Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the bell peppers and boil for 5 minutes to soften slightly. Remove the peppers from the water and set aside to cool.
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef (or turkey) until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, cooked rice, diced tomatoes, chopped onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
Stir in 1/2 cup of shredded cheese into the beef and rice mixture.
Stuff each bell pepper with the beef and rice mixture, pressing down gently to fill completely.
Place the stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish. If the peppers are wobbly, you can slice a thin layer off the bottom to create a flat surface.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, remove the foil from the baking dish and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over the tops of the stuffed peppers.
Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the peppers are tender.
Once cooked, remove the stuffed bell peppers from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Garnish the stuffed peppers with chopped fresh parsley before serving, if desired.
Serve the Old-Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers hot and enjoy the comforting flavors of this classic dish!
