Cookout Menu

Browse Cook Out Menu by Category

Each section below has its own full guide with complete item lists, 2026 prices, calorie data, and ordering tips. The six main menu categories are featured first, followed by the specialty and dietary guides.

Specialty & Dietary Guides:

Most Popular Cook Out Menu Items

If you’re ordering for the first time or want a reliable choice, these are the items Cook Out regulars come back for most. The Big Double Burger with Cajun Fries is the most common Tray order. The Oreo Mint shake is widely cited as the single most ordered shake flavor.

Best Cook Out Tray Combinations

Because every Tray is the same base price regardless of side choice, the combination you pick determines the whole character of the meal. These are the best performing Tray builds for different goals whether you want maximum value, lowest calories, most protein, or the classic first timer order.

First Time Visitor Guide – What to Know Before You Order

Cook Out operates almost entirely through the drive thru. There is no app ordering at most locations, and the menu board at the speaker is usually the only place you will see the full menu before you order. Having your choices ready before you pull up saves time for you and the cars behind you especially late at night when lines get long.

The most common first timer mistake is not knowing about the sides board. Most people say “fries” out of habit and miss the fact that you can get hushpuppies, white cheddar bites, chicken nuggets, a quesadilla, or even a walking taco as one of your two sides all at the same Tray price as fries.

The second thing people miss: floats count as the Tray drink. You can get a Root Beer Float for the same price as a Coke when it’s inside a Tray. And if you upgrade to a milkshake, the extra cost is only $1 to $1.60 one of the best value upgrades in fast food.

Cook Out Burgers

Cook Out’s burgers are cooked over an open flame not a flat top grill which is the primary reason the flavor stands apart from most fast food chains. Four sizes are available, and any of them can be ordered plain or with one of four signature style topping combinations.

Full topping list, customization options, and calorie breakdowns in the Cook Out Burgers Menu guide.

Chicken & Specialty Sandwiches

The chicken menu covers grilled, fried, and stripped options. The grilled breast is the lightest choice on the entire Cook Out menu. The BBQ Sandwich North Carolina style chopped pork with slaw is one of the chain’s most distinctive items and one you don’t find at most fast food places.

Hot Dogs

Cook Out’s hot dogs are char grilled like the burgers, which gives them a smoky flavor that sets them apart from steamed or boiled options elsewhere. The Chili Slaw Dog chili and coleslaw stacked on a grilled dog is one of the most distinctly Southern items on the menu.

Cook Out Sides – All 11 Options

Cook Out has one of the widest sides boards in fast food. Everything below can fill a Tray side slot or be ordered on its own. Picking the same side twice is allowed. The Walking Taco and White Cheddar Bites are the most expensive sides but still count as a standard Tray pick at no surcharge.

Full allergen breakdown, dip pairings, and delivery notes in the Cook Out Sides Menu guide.

Cook Out Milkshakes – 40+ Flavors

Cook Out milkshakes are made thick enough that they come with a spoon. You can mix any two flavors for free. The most popular standalone milkshake choices across locations are Oreo Mint, Banana Pudding, Reese’s Cup, and Strawberry Cheesecake. To add a milkshake to a Tray instead of a fountain drink, the upgrade typically costs $1.00 to $1.60 depending on the location.

The full flavor list with all 40+ options and mixing combinations is in the Cook Out Milkshakes Menu guide.

Cook Out Drinks

The drink menu includes house brewed sweet tea in three versions, a Coca Cola fountain lineup, lemonade and lemon tea mix, three ice cream floats, and bottled water. Every drink on the standard board counts toward the Tray drink slot, including the floats. That means a Root Beer Float costs the same as a Coke when it’s part of a Tray.

Full nutrition data, caffeine information, and dietary notes in the Cook Out Drinks Menu guide.

Cook Out Customization Guide

Cook Out’s kitchen is more flexible than the board makes it look. Most modifications are free and just require you to say what you want when you place the order. The ones that cost extra are always a small additional charge, typically under $1.50.

Why Cook Out Prices Vary by Location

Cook Out is fully company owned there are no franchises but prices are still not identical across all restaurants. If you have been to a Cook Out in North Carolina and then visit one in Virginia or Georgia, there is a reasonable chance the same Tray is priced slightly differently. A few factors drive this.

Dietary Quick Reference

Cook Out’s menu leans heavily toward fried food and meat, but a number of items suit vegetarian, lower calorie, and dairy free diets. The table below is a high level overview only. Anyone managing a food allergy should check the Allergens Menu directly, since shared fryer oil creates cross contact risk across multiple items.

*Shared fryer oil creates cross contact risk. Cook Out does not operate dedicated allergen free prep areas. See the Allergens Menu and Vegan Options pages for the full picture.

Frequently Asked Questions