Cook Out Menu Pricing Guide
How Much Does a Cook Out Tray Cost? (2026 Price Guide)
💡 Overview: The Best Value Meal in Fast Food
A Cook Out Tray costs approximately $7.39 for the regular size and $6.39 for the Jr. Tray. Both prices include one main item of your choice, any two sides from a list of twelve plus options, and a regular fountain drink. That flat price applies to every main item on the tray menua hamburger tray and a BBQ chicken tray cost exactly the same.
The most popular upgrade is swapping the fountain drink for any milkshake from the 40plus flavor menu for approximately $1.60 extra bringing the most common Cook Out order to around $9.00 total. That combination, a full meal plus a milkshake, consistently undercuts comparable meals at every major national fast food chain.
Verdict: Is the Cook Out Tray Worth It?
For the price, there is nothing else like it in American fast food
- Best for: anyone who wants a complete, customizable fast food meal for under $8 or under $10 with a milkshake
- Standout strength: flat price regardless of main item, two sides with genuine variety, milkshake upgrade for ~$1.60
- Only limitation: Cook Out operates in the Southeast US only not available nationwide
- Skip if: you are not near a Cook Out location yet
Prices based on publicly available Cook Out menu data from 2026. Your local restaurant’s menu board is always the definitive price. See the full tray menu guide for complete details.
🍔 What the Cook Out Tray Includes
Every Cook Out Tray follows the same formula regardless of which main item you choose. You pick:
- One main item any burger, BBQ sandwich, chargrilled chicken, chicken strips, hot dog, spicy fillet, or two quesadillas
- Two sides any two from the full sides list, including choosing the same side twice (“doubling up”)
- One regular drink any fountain drink, or upgrade to a milkshake for approximately $1.60 extra
The flat price applies regardless of main item. A Chopped Pork BBQ tray and a Hamburger tray cost exactly the same. This is one of Cook Out’s most unusual features compared to most fast food chains, where premium items carry a higher combo price.
| Tray Type | What’s Included | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Tray + drink | Any main + 2 sides + fountain drink | ~$7.39 |
| Regular Tray + milkshake | Any main + 2 sides + any milkshake (40+ flavors) | ~$9.00 |
| Jr. Tray + drink | Smaller main + 2 sides + fountain drink | ~$6.39 |
| Jr. Tray + milkshake | Smaller main + 2 sides + milkshake | ~$8.00 |
| Standalone milkshake | Any flavor, no food | $3.99 |
🍟 What Two Sides Come With the Tray?
This is where the Cook Out Tray earns its reputation. You pick any two sides from the list below, and you can choose the same side twice at no extra charge. One of your sides can be a corn dog, a quesadilla, or a bowl of chili not just fries. That level of variety at this price is genuinely unusual in fast food.
Most fast food combos give you one set side fries with no choice. The Cook Out Tray gives you two sides with genuine variety. That is a meaningful difference at this price point, and it is the reason regulars can eat here often without the menu feeling repetitive.
🍔 The Jr. Tray – $6.39 and What You Give Up
The Jr. Tray costs approximately $6.39 a dollar less than the Regular. The format is identical: same two sides, same drink, same milkshake upgrade option. The only trade off is a smaller set of main item choices. The sides list is exactly the same full list.
| Jr. Tray Main Item | Calories | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small Burger (1/8 lb.) | 240 | ~$6.39 |
| 2 Chicken Strips | 440 | ~$6.39 |
| 2 Corn Dogs | 440 | ~$6.39 |
| BLT Sandwich | 440 | ~$6.39 |
| 1 Hot Dog | 220–350 | ~$6.39 |
⚔️ How the Cook Out Tray Compares to Other Chains
The Cook Out Tray is consistently $3–$4 cheaper than a comparable combo at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Chic fil A and it gives you two sides instead of one, with genuine variety in what those sides can be. This comparison uses typical 2026 pricing.
| Chain | Comparable Combo | Approx. Price | Sides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Out | Regular Tray any main | ~$7.39 | 2 any choice |
| McDonald’s | Quarter Pounder combo | ~$10.49 | Fries only |
| Wendy’s | Dave’s Single combo | ~$10.99 | Fries only |
| Chick fil A | Chicken Sandwich combo | ~$11.49 | Waffle fries only |
| Sonic | Double Cheeseburger combo | ~$9.49 | Tots or fries only |
Cook Out Tray price vs. comparable combo meals (approximate 2026 pricing)
Bars represent approximate 2026 combo meal prices. Cook Out also includes two sides; all other chains include one set side (fries).
