Easy Korean BBQ Sloppy Joes

These easy Korean BBQ Sloppy Joes are a new dinnertime family favorite and a deliciously fun and spicy twist on a classic recipe!

Here at Sunny Side Up, Sloppy Joes have been a tried and true, no complaints kind of dinner. They rank right up there with my Sourdough Turkey Cheeseburger “Impossible” Pie. Sloppy Joes were great when our girls were little and we were shuttling them to dance classes and softball games. Now that they’re grown and venturing out on their own, though, we still find ourselves making them. Maybe that’s partly due to nostalgia, but I think it’s just because they’re that perfect no-fuss meal. Despite the fact that we’re no empty-nesters, we are still just as busy as ever!

What’s Great About These Easy Korean BBQ Sloppy Joes?

I’ve been making our family recipe for so long that I think I could whip it up in my sleep! However, these Korean BBQ Sloppy Joes offer that fun twist of Asian flavor and a kick of spice. But, as usual with my recipes, I will provide plenty of substitutions if spice isn’t your thing. Marinating the meat in the mix of spices really distributes the flavor so cooking is a breeze. You can let it marinate for just a few hours or overnight so it’s the perfect make-ahead recipe when you’re pressed for time.

Here are the standout ingredients in this recipe.

• Grated ginger and sesame oil provide classic Asian flavor. I love the smell of fresh ginger! If you’ve never cooked with fresh ginger, you can learn how to peel and grate it here.

• Gochujang is a superfood spice that gives this dish heat. It can be found in the Asian foods aisle of your local grocery store.

I love serving these sandwiches with steamed broccoli, but peapods or an Asian medley with rice would also be fabulous.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1″ knob of ginger, grated
• 4 tablespoons of gochujang
• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 cup of diced onion

Instructions

Step 1

Mix the ground beef, ginger, garlic, gochujang, sesame oil, sugar, soy sauce, and ground black pepper all together in a large bowl.

Then cover the bowl and marinate the mixture in your fridge for 2 hours or up to overnight.

Step 2

Next, heat a large skillet or sauté pan over high heat and add the tablespoon of olive oil, swirling it to coat the bottom of the pan. Add onions and cook until soft. Add meat and sauté, stirring, until cooked through. Drain off fat.

Step 3

While the meat simmers, toast sandwich buns.

Step 4

Divide meat and put on buns. Serve with pickles and lettuce if desired.

Recipe Notes

-To make this easy Korean BBQ sloppy joes recipe leaner, use ground turkey instead of ground beef. Because ground turkey is low in fat, you must make sure to coat your skillet with oil before cooking. I also recommend adding 1/4 cup of chicken broth to the skillet while cooking since it’s quick to dry out due to its low-fat content.

-This recipe is spicy! Therefore, if you approach spice with caution, I recommend cutting the amount of gochujang and ground black pepper in half.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. If you give it a try, let me know what you think in the comments.

More easy recipes you’ll love:

Healthy and Delicious Zucchini Brownies

Delicious 5-Star Meatloaf

5-Minute Homemade Refrigerator Pickles