The Toad&Co Annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown: A Definitive History

It's a battle of melty, cheesy goodness. It's a no holds barred event of epic (and carbo-loaded) proportions. It's the Toad&Co Annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown. Since 2013, The Toads (and Toad friends, family, and community members) have left it all on the griddle in the quest for first place (and The Golden Spatula award).

This year marks the second virtual competition, which means we're asking you (our virtual Toad community) to send in your best recipes to compete with our in-house Toad teams.

Here's how to enter: Post your sando to your Instagram feed (don't forget to tag #grilledcheesesmackdown). Or, leave your recipes on our Instagram post or send us a DM to get your recipe in the running - photos highly encouraged. This year, we've added a twist, and you can also choose to submit a poem about grilled cheese in place of a recipe. Next week, we'll take the voting to the 'Gram and there can only be one winner.

In the meantime, get inspired by these sandwiches of grilled cheeses past. And pro tip: We don't recommend you continue reading on an empty stomach. 

The Eighth Annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown (2020) - Our first ever virtual competition and the birth year of The Dracula Slayer (not for the faint of garlic breath)

The Seventh Annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown (2019) - Meet the Frankenfromage, the most gourmet grilled cheese this side west of the Mississippi

The Sixth Annual Griled Cheese Smackdown (2018) - Garlicky goodness and a Greece-inspired sando recipe made this Smackdown one for the ages

The Fifth Annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown (2017) - The Santa Barbara-inspired Fromage de la Riviera took the Golden Spatula, but you can also treat yourself to this En Fuego bonus recipe (warning: highly flammable)

The Fourth Annual Grilled Cheese Smackdown (2016) - After two intense heats, a masterpiece on a pretzel bun prevails

The Third Annual, Second Annual, and First Annual - The lost years. Bonus points for anyone who can locate the photos for these early competitions.