Cook Out Allergens Menu – Complete 2026 Guide
A full breakdown of the major allergens present in every Cook Out menu item including burgers, hot dogs, chicken, sides, milkshakes, and drinks. Covers gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and more, with a cross contact advisory for shared fryer items.
Quick answer: Cook Out handles nine major allergens in its kitchens milk, eggs, wheat/gluten, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. Most of the menu contains gluten from buns, breading, or shared equipment. Coleslaw is gluten free. The milkshakes contain dairy. Shared fryer oil means cross contact risk exists even for items that do not directly contain a given allergen. Cook Out recommends confirming details at your specific location before ordering if you manage a serious allergy.
The FDA recognizes nine major food allergens. Cook Out kitchens handle all nine of them at various points in the menu. The table below shows which allergens are present in which menu categories and what the cross contact risk level is at most locations.
| Allergen | Present on Menu | Cross Contact Risk | Primary Sources at Cook Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk / Dairy | Yes | High | Milkshakes, cheese, coleslaw dressing, White Cheddar Bites, Cheese Quesadilla |
| Wheat / Gluten | Yes | High | Burger buns, hot dog buns, breading on nuggets/strips, Hushpuppies, Onion Rings, Corn Dog, Quesadilla, Wraps |
| Eggs | Yes | Moderate | Coleslaw dressing (mayo base), some breading batters, milkshake mix |
| Soy | Yes | Moderate | Frying oils at some locations, some burger patty blends, bun ingredients |
| Peanuts | Some items | Moderate | Reese’s Cup shake, Peanut Butter Fudge shake, Peanut Butter milkshake flavors |
| Tree Nuts | Some items | Moderate | Select milkshake flavors (Heath Bar = toffee/almonds, Snickers = peanuts/almonds) |
| Fish | Not standard | Low | Not a standard menu item risk primarily from shared kitchen surfaces |
| Shellfish | Not standard | Low | Not a standard menu item risk from shared equipment only |
| Sesame | Some items | Moderate | Some burger bun varieties include sesame seeds varies by location and bun supplier |
All Cook Out burgers are served on buns that contain wheat/gluten. Adding chili introduces soy. Adding cheese introduces dairy. The burger patty itself char grilled beef does not contain dairy or gluten directly, but cross contact from the grill and prep surfaces is possible.
| Item | Gluten | Dairy | Eggs | Soy | Peanuts | Sesame |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Out Style Burger | Yes | Varies | Varies | Possible | No | Possible |
| Big Double Burger | Yes | Varies | Varies | Possible | No | Possible |
| Huge Burger | Yes | Varies | Varies | Possible | No | Possible |
| Steak Style Burger (A1) | Yes | Varies | Varies | Yes | No | Possible |
| Hot Dog | Yes | No | No | Possible | No | Possible |
| Chili Dog | Yes | No | No | Possible | No | Possible |
| Bacon Cheddar Dog | Yes | Yes | No | Possible | No | Possible |
| BBQ Sandwich | Yes | No | No | Possible | No | Possible |
“Varies” = depends on specific toppings chosen. “Possible” = cross contact risk from shared equipment or soy containing oils.
All breaded chicken items at Cook Out contain wheat/gluten in the breading. They are also fried in shared oil with other items, creating cross contact risk for multiple allergens. The Cajun Chicken sandwich (grilled) has significantly lower allergen exposure than the fried options.
| Item | Gluten | Dairy | Eggs | Soy | Shared Fryer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cajun Chicken Sandwich (grilled) | Yes (bun) | No | No | Possible | No grilled |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | Yes | Possible | Possible | Yes | Yes |
| Chicken Strip Tray | Yes | Possible | Possible | Yes | Yes |
| Chicken Nuggets (side) | Yes | Possible | Possible | Yes | Yes |
| Chicken Wrap (Cajun / Ranch) | Yes | Possible | Possible | Yes | Varies |
Most Cook Out sides are fried in shared oil, which creates cross contact risk even for items that don’t directly contain a given allergen. Coleslaw is the only standard side that is naturally gluten free and dairy free, though its dressing contains eggs. White Cheddar Bites and Cheese Quesadilla both contain dairy directly.
| Side Item | Gluten | Dairy | Eggs | Soy | Meat | Shared Fryer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular / Cajun Fries | No | No | No | Possible | No | Yes |
| Onion Rings | Yes | No | Possible | Possible | No | Yes |
| Hushpuppies | Yes | No | Yes | Possible | No | Yes |
| Cook Out Rounds | No | No | No | Possible | No | Yes |
| Chicken Nuggets (5pc) | Yes | Possible | Possible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corn Dog | Yes | No | Possible | Possible | Yes | Yes |
| Cheese Quesadilla | Yes | Yes | Possible | Possible | No | Varies |
| White Cheddar Bites | Yes | Yes | Possible | Possible | No | Yes |
| Walking Taco | Yes | Yes | No | Possible | Yes | No |
| Coleslaw | No | No | Yes (mayo) | Possible | No | No |
| Chili (Cup) | No | No | No | Possible | Yes | No |
All Cook Out milkshakes are made with real hand spun ice cream every flavor contains dairy. Several flavors also introduce peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, or gluten depending on the candy or mixin used. The shake machine is shared across all flavors, creating cross contact risk between any flavor and those with nuts or other allergens.
| Shake Category / Flavor | Dairy | Gluten | Peanuts | Tree Nuts | Eggs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Shakes (base) | Yes all | No (base) | No (base) | No (base) | Possible |
| Classic (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry) | Yes | No | No | No | Possible |
| Oreo, Oreo Mint | Yes | Yes | No | No | Possible |
| Reese’s Cup, Peanut Butter | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Possible |
| Snickers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Possible |
| Heath Bar | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (almond) | Possible |
| Banana Pudding, Cheesecake | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Fruit Shakes (Strawberry, Peach, Banana, Pineapple) | Yes | No | No | No | Possible |
Standard fountain drinks are the lowest allergen items on the Cook Out menu. Floats add dairy from the ice cream component. Lemonade and tea are naturally free from the major nine allergens in their standard form.
