Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Printable version)

Fusion sliders featuring gochujang-spiced turkey topped with fresh sesame slaw on soft buns.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrots, and sliced 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. Transfer to refrigerator 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; continue cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until completely 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 while stirring occasionally until the mixture thickens and flavors meld. Fold in sliced green onions and remove from heat.
05 - Toast slider buns if desired. Divide turkey filling evenly among the bottom halves of the buns. Top each with a generous portion of chilled slaw and a light sprinkle of sesame seeds if using. Cover with the top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You get that messy, satisfying sloppy joe experience but with a spicy-sweet Korean twist that makes people ask for the recipe immediately.
  • The whole thing comes together in under an hour, which means you can actually make dinner on a weeknight without sacrificing flavor.
  • The contrast between the warm, glossy turkey and the crisp, tangy slaw is addictive in a way regular sliders just aren't.
02 -
  • Don't skip the slaw dressing step, thinking you'll just pile raw cabbage on top, because that's how you end up with a bland textural element instead of a tangy, cohesive component that actually tastes like part of the dish.
  • If your sauce looks too thin after simmering, you didn't cook it long enough, but if it's too thick and pasty, it means the heat was too high and you've concentrated it too much, so adjust your next batch by controlling the simmer time carefully.
03 -
  • Toast your slider buns in a hot skillet instead of under a broiler, which gives you more control and prevents them from drying out while you watch them carefully for about two minutes per side.
  • Chill your cabbage slaw mix before serving, which keeps it crisp and gives it time to absorb the dressing flavors while staying textually distinct from the warm turkey filling.
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