Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Print Version)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

→ Assembly

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 vegetable mixture with dressing 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. Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger; cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
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 mixture reaches desired thickness. Fold in sliced green onions and remove from heat.
05 - Lightly toast slider buns if desired. Divide turkey filling evenly among bottom bun halves. Top each portion with generous amount of chilled slaw and sesame seeds if using. Cover with top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours cooking but comes together in under 40 minutes, which feels like cheating in the best way.
  • The sweet-spicy-tangy balance hits all your taste buds at once and honestly makes regular sliders feel boring forever after.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the buns because a soggy bun is the fastest way to turn an elegant slider into a sloppy mess (I learned this the hard way at a family dinner).
  • Taste the turkey mixture before you finish because gochujang brands vary wildly in heat level, and you might want to add a splash more vinegar or a pinch of sugar depending on which one you grabbed.
03 -
  • Make the slaw first so it has time to marinate and the flavors develop while you're cooking the turkey, which is the real time saver.
  • If you want extra heat, add sriracha or fresh chopped chilies directly to the turkey filling rather than on top, so the heat distributes evenly throughout each slider.
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