Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Printable)

Sweet and spicy ground turkey piled onto soft slider buns with tangy, crunchy slaw for a delicious Korean-American fusion take on classic comfort food.

# Required 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

→ Serving

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

# Preparation Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, and green onions. In a separate small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Toss the vegetable mixture with the dressing until evenly coated. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
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, cooking for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart 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 reaches desired thickness. Fold in sliced green onions and remove from heat.
05 - Toast slider buns if desired. Distribute generous portions of turkey mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with chilled slaw and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Crown with bun top and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ground turkey stays lean and flavorful without feeling heavy, which means you can actually eat two or three without the food coma.
  • The gochujang sauce tastes complex and restaurant-worthy, but comes together in about ten minutes once your pan is hot.
  • That bright, crunchy slaw cuts through the richness perfectly and reminds your palate to keep going for another bite.
02 -
  • If your filling seems too thin after cooking, let it simmer uncovered for another minute or two, because the consistency should cling to a spoon rather than run off it.
  • Don't skip the refrigerated slaw step if you have time, as it makes the cabbage softer and more flavorful than if you serve it immediately.
03 -
  • Toasting your buns in a dry skillet for just a minute or two on each side keeps them warm and gives them subtle color without making them hard.
  • The gochujang and soy sauce are salty enough on their own, so taste before you add extra salt to the turkey filling or you might end up with something overly aggressive.
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