Shiitake Cheeseburger Sliders

Ingredients:

• 5 sprays cooking spray
• 6 oz uncooked extra lean ground beef 96 % lean 4% fat
• ½ tsp table salt, divided
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 oz 50% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
• 12 medium fresh shiitake mushroom, with 2- to 2½-inch caps, stems removed
• 6 lettuce leaves, large, (such as Little Gem or other small lettuce), or 6 small pieces of lettuce torn from 2 to 3 larger leaves
• 3 oz roasted red peppers (packed in water), cut into 6 (2-inch) pieces
• 6 tsp Salsa verde, divided

Instructions

1. Coat a large cast-iron skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high. Divide the beef into 6 equal portions and shape each into a 2½- to 3-inch patty. Sprinkle the patties with ¼ tsp of salt and black pepper. Add the patties to the pan and cook until seared on the bottoms, about 2 minutes. Flip the patties and cook for 1 minute. Top with the cheese and cook until the cheese melts and the patties are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the patties to a plate.
2. Add the mushrooms, gills facing up, to the skillet and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ tsp salt. Cook the mushrooms until tender but not mushy, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
3. Arrange 6 mushroom caps, gills facing up, and layer each with 1 lettuce leaf, 1 piece of red pepper, and 1 patty. Top each patty with 1 tsp of the salsa and 1 remaining mushroom cap, gills facing down.
4. Serving Size: 3 sliders!