Korean Turkey Sloppy Joe Sliders (Printer-Friendly)

Sweet and spicy turkey piled on soft buns with crunchy tangy slaw for the perfect party bite.

# What You Need:

→ Turkey Filling

01 - 1 pound ground turkey
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean chili paste)
07 - 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
09 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
12 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Crunchy Slaw

13 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
14 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
15 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
16 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
17 - 1 teaspoon honey
18 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
19 - Pinch of salt and pepper

→ Assembly

20 - 8 slider buns
21 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, optional for garnish

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, rice vinegar, honey, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. Toss with shredded cabbage and carrots. Refrigerate until ready to use.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and grated ginger; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
04 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens. Stir in sliced green onions and remove from heat.
05 - Toast slider buns lightly if desired.
06 - Spoon a generous amount of turkey mixture onto each bun bottom, top with crunchy slaw, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and cover with bun tops.
07 - Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They come together in 40 minutes flat, which means you can actually make these on a weeknight without losing your mind.
  • The gochujang-soy sauce situation hits that sweet-spicy-savory trifecta that makes people ask for the recipe immediately.
  • Ground turkey keeps things lighter than beef, so you can eat more sliders without feeling weighed down.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the slider buns—it changes everything by giving them structure to hold all that beautiful filling without getting soggy.
  • Make the slaw at least 15 minutes ahead so it has time to chill and the flavors blend, which makes a huge difference in how fresh it tastes.
03 -
  • Toast a few extra slider buns just for yourself because once you taste how much better they are when lightly charred, you'll understand why this step matters.
  • If you want more heat, mince a jalapeño and fold it into the turkey filling, or sprinkle gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) directly on the slaw for lingering spice.
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