Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Printable)

Sweet and spicy ground turkey with gochujang piled onto soft slider buns topped with tangy crunchy slaw for a fusion take on classic comfort.

# What You Need:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1 pound 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

→ Assembly

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

# How-To:

01 - In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrots, and sliced green onions.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, sesame oil, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Toss vegetables with dressing until evenly coated. Refrigerate until assembly.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and grated ginger; cook 1 minute more.
05 - Add ground turkey to skillet. Break meat into small pieces with spoon, stirring constantly until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
06 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, and black pepper. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats turkey evenly.
07 - Fold in sliced green onions and remove from heat. Keep warm until assembly.
08 - Lightly toast slider buns if desired for structural integrity.
09 - Spoon generous portion of warm turkey mixture onto bottom half of each bun. Top with crunchy slaw and sesame seeds if using. Crown with top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Bold Flavors: The combination of gochujang and fresh ginger creates a complex, savory sauce.
  • Quick and Easy: Ready in just 40 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy evenings.
  • Crunchy Contrast: The homemade vinegar-based slaw provides a satisfying crunch that balances the juicy turkey.
02 -
  • Toast the Buns: A quick toast prevents the buns from becoming soggy from the saucy turkey mixture.
  • Cold Slaw: Keep the slaw refrigerated until the very last second to ensure a refreshing temperature contrast against the hot turkey.
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