Updated September 2020
I’m not saying that making these Korean BBQ Sliders will make you a better person, but they totally will. Your friends will certainly like you more. I’m preparing these little beauties for our Superbowl party this year. Because whenever there’s a game on in my house (which is pretty often), I deserve a real treat.
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Kogi BBQ Truck is my inspiration
These sliders were born out of our Kogi BBQ withdrawal since we moved to Denver. If you don’t know Kogi BBQ, it’s because you don’t live in the Los Angeles area. My chef crush, Roy Choi, created the most heavenly Korean/Mexican fusion food and regularly brings it to my neighborhood in a truck! I will always love him for that. This recipe was inspired by our favorite Kogi short rib sliders. The mix of the sweet roll, sesame mayonnaise and slightly spicy meat is just heavenly.
When we first started eating from the Kogi truck, we would wait in line for over 2 hours and then wait another 30 minutes for our food! We were young and didn’t have kids, or anything else to do apparently. Truth be told, I would still wait in that line for their food. Luckily, lines are rarely over 10 minutes now.
Korean BBQ Sliders are a Make Ahead Friendly Recipe
Ok, enough about food trucks, let’s talk about this Korean BBQ Sliders recipe. My favorite thing about this recipe is that you can make all of the elements ahead of time and then assemble and heat up when you’re ready to serve! Since they’re little, they make perfect Game Day snacks or a heavy appetizer. Although, I often turn them into dinner for just me and the hubs.
Can I Make These Gluten Free?
The flavors used in this recipe also work really well wrapped in a corn tortilla for a taco. Or, of course, you can purchase some gluten free bread.
However, the meat from Trader Joe’s comes in a sauce heavy with soy sauce, meaning it has wheat and is not gluten free. To make an easy substitute, grab a flank steak (or your favorite cut of beef) and make a quick marinade with Tamari or Coconut Aminos soy sauce, diced garlic and ginger. Marinate for 2-8 hours and either cook on a grill, OR thinly slice the and cook on your stovetop.
The sauce can also be made GF simply by replacing the soy sauce with a GF soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos. My favorite is a GF soy sauce I find at the Asian market nearby. But the grocery store will usually carry at least one GF option.
Easy Make Ahead Kimchi
Please don’t be afraid of the “kimchi” on these little guys. I have completely Americanized it, and it’s ready much quicker than traditional kimchi. Although, if you’ve got the time and energy to make kimchi from scratch, then please do! It’s amazing stuff. Or pick up a jar at your local grocery store.
Gochu Jang or Sambal Oelek
Creating this recipe is what made me discover everyone’s new secret spice, Gochu Jang. It really encompasses all the Korean flavor in one awesome paste. It doesn’t take much of this added to the kimchi and the meat to give it that really authentic flavor, but with much less work. I found this cute little box of Gochu Jang in the “Asian” aisle at my grocery store.
Since writing this, it’s become harder to find regular paste and instead they’re selling gochu jang ketchup (not great). I’ve found Sambal Oelek and it’s a great substitute.
Look at these little Korean BBQ Slider buddies! Aren’t they adorable? When you order sliders from the Kogi truck, they’re served in pairs, which I think is the perfect amount (even though I usually get a few tacos and a quesadilla too, don’t judge).
Love these Korean BBQ Sliders? Try these other amazing Asian recipes!
If you decide to give this recipe a try, be sure to snap a photo to share, tagging @theovenlight and #theovenlight on Instagram or Facebook!
Korean BBQ Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 package (1.5 lbs) Bool Kogi Boneless Beef Ribs or a flank steak, thinly sliced with a simple marinade of tamari sauce for a GF option
- 18-24 Hawaiian rolls or corn tortillas for a GF option
- 1 small bag Shredded Mexican cheese blend
Korean BBQ Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Sambal Oelek or 2 Tbsp Gachu Jang
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce use Tamari or Coconut Aminos for a GF option
- 1 tsp Rice wine vinegar
- 2 tsp Sesame Oil
Kimchi
- 2 C Shredded green cabbage I used a bag of store-bought
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp Rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Sambal Oelek or Gochu Jang
- 1/8 tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Sesame oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Sesame Mayonnaise
- 1/2 C Mayonnaise regular works best
- 3/4 tsp Sesame oil
GF Meat Option
- 1.5 lb Flank Steak or your favorite cut of beef
- 1/2 C Tamari or Coconut Aminos Sauce
- 2 tsp Sesame Oil
- 2 Cloves Garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients of the BBQ sauce. Set aside.
- Combine “kimchi” ingredients and toss cabbage well. Set aside.
- Combine sesame oil and mayonnaise and stir well. Set aside.
- If you buy the Trader Joe’s beef ribs, they’ll be in large, thin pieces. Spread them out in a pan over medium heat and cook through, turning once or twice for even cooking.
- Once cooked, remove and slice into long, thin pieces, and place pieces back in pan to soak up juices.
- Now add about 1/2 of the BBQ sauce to the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce is incorporated. Taste. If you want more heat, add more of the BBQ sauce.
Assembly
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Once your elements are prepared, slice all the Hawaiian rolls in half.
- Generously spread mayo on both sids of buns.
- Place meat on bottom part of buns. Spread evenly between 18-24 sliders. Be generous with the pan sauce, it’s ok if the buns get a little soggy.
- Spread kimchi evenly on top of meat.
- Sprinkle cheese liberally on top of kimchi.
- Place bottoms of buns (with meat, kimchi and cheese) on a sheet pan and put on top rack in oven.
- Only leave in oven until cheese is melted. About 3-5 minutes.
- Remove sliders from oven and put their tops on. Slice as desired and serve! YUM!!
Preparing a GF Meat Option
- Combine GF marinade ingredients in a large ziploc bag.
- Thinly slice (1/4 inch) flank steak and add to bag.
- Allow to marinade 2-8 hours.
- Heat a skillet to medium high heat, then add meat, flipping once to cook through. Remove and set aside until ready to use.
These look amazing! When I click to print the recipe though, there’s a bunch of error messages before the actual recipe. FYI.
Hi Cyn! I’m so sorry the site isn’t looking right for you! I just checked out that page and all looks ok. Perhaps try clearing your cache to see if perhaps some old formatting is sitting around when you’re viewing? Let me know how else I can help!