So nostalgic!
What are collard greens? Anyone can tell me? Sounds weird but I might give it a shot!