Easy Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz), undrained
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella) for topping
• Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional)