Imagine a culinary adventure that transforms the classic American sloppy joe into a mouthwatering Korean-inspired sensation that will make your taste buds dance with excitement! This Slow Cooker Korean Sloppy Joes recipe is not just another sandwich - it's a perfect fusion of bold Korean flavors and comforting American street food that will have your family and friends begging for seconds. With just 10 minutes of prep and a slow cooker's magic, you'll create a meal that's both incredibly easy and ridiculously delicious.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: Korean-American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 6 hamburger buns
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain excess fat from the meat.
- Transfer the browned ground beef to the slow cooker, adding the diced onions.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, and gochujang until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the ground beef and onions in the slow cooker, stirring to ensure the meat is evenly coated.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat. Cook for 4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the meat to become tender.
- About 15 minutes before serving, toast the hamburger buns lightly to enhance their texture and flavor.
- Once cooking is complete, stir the beef mixture to break up any large chunks and ensure a sloppy consistency.
- Spoon the Korean-style sloppy joe mixture generously onto the toasted buns.
- Garnish each sandwich with freshly sliced green onions for added flavor and color.
- Serve immediately while warm, and enjoy the fusion of Korean and American flavors.
Tips
- Choose a high-quality ground beef with some fat content for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Make sure to drain excess fat after browning the beef to prevent a greasy final dish.
- For an extra kick, adjust the amount of gochujang - more will increase the heat and complexity of flavor.
- If you can't find gochujang, you can substitute with sriracha and a bit of miso paste, though the flavor will be slightly different.
- Toast the buns just before serving to maintain their crispness and prevent sogginess.
- For a lighter version, you can use ground turkey instead of beef.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated, making this a great meal prep option.
- Experiment with toppings like pickled vegetables or a fried egg for additional texture and flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 285kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 40mg
