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Cabbage: The Coolest Cruciferous Crunch

June 22, 2026

Food

Move over Brussels sprouts — there’s a new cruciferous kid in town.

From hip restaurants to trend-savvy home cooks, the humble cabbage is getting its moment in the spotlight.

Why is cabbage trending today?

This unassuming leafy veggie is easy to find in the produce section of nearly every supermarket, and is a well-known staple for simple side dishes, like coleslaw and stuffed cabbage rolls. But in 2026, that’s all changing; cabbage has been upgraded to a star ingredient, and is taking over social media, food blogs and menus, much like other on-trend ingredients, such as hot honey and chili crisp.

There’s a lot to love about cabbage: It’s affordable, accessible and packed with fiber, as well as vitamin K and vitamin C. And it’s so versatile! Raw cabbage is delightfully crunchy and fresh; cooked, it turns tender and luscious. And, there are different varieties of cabbage, each with their own specialty: Sweet and peppery red cabbage is perfect for shredded salads and slaws; vegetal, mellow, green cabbage is ideal for braises and stews; and delicate Napa cabbage is great for stir-fries and filling for dumplings. Actually, come to think of it, what can’t cabbage do?

I grow cabbage and I pretty much always have a form of cabbage in my fridge, even if it’s just our pickled or fermented cabbage, because high fiber vegetables are super important to my family’s diet.

Chef Amy Forbis, Hormel Foods Executive Chef, Retail

Make It Sizzle In Stir Fry

Cabbage, cured pork and peanuts are a match made in heaven. This quick-cooking dish — ideal for busy weeknights — punches well above its weight. A heap of crisp-tender cabbage, carrots and scallions are topped with sizzled diced SPAM® Classic, ginger and garlic, and everything is tossed in a creamy homemade sauce made from SKIPPY® Peanut Butter and garnished with a shower of PLANTERS® Dry Roasted Peanuts, scallions and sesame seeds. In under 30 minutes, you’ve got a delectable Asian-inspired cabbage dish with flavor for miles.

SPAM® Classic & Peanut Cabbage Stir-Fry

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4 servings
 
¼ cup creamy SKIPPY® Peanut Butter
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
2 teaspoons chili crisp or sriracha, optional
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 (12-ounce) can SPAM® classic, diced
4 cups shredded green cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
3 green onions, sliced, whites and greens separated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
cup PLANTERS® Dry Roasted Peanuts, roughly chopped
Sesame seeds, optional, for garnish
Lime wedges, optional, for garnish

Directions

  1. Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey and chili crisp in a small bowl until smooth, adding warm water as needed, until a pourable sauce forms, about 2-4 tablespoons. Set aside.

  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add SPAM® classic and cook until golden-brown and crispy on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.

  3. Heat remaining oil, and add cabbage, carrots and white parts of green onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, and cook until just fragrant, about 1 minute.

  4. Add reserved peanut sauce mixture and SPAM® classic back to skillet, tossing gently to coat, and cook until just heated through, about 1-2 minutes.

  5. Remove from heat, and garnish with peanuts, remaining green onions, sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime.

Supercharge Salad to beRestaurant-Worthy

This spin on a wedge salad uses up an entire head of cabbage and makes for a satisfying side or impressive main dish. Wedges of cabbage are twice-cooked: first, charred in sizzling bacon fat, then roasted in a skillet. Finish the cooked cabbage with a creamy honey mustard sauce and a generous sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs and crispy chopped HORMEL® BLACK LABEL® Original Bacon. The epic presentation looks straight out of a steakhouse!

Bacon & Charred Cabbage Wedges

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6 servings
 
6 slices HORMEL® BLACK LABEL® Original Bacon, chopped
1 large green cabbage, cut into 6 wedges, keeping core intact
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1½ teaspoons salt, divided
¾ teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1½ tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon garlic powder, optional
¼ teaspoon paprika, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add bacon. Cook until bacon is crispy and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from skillet and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, reserving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.

  2. Brush cabbage wedges with olive oil and season with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Place into the hot skillet with bacon fat and sear until deeply charred, about 3-4 minutes. Flip cabbage and place skillet in oven to roast until the cabbage is tender, about 15-20 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile combine mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, remaining salt and remaining pepper in a small bowl, whisking until smooth. Set aside.

  4. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and toast, stirring frequently, until golden-brown and crisp. Remove from heat and add garlic powder and paprika, if using.

  5. Transfer roasted cabbage wedges to a serving platter. Drizzle with honey mustard sauce and garnish with crispy bacon and breadcrumbs. Serve warm.

Chop &Bowl It Up

Braising cabbage unlocks a whole new level of mellow texture. Try the technique in this super comforting bowl, great for a chilly evening or rainy afternoon! After a quick sauté in butter, thinly sliced cabbage simmers in a seasoned blend of chicken broth and apple cider vinegar until silky and tender. It’s topped with HORMEL® SQUARE TABLE® Slow Simmered Pork Au Jus, for a tasty homestyle meal. Tip: Serve with crusty bread or mashed potatoes for extra heartiness.

Pork Roast & Braised Cabbage Bowl

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6 servings
 
2 packages HORMEL® SQUARE TABLE® Slow Simmered Pork Roast Au Jus
1 small head green cabbage, thinly sliced
½ yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, optional, for garnish

Directions

  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add cabbage, toss to coat in butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 7-9 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  2. Pour in chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper and stir until combined. Cover and let the cabbage simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6-8 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, heat pork roast according to package instructions.

  4. Divide cabbage evenly among serving bowls, and top with pork. Drizzle with remaining au jus gravy, and garnish with parsley. Serve warm.