Cheat Day Eats

Cheat Day Eats Jessica Hirsch, aka CheatDayEats (IG) and ItsMyCheatDay (TikTok), is a former math teacher turned full-time creator.

Born in New York, she shares her love of food with a global audience and splits her time between Miami and NYC.

08/20/2026

Buffalo chicken dip and mac and cheese walked so this bake could run 🔥

Team ranch or team blue cheese on top? Drop it in the comments 👇🧀

4 tbsp butter
1 lb elbow macaroni
2 cups heavy cream
4 oz cream cheese softened
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
1/3 cup ranch dressing
Ranch seasoning
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack
1 cup mozzarella
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350F. Cook pasta a minute shy of al dente.

Melt butter over medium heat and add heavy cream. Simmer until slightly thickened.

Add buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, ranch seasoning, salt and pepper and mix well.

Reduce heat to low and add cream cheese and all but 1 cup of the cheese. Stir until smooth.

Add cooked pasta to a casserole dish. Pour cheese mixture over and combine well. Mix in chicken.

Top with reserved cheese and bake 20 minutes.

Broil until top is bubbly and golden.

Top with green onions and serve with extra ranch!

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Bake"! 😋

08/19/2026

What if a Reuben sandwich and mac and cheese had a baby? 🥪🧀

Meet the Rachel Mac and I genuinely cannot believe this combination works as well as it does 🔥

1/2 lb pasta
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 lb Swiss cheese sliced or shredded
1/4 lb pastrami chopped
1/3 cup Thousand Island dressing
1 slice rye bread
Olive oil
Fresh parsley chopped

Preheat oven to 400F. Cut rye bread into cubes, drizzle with olive oil and bake 10-15 minutes until dried out. Process into crumbs once cooled.

Cook pasta al dente and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.

Heat pastrami in the pan and remove. Leave some fat in the pan and add heavy cream, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.

Reduce cream slightly then add Thousand Island dressing.

Reduce heat to low and gradually add Swiss cheese stirring constantly until melted and smooth.

Toss in pasta with pasta water then stir in pastrami.

Top with rye breadcrumbs and bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbly. Broil a few minutes if desired.

Garnish with fresh parsley!

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats Rachel Mac and Cheese"! 😋

08/19/2026

Brian’s birthday dinner Truluck's Restaurant was SO DELICIOUS!!

Crab 🦀 heaven! The Brie Mac and cheese and au gratin were 💯💯 and obviously it was his birthday so had to get all my fav desserts 😜😂 the baked Alaska and carrot cake are phenomenal!! But in all seriousness he loves vanilla ice cream 🍨

08/19/2026

Would you try cacio e pepe made with cottage cheese? 🧀

Because I blended it into the sauce and nobody could tell and now I cannot stop making it this way 💪🍝🔥

8 oz pasta
1 cup full fat or 2% cottage cheese
1/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano
1/3 cup Parmesan
1-2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Cook pasta in heavily salted water until al dente and reserve at least 1 cup pasta water.

Blend cottage cheese, Pecorino and a splash of pasta water until completely smooth.

Toast cracked black pepper in a skillet over medium heat 30-60 seconds until fragrant.

Add 1/4 cup pasta water to the pepper then toss in pasta.

Lower heat to low and pour in blended cheese mixture. Toss vigorously adding pasta water a tablespoon at a time until glossy. Do not let it boil!

Serve with extra Parmesan and black pepper!

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats High Protein Cacio e Pepe"! 😋

08/19/2026

What do you get when you stuff a garlic bread loaf with spicy vodka gnocchi and broil mozzarella on top? 🧄

This. And it changed everything 🍝🧀🔥

1 large Italian baguette or crusty loaf
2 whole heads of garlic
1 tbsp olive oil for roasting
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
1 lb potato gnocchi
1 tbsp olive oil plus 2 tbsp butter
1 small shallot finely diced
2 cloves fresh garlic minced
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp gochujang
1/4 cup vodka
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Roast garlic at 400F for 40 minutes until deeply golden. Squeeze cloves into softened butter with Parmesan, Italian seasoning, parsley and salt. Mix until smooth.

Hollow out the baguette without going through the bottom. Slather inside with garlic butter and bake 8-10 minutes until toasted. Set oven to broil.

Cook shallot in olive oil and butter 2-3 minutes. Add garlic, tomato paste and gochujang and toast 2 minutes until deeply red.

Deglaze with vodka and simmer 1-2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan until smooth and silky.

