The most important thing about Korean Sloppy Joes in 30 seconds
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Simply
- The special: The sauce does not contain any ketchup and is based only on gochujang, soy sauce and sesame oil, with cold cucumber and Kewpie mayonnaise providing a contrast to the warm mince.
- Perfect for: The quick end of work and every burger evening with friends
Korean Sloppy Joes are a fusion take on the American sandwich classic, where spicy gochujang ground meat meets a soft bun. All you need is a pan and a board. After 20 minutes the food is on the table.
It’s burger time!
Make your own burger patties
Are you in the mood for really great burgers? Then you definitely have to make your patties yourself! You can find out exactly how this works and which meat we recommend for it in detail in this article. This is how you get burgers with a real WOW effect!
Korean Sloppy Joes: When America Meets Korea
Korean Sloppy Joes solve a problem we all know: you come home tired, want something warm and real, but you just don’t want to spend long in the kitchen. That’s exactly what this recipe is made for. Sweet and spicy minced meat Gochujangcold cucumber slices, creamy mayo, soft bun. Complete.
To be honest, the whole thing was created from using leftovers. After our chicken wings – Korean Fried Chicken and the Gochujang Mayo with Japanese mayonnaise, there was still an open cup of Gochujang in the fridge, and at some point, when Theres looked inside, she said: “Make something quick out of it.” No sooner said than done. Since then, Korean Sloppy Joes have been a staple in our after-work repertoire, right next to Korean Chicken Bao. What can I say: Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that come from a half-empty fridge.
The most important ingredients for Korean Sloppy Joes
Gochujang – The fermented one Korean chili paste is the heart of the sauce. It brings spiciness, sweetness and a slightly smoky depth that you can’t get with any other product.
Ground beef – We use classic ground beef with a little fat, which stays juicy when roasted. Mixed mince works in a pinch too.
soy sauce – Replaces salt and ketchup at the same time. It removes the mince and forms the sauce base together with the gochujang.
sesame oil – Please use roasted sesame oil, not light. Just two teaspoons give the minced mixture this typical flavor nutty Asian aroma.
Kewpie mayonnaise – Japanese mayo is only mixed with egg yolk and therefore tastes rounder and full-bodied. Regular mayonnaise works too, but it’s not quite the same.
Cucumber – Cold and crunchy against the warm, spicy mince. This contrast creates the sandwich moment, so don’t leave it out. The important thing here is to definitely use fresh cucumber!
Burger buns – Soft buns are a must, crispy rolls don’t work here. Homemade ones like our burger buns taste best.
This way your Korean Sloppy Joes are guaranteed to be a success
The crucial success factor: Fry the minced meat until it’s really crumbly and with it roasted aromas before adding onions and garlic. If you throw everything into the pan at the same time, you’ll cook the meat gray instead of frying it, and that’s exactly where the flavor is lost.
Second point: The gochujang is only added after deglazing with the soy sauce and then only steeped over low heat. Too much heat makes the paste bitter. If the mixture becomes too dry, add water a little at a time. After all, sloppy means juicy, not crumbly.
And then our favorite trick that distinguishes this recipe from the run-of-the-mill version: place the cut buns with the cut side directly on the minced meat. The rising steam makes them soft and they absorb aroma. No toaster, no extra step. So, they are very close to steamed bao buns.
Unlike the classic Sloppy Joe Burger, there is no need for ketchup or tomato paste. The sauce lives solely from gochujang, soy sauce and sesame oil, and that’s exactly what makes it so clear in taste.
📖 Recipe
Korean Sloppy Joes with Gochujang
Preparation time
5 minutes
Cooking time
15 minutes
Total time
20 minutes
🥕 Ingredients for the recipe
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Cut the cucumber into thin slices, cut the spring onion into fine rings and roughly dice the onion.
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Fry the ground beef in a large skillet over high heat until crumbly, 5 minutes, until roasted aromas appear. Press in the garlic, add the onion cubes and sauté until translucent. Season with a little salt and the sugar.
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Deglaze with soy sauce, stir in sesame oil and gochujang paste and let everything steep over low heat for 5 minutes. If the mixture becomes too dry, add water a little at a time.
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Cut the burger buns open and place them with the cut side down on the minced mixture for 1 to 2 minutes so that they become soft in the steam.
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Spread the buns on both cut surfaces with Kewpie mayonnaise. Place the minced meat mixture on the lower halves, top with spring onion rings, 3 to 4 cucumber slices and sesame seeds. Fold and serve immediately.
Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 28G | Protein: 28G | Fat: 15G | Sugar: 7G
Frequently asked questions about Korean Sloppy Joes answered briefly
A sloppy joe is an American sandwich made from spicy braised ground beef in a soft burger bun. The name comes from the “sloppy” food, because the juicy minced meat tends to spill out when you bite into it. That’s exactly how it should be.
With a teaspoon of gochujang, they are pleasantly mild and spicy and suitable for families. Gochujang brings more depth than pure spiciness. If you like it spicier, just take double the amount.
Kewpie is a Japanese mayonnaise that is made only with egg yolks instead of whole eggs and therefore tastes creamier and fuller. Normal mayonnaise works as a substitute, adding a small splash of rice vinegar to it.
Yes, the minced meat mixture can easily be prepared a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. To serve, heat it in the pan with a splash of water, then steam the buns and top with fresh toppings.
Ground beef with a little fat is ideal because it stays juicy and stands up to the strong Asian flavors. Mixed minced meat also works, but pure poultry minced meat dries out quickly.
Would you like to cook again?
Then get to the pan, in 20 minutes you’ll be biting into your first Korean Sloppy Joe. We’ve had them so often in the last few weeks that our gochujang cup is already empty again. If you’re craving more Korean cuisine, be sure to try our Mandu – Korean Dumplings. Feel free to show us your results on Instagram at @gernekochen, we’ll be happy about every tag and share our favorites in the story. Have fun feasting!
Lose and taste good.
Benni is not just the organizational person in the background. He has an overview of everything, writes the emails and takes care of the technical stuff.
He also supports and advises small manufacturers, start-ups, well-known manufacturers and global players on social media and blogger relations.
He is not only the boss at the stove, but especially at our grills. The fact that he is also professionally involved in the BBQ sector benefits him. He is best known for his meatballs, steaks and super creamy scrambled eggs. He then leaves the sweet things to Theres.
You rarely see him on social media; he is the famous off-screen voice who leaves an impression with appropriate comments.
