Final Research & Content Collection

Recipe Overview

This Unstuffed Shells Pasta Bake offers all the flavors of traditional stuffed shells without the hassle. Tender pasta shells are coated in a creamy blend of ricotta, cream cheese, and Parmesan, layered with a savory marinara and ground beef sauce, and topped with golden, bubbling mozzarella.

Serving Size: 4 servings (can be doubled for 8 servings)

Dietary Information: Contains dairy, gluten, and meat. Not suitable for vegan or gluten-free diets.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces medium pasta shells (24 ounces for 8 servings)
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound ground sirloin
• 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta shells and cook until tender yet firm, about 9 minutes.
3. In a large skillet, heat oil and cook ground sirloin, onion, and garlic until browned. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, cream cheese, Parmesan, basil, egg, and Italian seasoning.
5. In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the pasta, half of the meat sauce, and half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat layers.
6. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly on top and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
7. Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.

Storage & Reheating

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes.

Step-by-Step Images

Peer Evaluation Summary

Key Insights

• ✅ The step-by-step instructions are clear, but more images could enhance usability.
• ✅ The recipe is easy to follow, but first-time cooks may need to refer back to ingredients.
• ✅ Cooking time is manageable, and the preparation steps are well-structured.
• ⚠️ The dietary restrictions were not clear in the original version (fixed in this update).
• ⚠️ Storage & reheating instructions were missing (added in this version).

Final Research Document

View the complete research evaluation and feedback document here: Google Doc Link