Thick and Savory Chili

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 large sweet onion (such as Vidalia), diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 (15 ounce) cans whole tomatoes, cut into chunks
• 2 (15 ounce) cans mild chili beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 (6 ounce) jars mushrooms, drained
• 1/4 cup chili powder, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons white sugar (optional)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, about half the sweet onion, and garlic powder in the hot skillet until completely browned, 5 to 7 minutes.

Mix tomato chunks, chili beans, tomato sauce, kidney beans, ketchup, and tomato paste in a large pot; bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Stir the ground beef mixture and mushrooms into the tomato mixture; season with chili powder, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Cook chili at a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the flavors blend, about 45 minutes. Top individual servings with diced sweet onion to serve.