Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Print)

Gochujang-spiced turkey sliders with crisp vinegar slaw deliver sweet heat in every bite.

# Ingredients:

→ 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrots, and green onions. In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Toss the vegetable mixture with the dressing until well coated. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and grated ginger; cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
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. Fold in sliced green onions and remove from heat.
05 - Toast the slider buns if desired. Spoon generous portions of the turkey mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with crunchy slaw and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if using. Cover with the top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ground turkey cooks fast, so you'll have dinner ready in under 40 minutes without sacrificing flavor.
  • The slaw keeps everything bright and crunchy, which means every bite stays interesting instead of getting soggy.
  • Gochujang does all the heavy lifting, so you're not standing over the stove coaxing out complex flavors.
02 -
  • Don't skip refrigerating the slaw; it needs those 20 minutes to soften slightly and let the vinegar flavor penetrate, which is when it becomes addictively tangy.
  • If your gochujang is very thick, whisk it with a tablespoon of water before adding it to the skillet so it incorporates smoothly instead of creating lumps.
03 -
  • Toast your slider buns lightly in a dry skillet before assembling; this creates a subtle crunch and prevents them from absorbing too much liquid.
  • If you want more heat, add sriracha or diced fresh chilies to the turkey filling in the last minute of cooking, tasting as you go.
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