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! 😋
This is good conceptually, but simmering collards for 10-15 minutes seems too short. Also I browned the chicken and it was nice, but 5 minutes each side felt like too long? Not sure, maybe my skillet runs hot.
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! 🛒
Blah. My family didn’t like it at all. The flavor was off and the chicken wasn’t crispy enough. Ugh.
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!
Yummy! My grandma used to make this same recipe but with bacon. I think I will try that next time!
Bacon sounds great! Extra flavor for sure. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
This was soooo good! The chicken was crispy like I love it! Will definitely make again.
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it! 😍
Looks good, but are collard greens really that good? I mean, aren’t they kinda bitter?
Thanks! It really is yummy! I’ve made it twice already. 😊
This recipe is so good! My whole family loved it. The flavors are amazing!
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.
I don’t like greens, so I just made the chicken. It was still yummy! Can’t go wrong with crispy chicken.
But you missed out on the greens! They add a whole nother level of flavor. 😕
Glad you enjoyed the chicken! I think it’s all about the seasoning, ain’t it? 🐔
Easy skillet meal! I love that you brown the chicken first then simmer the greens in the drippings. Next time I’ll sear a tiny bit longer for extra crunch on the skin.
Not gonna lie, I might’ve burned mine 😅 but the drippings + collards were still really good. Next time I’ll watch the heat more and maybe add a splash more broth.
Love this idea! Browning the chicken first really makes the whole skillet taste deeper. I did it exactly once and now it’s on my “repeat” list.
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 for dinner last night. My husband said it was the best meal ever! I’m glad I found this!
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? 🔥
Pretty good! I’m not usually a collard person, but the garlic and broth helped a lot. Only thing: my greens took closer to 25 minutes to soften. Still worth it though.
So good! The crunch on the chicken is just right. Will be making this again!
Chicken and greens? Sounds weird! But I gave it a try and wow, I was surprised! Good dish.