⭐ Cook Out Tray – Strengths and Limitations
- Flat price regardless of which main item you choose
- Two sides not one from a list with real variety
- Doubling up on the same side allowed at no extra charge
- Milkshake upgrade (~$1.60) is cheaper than ordering a shake separately
- 40+ milkshake flavors all available as the upgrade
- Jr. Tray at $6.39 for lighter appetites or tighter budgets
- Consistently $3–$4 cheaper than comparable national chain combos
- Cook Out operates in the Southeast US only not available in all states
- No national online price list must confirm price at your specific location
- Primarily drivethru focused indoor seating varies by location
- No loyalty app or digital coupons everyday pricing is the value mechanism
- Prices can vary by a small amount between locations
🎯 Who Should Order the Tray – and How
Order the Regular Tray if:
- You want a full meal it is the best value on the menu
- You have any preference at all between main items they all cost the same
- You want a milkshake upgrade for ~$1.60 instead of paying $3.99 separately
- You want two sides choose anything, including two of the same
Choose the Jr. Tray if:
- You want a lighter meal or a smaller portion
- You are ordering for a child or a smaller appetite
- You want to save the extra dollar same sides, same drink, same upgrade
- One of the Jr. main items (corn dogs, BLT, small burger) is what you wanted anyway
Complete tray guide with all main items, sides, and 2026 pricing
❓ Cook Out Tray – Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cook Out Tray cost?
A Regular Cook Out Tray costs approximately $7.39 and includes one main item of your choice, two sides, and a regular fountain drink. The Jr. Tray costs approximately $6.39 with a smaller set of main item options. Upgrading the drink to a milkshake costs approximately $1.60 extra, bringing the most common order to around $9.00. Prices vary slightly by location.
Does every main item cost the same on the Cook Out Tray?
Yes. The Regular Tray price is the same whether you choose a hamburger, a Chopped Pork BBQ, chargrilled chicken, chicken strips, a hot dog, or another main item. Cook Out uses a flat tray price rather than charging more for premium selections.
Can I choose the same side twice?
Yes. Cook Out calls this “doubling up.” You can choose the same side for both of your two tray slots double fries, double hushpuppies, double onion rings at no additional charge.
How much does the milkshake upgrade cost on the Cook Out Tray?
Swapping the included fountain drink for any milkshake from Cook Out’s 40plus flavor menu typically costs approximately $1.60 extra. A standalone milkshake ordered separately costs $3.99, so the upgrade is always the better deal if you want a shake with your meal.
What is the difference between the Regular Tray and the Jr. Tray?
The Jr. Tray costs approximately $6.39 about a dollar less than the Regular Tray. The format is identical: same two sides, same drink, same milkshake upgrade option. The only difference is a smaller set of main item choices on the Jr. Tray: small burger, 2 chicken strips, 2 corn dogs, BLT sandwich, or 1 hot dog.
Why do Cook Out Tray prices vary by location?
Cook Out does not publish a national price list. Individual locations set their own prices based on local costs. The variation is typically small usually within a few cents to about 30 cents but the menu board at your restaurant is always the authoritative price for that location.
Is the Cook Out Tray cheaper than other fast food combos?
Yes, substantially. The Cook Out Tray at approximately $7.39 is consistently $3–$4 cheaper than comparable combo meals at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Chick fil A, and Sonic in 2026 and it includes two sides instead of one, with more variety in what those sides can be. See the comparison table above.
Sources and How This Guide Was Prepared
Pricing information is drawn from Cook Out’s publicly available menu data and community verified pricing from locations across Cook Out’s operating states in 2025–2026. Cook Out does not publish a national price list online, so all figures represent the most widely reported current pricing and should always be verified at your local restaurant before ordering.
CookoutsMenu.online is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or officially connected with Cook Out LLC. Prices, menu items, and availability can change at any time. The menu board at your local Cook Out restaurant is always the authoritative source for current pricing. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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