Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Printable)

Sweet and spicy turkey piled on soft buns with tangy crunchy slaw for a delicious Korean-American fusion twist.

# What You’ll 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

# Steps:

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 the vegetable mixture with the dressing until evenly coated. Refrigerate until assembly.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and grated ginger; cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes until completely browned and cooked through.
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. Spoon generous portions of turkey mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with generous amount of slaw and sesame seeds if using. Cover with top bun and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in under 40 minutes, making weeknight dinner feel restaurant-quality without the fuss.
  • The contrast between sweet-spicy turkey and crisp, tangy slaw creates a flavor experience that feels surprising every bite.
  • Ground turkey stays lean while gochujang keeps everything impossibly moist and deeply flavorful.
02 -
  • Gochujang is salty—taste the filling before adding more salt, or you'll end up with something inedible and no way to fix it.
  • Don't skip the slaw or use store-bought coleslaw; the fresh vegetables and homemade dressing are what elevate this from ordinary to unforgettable.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for thirty seconds before sprinkling them on—their flavor becomes three times more pronounced and adds a subtle crunch that tastes expensive.
  • If the turkey filling seems dry while simmering, you can add a splash of water or low-sodium broth, but gochujang releases liquid as it cooks, so be patient before adjusting.
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