This weekend was more than a little exhausting and for numerous reasons too. So ,I was more than elated that I happened to have this recipe planned ahead for. Somewhere between the weather, family dropping in, and an injury for my four year old... I was in need of something rather hands free to cook up for dinner for more than my usual table setting.

These burgers are super easy to do and rather guilt free (especially if you used the Annie's cheese sauce packs in stead of the alternative.) Now, I'd never made a cheeseburger in a crock pot before, so I was more than little skeptical of what the outcome would be but as it turns out, it was pretty stellar!

Even as I was preparing the meat to go into the crock pot, my mom was asking me 'what is this for' and 'what is that for'... 'are these sloppy joes'. Nope! Well, not exactly. Though the the texture does end up being rather similar to that of a sloppy joe; being as the meat is held together with cheesy goodness rather than a tomato sauce.

This is the sort of recipe that is great to whip up for a party or a tailgating event since it's easy to do and of course can easily be transported within a crock pot to it's ending destination.

I decided to use an extra lean beef to make the recipe a bit more healthy, and also opted for a prepared package of cheese sauce from a box of Annie's mac-n-cheese. I wanted something that didn't have all the usual 'crud' in it, but was also going to give that ooey-gooey-cheesy goodness factor. Annie's cheddar sauce does a good job of that.

Hold the guilt and add extra pleasure, please!

I actually ended up using 8 oz. (2 Packets) Annie's Real Aged Cheddar Sauce from boxes of their Deluxe macaroni and cheese; instead of the Light Velveeta. But, feel free to use whichever you prefer! The point is just that you need an easily meltable cheese or cheese sauce.

I served my sliders on whole wheat buns and topped them off with shredded lettuce and a tomato. Some ketchup and mustard or a pickle would be good options too! But, like I said, I was anything but in my 'right mind' this weekend.

And probably even as this is being read, I'll be at the doctor getting my little one an x-ray on her poor little foot!

My sliders here were served along side a small serving of some veggie sticks just because that's what I had on hand and... they kind of remind me of french fries while tasting more like a chip!

Healthified Crock Pot Cheeseburger Sliders
TheSkinnyFork.com

The Skinny:
Servings: 12 • Size: 1 Slider • Calories: 279.6 • Fat: 11.9 g • Carb: 20.9 g • Fiber: 1.5 g • Protein: 22.8 g • Sugar: 5.8 g • Sodium: 488.6 mg

Ingredients:
2 Lb. Extra Lean Ground Beef
1 White Onion, Minced
3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
8 Oz. Easy Melt Cheddar Block/Sauce (Such as Velveeta.)
2 Tbsp. Fat Free Milk
Salt & Pepper to Taste

12 Whole Wheat Slider Buns
1 1/2 C. Shredded Lettuce
2 Roma Tomatoes, Sliced

Directions:

Place the beef, onion, and garlic into a large skillet and cook to brown the meat.

Toss the meat mixture, cheese, milk, and seasoning into a crock pot; stir to combine.

Secure the lid and cook on low for 2 hours.

Remove the lid once done divide evenly among slider buns.

Top with about 1/4 shredded lettuce and a slice or two of tomato.

Enjoy right away!

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge

This reheats really well for leftovers, so don't be scared!