| Drink | Dairy | Gluten | Other Allergens | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain Soda | No | No | None | Lowest allergen risk item on menu |
| Sweet / Unsweet Tea | No | No | None | Safe for most common allergen profiles |
| Lemonade | No | No | None | Safe for most common allergen profiles |
| Water | No | No | None | Allergen free |
| Root Beer / Coke / Orange Float | Yes (ice cream) | No | Possible (shared equipment) | Dairy present from ice cream component |
Cook Out does not offer a certified gluten free menu or a dedicated gluten free fryer. The items below do not contain gluten as a direct ingredient, but all carry cross contact risk from shared kitchen equipment, fryer oil, and prep surfaces.
| Item | Direct Gluten | Cross Contact Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger patty only (no bun) | No | Moderate | Request no bun patty is GF but grill is shared |
| Cajun Chicken (no bun) | No | Moderate | Grilled, not fried lower risk than breaded chicken |
| Regular / Cajun Fries | No | High (shared fryer) | No gluten in potatoes or seasoning, but shared fryer oil |
| Cook Out Rounds | No | High (shared fryer) | Same shared fryer risk as fries |
| Coleslaw | No | Low | Best GF side option cold, not fried, separate prep |
| Chili Cup | No | Low | No direct gluten confirm at your location |
| Fountain drinks, Tea, Lemonade, Water | No | None | All safe for gluten sensitivity |
| Milkshakes (fruit and classic flavors) | No (base) | Moderate | Shared blender with Oreo and other gluten containing flavors |
Several Cook Out items do not directly contain dairy. The main exceptions are milkshakes (all contain dairy), White Cheddar Bites, Cheese Quesadilla, Bacon Cheddar Dog, and Walking Taco cheese. Items without cheese or dairy based sauce can be safely avoided if you manage a dairy intolerance though the shared kitchen environment still presents cross contact risk for serious dairy allergies.
| Category | Dairy Free Options Available | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Burgers | Yes no cheese | Addon cheddar, cheese sauce, Bacon Cheddar style |
| Hot Dogs | Yes plain or chili only | Bacon Cheddar Dog |
| Chicken | Most items | Ranch based wraps and sauces (may contain dairy) |
| BBQ Sandwich | Yes | Only if no cheese is added |
| Sides | Several | White Cheddar Bites, Cheese Quesadilla, Walking Taco |
| Milkshakes | No all contain dairy | All milkshake flavors ice cream base is dairy |
| Drinks | Yes all fountain drinks | Floats (contain ice cream) |
Cook Out operates fast volume drivethru kitchens. Multiple allergens are handled simultaneously on shared surfaces and in shared oil. The following cross contact risks exist at every location:
- Shared fryer oil all fried items share fryer oil across the entire fried menu including gluten containing items (breaded chicken, Onion Rings, Hushpuppies, Corn Dog)
- Shared grill burgers, hot dogs, and chicken all cooked on the same chargrilled surface
- Shared blender all milkshake flavors are made in the same equipment, including peanut and nut containing flavors
- Shared prep surfaces buns, toppings, and sides are assembled in the same kitchen workspace
- Sesame variability bun types with and without sesame seeds may both be used depending on supplier and location
Does Cook Out have a gluten free menu?
No. Cook Out does not offer a certified gluten free menu. Coleslaw, chili, fries, and Cook Out Rounds do not contain gluten as a direct ingredient, but shared fryer oil and kitchen surfaces create cross contact risk at every location.
Are Cook Out milkshakes dairy free?
No. All Cook Out milkshakes are made from real hand spun ice cream. Every flavor including fruit flavors contains dairy. There is no dairy free shake option available.
Which Cook Out sides are gluten free?
Coleslaw is the only side that does not directly contain gluten. Fries and Cook Out Rounds are also gluten free as ingredients, but they are fried in shared oil with gluten containing items, making them unsafe for celiac level sensitivity.
Does Cook Out use shared fryer oil?
Yes. All fried items fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, nuggets, corn dog, chicken strips, white cheddar bites, Cook Out Rounds share the same fryer oil. This creates cross contact risk for gluten, eggs, dairy, and soy across the fried menu.
Does Cook Out have peanut free options?
Most Cook Out food items do not directly contain peanuts. However, peanut containing milkshake flavors (Reese’s Cup, Peanut Butter Fudge) are blended in the same equipment as all other shakes, creating cross contact risk. The kitchen also handles peanut containing ingredients.
Do Cook Out burger buns contain sesame?
It depends on the location and bun supplier. Some Cook Out locations use sesame seed buns; others use plain buns. This varies and can change with supplier changes. Always confirm with your specific location if sesame is a concern.
Is Cook Out safe for someone with a severe food allergy?
Cook Out cannot guarantee any item is free from allergen cross contact due to shared kitchen equipment, fryers, grill surfaces, and prep areas. Anyone with an anaphylactic level allergy should speak directly with a location manager before ordering and consult Cook Out’s official allergen documentation at cookout.com.
Can I get a Cook Out burger without a bun for a gluten free option?
Yes. You can request any burger without a bun. The patty itself does not contain gluten. However, the grill is shared with buns and other gluten containing items, so cross contact remains possible at the grill level.
Where can I find Cook Out’s official allergen information?
Cook Out’s official allergen and nutrition information is available through cookout.com. You can also ask instore for the printed allergen guide, which individual locations carry. For location specific questions, contact your nearest Cook Out directly.