Pizza Burger Sliders

Ingredients

• 2 Tb olive oil divided
• 1 lb Italian turkey sausage
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 8 slices mozzarella
• 2 oz pepperoni or soppressata
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 C marinara of choice
• 8 slider buns
• basil optional

Direction

1. Slice the onion and bell pepper into ¼-inch strips. Form turkey sausage into 8 slider-size patties. Season with black pepper. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tb of olive oil to the pan.
2. Once the oil is hot, add the patties. Allow them to sear on each side for 3 minutes or until well browned.
3. Top each patty with pepperoni or soppressata and a slice of mozzarella. Top the pan loosely with foil for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese melts. Remove from the pan and place on a plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep the patties warm.
4. Use the same pan you seared the patties in to saute the peppers and onions for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Put the marinara in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every minute. If you don’t have a microwave, you can also heat the marinara on the stove.
6. Build each slider with a patty, then peppers and onions and topped with as much marinara as you like. You can also add a final garnish of a basil leave if you like.