Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Printable View)

Sweet and spicy ground turkey on soft buns topped with tangy crunchy slaw for a delicious Korean-American fusion comfort food.

# Ingredient List:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1/4 cup gochujang
07 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon ketchup
11 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Slaw

14 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
15 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
16 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
17 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
18 - 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
19 - 1 teaspoon sugar
20 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
21 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For Serving

22 - 8 slider buns
23 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, optional

# How to Make:

01 - In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrots, and green onions. In a separate small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Toss the dressing with vegetables until evenly coated. Refrigerate until assembly.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet. Break apart with a spoon while cooking for 5 to 7 minutes until fully browned and cooked through, ensuring no pink remains.
04 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, and black pepper. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and flavors meld. Fold in sliced green onions and remove from heat.
05 - Toast slider buns lightly if desired. Spoon generous portions of turkey mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with chilled slaw and sesame seeds if using. Cover with top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The slaw stays crisp and tangy even after sitting, making these sliders perfect for meal prep or potlucks.
  • Ground turkey keeps things lighter than beef but still delivers that satisfying, messy-in-the-best-way comfort food vibe.
  • Sweet, spicy, and funky all at once, these flavors wake up your taste buds without requiring a ton of skill.
02 -
  • Don't skip the ginger, because it's what makes this taste unmistakably Korean rather than just spicy American.
  • The slaw needs to sit and get cold, so prepare it while the turkey cooks to avoid the frustration of serving warm slaw on warm meat.
03 -
  • Toast your slider buns if the weather is humid or if you're storing them, because this prevents sogginess without requiring any special equipment.
  • Make the slaw dressing thicker than you think it needs to be, because the cabbage will release water as it sits and dilute everything slightly.
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