Mini - Cheeseburger Salad with Yellow Mustard Vinaigrette

I saw this years ago on a Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals show and it has been a favorite in our house.  It is awesome because if you grab a piece of meat, pickle, lettuce and tomato, you would think you were eating a cheeseburger.  So good, you don't miss the bun!

Salad:
2 lbs. ground beef or turkey
2 envelopes Lipton onion soup mix*
1/2 cup water
1 pkg brick sharp Cheddar (I use a Cracker Barrel or like generic)
2 large hearts romaine lettuce
2 cups sliced dill pickles, drained
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes

*if you don't have soup mix, you can use 1/4 cup finely chopped onion, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and ground black pepper.

Dressing:
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
2 tablespoons drained salad pimentos or, 1/4 small red bell pepper, finely chopped

1. Combine the meat with the Lipton onion soup mix and water (or other seasonings).
2. Make into little patties about the size of 2-3 inches in diameter
3. Grill or broil, flipping once for about 3 minutes on each side
4. While meat is cooking, whisk ingredients for salad dressing together and set aside.
5. Slice cheese about 1/4 inch thick
6. Place a slice of cheese on each burger and cook until cheese is melted
7. Slice tomatoes and add to bowl, along with lettuce and pickles.  Then toss the dressing with the salad
8. Top the salad with the mini-cheeseburger

******As a prep-ahead, when I buy my meat I will mix with the soup mix, make the mini-patties, then lay four on a piece of wax paper. I stack them and place in a gallon Ziploc bag. Then when I want to use, I just take out the night before and thaw for dinner.******