There’s nothing I love more than a meal that takes under 20 minutes to make – even better if it has minimal ingredients and easy prep. And even BETTER if I know my whole family will love it – and they sure did! These sloppy joes are almost like Korean bulgogi, served on a hamburger bun. Authentic Korean Bulgogi is made with sliced beef and a homemade marinade, but using ground beef gives a similar flavor. You may also like to add some gochujang (Korean Chili Paste) for some extra flavor and spice to the sloppy joe mix. As for the Korean BBQ sauce? Feel free to make your own, but I love using store bought as a shortcut. There are all kinds of prepared Korean BBQ sauce out there – some spicy, some not… I’ll share which kind I used and where to find it in this post!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Lean Ground Beef – lean is best so you don’t have to worry about draining the fat away. You can also substitute ground turkey for a lighter option, or a vegetarian ground beef substitute for a vegetarian version.Korean BBQ sauce – store bought or homemade (see below)Red bell pepper – or any other colorGreen onions – white and light green parts separated from dark greenBurger Buns – I used King’s Hawaiian buns – brioche or regular hamburger buns will work just fine.Canola oil – for sautéing the veggies (or any other neutral tasting oil)Sesame seeds – for garnish- if you want!
Please scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe including ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
How to make Korean BBQ Sloppy Joes
Please scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe including ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
What kind of Korean BBQ Sauce to use
Korean BBQ sauce is actually more like a marinade. There are many kinds – spicy, mild (original), and sauces made specifically for ribs, beef, chicken, pork, etc. I used CJ Original BBQ Sauce for Ribs (and found it at my local Asian grocery store). But you can probably find a suitable product at your local grocery store with the other Asian ingredients or with the other BBQ sauces.
What to serve with Korean sloppy joes
I served my spiralized cucumber sesame salad on the side (but I used sliced cucumbers instead of spiralized). They would also be great with this Thai-Inspired Red Cabbage and Carrot Salad, or with salad greens mixed with this Sesame Miso dressing.
Other warm sandwich recipes
Sandwiches are great for dinner, especially if they are warm. Here are some other ideas:
Crockpot Pulled Pork SandwichesGreek Lamb Tacos with Tzatziki SauceHam, Apple, and Swiss PaniniTex Mex Tuna MeltsLeek and Gruyere Grilled Cheese
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