Cook gnocchi until they float then transfer directly into the sauce and toss until coated.

Spoon gnocchi into the garlic bread boat and pack it in generously.

Top with mozzarella and broil 2-4 minutes until violently bubbly and golden.

Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan!

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats Vodka Gnocchi Stuffed Garlic Bread"! 😋

08/18/2026

Eggs Benedict but the English muffin is a cheddar biscuit and the Canadian bacon is buttered lobster 🦞

Is this the most extra brunch I have ever made? Absolutely. Do I regret it? Not even a little 😅🧀🔥

Cheddar Biscuits:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp cold butter diced
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Garlic Butter Topping:
2 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Blender Hollandaise:
3 large egg yolks
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
Dash of cayenne and pinch of salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and hot

8 oz cooked lobster meat
1 tbsp butter for warming lobster
4 large eggs
1 tbsp white vinegar for poaching
Smoked paprika for garnish

Preheat oven to 400F. Whisk together flour, baking powder, garlic powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Stir in buttermilk and cheddar until dough comes together. Divide into 4 pieces and bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Brush with garlic butter while warm.

Blend egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon, salt and cayenne. With blender running slowly stream in hot melted butter until thick and glossy.

Warm lobster in butter 2-3 minutes over medium low heat.

Poach eggs in gently simmering water with white vinegar for 3-4 minutes until whites are set and yolks are runny.

Split warm biscuits and top with buttered lobster, poached egg and hollandaise. Finish with a dusting of smoked paprika!

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats Lobster Eggs Benedict on Cheddar Biscuit"! 😋

08/18/2026

Cacio e Pepe as a fried chicken sandwich sauce and who gave anyone permission to do this 🍗🧀🔥

Crispy fried chicken thigh on a toasted brioche bun smothered in a Pecorino and Parmesan cacio e pepe sauce and I am still not recovered 😅

2 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Breading:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tsp each paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp coarsely cracked black pepper
Oil for frying

Cacio e Pepe Sauce:
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp coarsely cracked black pepper
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup Pecorino Romano freshly grated
1/4 cup Parmesan freshly grated
2 brioche buns
1 tbsp butter for toasting

Marinate chicken in buttermilk, salt, pepper and garlic powder at least 1 hour or overnight.

Mix all breading ingredients together. Drizzle in 1-2 tbsp of buttermilk marinade and rub into flour to create shaggy clumps.

Dredge chicken in flour mixture and rest on a wire rack 10-15 minutes.

Fry at 350F for 6-8 minutes until deep golden brown and internal temp reaches 165F.

Melt butter and toast black pepper 1 minute until fragrant. Add heavy cream and simmer 2 minutes. Reduce heat to lowest setting and whisk in Pecorino and Parmesan until glossy and thick.

Toast brioche buns in butter until golden.

Build with fried chicken, cacio e pepe sauce and extra Parmesan!

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats Cacio e Pepe Fried Chicken Sandwich"! 😋

08/18/2026

Pistachio cannoli dip is about to be the most requested thing you bring to every party this summer 🍓🧁🤌
Save this one before your next gathering!

15 oz whole milk ricotta strained
8 oz mascarpone room temp
1/2 cup sweetened pistachio cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Zest of 1 large orange
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Scoop ricotta onto paper towels, press gently and let sit 10 minutes to remove excess liquid.
Beat mascarpone, powdered sugar, vanilla and orange zest until combined.
Fold in drained ricotta until just combined.
Fold in pistachio cream and stir in mini chocolate chips.
Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
Serve with broken waffle cones, strawberries, vanilla wafers or cannoli shells! 😋

08/17/2026

Is it a pasta salad or a salasta? 🥗 Drop your vote in the comments because this debate matters 👇

Cobb salad turned into a pasta with whipped blue cheese, roasted tomatoes, crispy bacon and shaved egg and yes I forgot the avocado and yes it is going in next time 😅🍝🔥

Pasta
Blue cheese whipped until smooth
Cherry tomatoes roasted
Bacon cooked and crumbled
Hard boiled eggs shaved
Avocado optional but highly recommended next time!

Cook your pasta and let it cool. Whip blue cheese until smooth and toss with pasta. Top with roasted tomatoes, crispy bacon and shaved egg.

Not a blue cheese person? Swap it for your favorite cheese and it still works!

What salad should I turn into a pasta next? Drop it in the comments! 👇

Find the full recipe by searching "Cheat Day Eats Cobb Salad Salasta"! 😋

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