Cookout Menu: Prices, Trays, and What to Order First
Cook Out built its name on one idea. Give people more food for less money. The menu covers burgers, BBQ, hot dogs, chicken, and over 40 milkshake flavors, all built around a drive thru window instead of a full dining room. That setup keeps costs low, and it shows in almost every price on the board.
The Cookout Tray Explained
The tray is the reason most people come back. You pick one main item, two sides, and a large drink for one flat price, usually between $6.29 and $7.69. Check the Cookout menu for every tray combination and current pricing. You can double up on a side instead of picking two different ones. You can also upgrade your drink to a milkshake for about a dollar extra.
Want to know about milkshakes, check out the cookout milkshakes guide.
Main choices include burgers, chopped pork BBQ, char-grilled chicken, hot dogs, and quesadillas. Sides run from fries and onion rings to hushpuppies and coleslaw. With that many combinations, no two orders really need to look the same.
Burgers and Hot Dogs
Burgers start around $1.99 and go up based on size and toppings. The Cookout Style build tops any burger with homemade chili, slaw, mustard, and onion, and it is the closest thing the menu has to a signature order. Char-grilled hot dogs start under a dollar and can be dressed the same way, chili, cheese, or slaw, depending on what you are craving.
Chicken and Wraps
The chicken lineup includes Original, Cajun, BBQ, Club, and Cheddar styles, all char-grilled rather than fried. Chicken strips and a crispy spicy filet round out the fried side of the menu. Wraps and quesadillas work well as lighter mains or as one of your two tray sides if you want something smaller.
Milkshakes, the Real Draw
Cook Out runs one of the largest milkshake menus in fast food, with more than 40 hand spun flavors. Classics like vanilla and chocolate sit next to unique options like peanut butter fudge, banana pudding, and Oreo mint. Shakes cost about $3.69 on their own, or roughly a dollar more when added to a tray. Staff will usually mix two flavors together if you ask.
How the Price Actually Compares
A basic combo meal at most national chains runs $10 to $13 in 2026. A Cookout Tray covers a main, two sides, and a drink for closer to $7. That is not a small gap. For two people sharing a casual meal, the difference can cover an entire extra tray. Add a milkshake and you are still under what a single combo costs elsewhere.
Smart Ways to Order
A few habits make the value even better. Doubling a filling side like fries or hushpuppies instead of picking two smaller items stretches the meal further. Ordering the Junior Tray works well if a Regular feels like too much food. Splitting a Regular Tray between two people who are not extremely hungry can also work, since portions run larger than most fast food combos.
If you are new to the menu, start with a tray built around the Cookout Style burger or Cajun chicken, paired with hushpuppies and a Cheerwine float. That combination covers the flavors the chain is best known for in one order.
Hours and Ordering
Most locations open around 10:30 AM and stay open late, often until 3:00 AM on weeknights and closer to 4:30 AM on weekends. There is no official mobile app, so ordering happens at the counter, the drive thru, or through third party delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Prices and hours can shift slightly by location, so it is worth a quick check before a late night run. You can find updated hours and location details on the official menu guide.
Quick FAQs
How much is a Cookout Tray?Â
Usually between $6.29 and $7.69, depending on the main item and location.
How many milkshake flavors does Cook Out have?Â
More than 40, with the option to mix two flavors into one shake.
Is Cookout cheaper than other fast food chains?Â
Yes. A tray typically costs several dollars less than a comparable combo at most national chains.
Does Cook Out have a loyalty app?Â
No official app or points program exists as of 2026.
What is the best first order?Â
A Cookout Style burger or Cajun chicken tray with hushpuppies and a Cheerwine float covers the menu’s core flavors.
John Dohe
