Cook Out Menu with Prices (2026): Trays, Burgers, Milkshakes & Everything Worth Ordering
Cook Out has earned a near-cult following across the American South, and not by accident. Founded in 1989 in Greensboro, North Carolina, by Morris Reaves, the chain quietly built one of the most value-dense menus in fast food — char-grilled burgers, pulled pork BBQ, over 40 milkshake flavors, and the now-legendary Cook Out Tray — all while keeping prices at a level that makes most national chains look like a rip-off. With over 360 company-owned locations across 10-plus Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, Cook Out has never franchised, never gone public, and never inflated prices to cover franchise fees. That structural discipline is the reason why a full Cook Out menu with prices still shocks first-timers in the best possible way.
This guide covers every major category on the Cook Out menu with prices verified from in-store boards across multiple Southeast markets, including trays, burgers, chicken, BBQ, hot dogs, sides, milkshakes, and drinks. Where prices vary by location, ranges are noted.
The Cook Out Tray: The Best Value on the Menu
Before breaking down individual items, the Cook Out Tray deserves its own section — because it’s the single best reason to visit. The concept is straightforward: choose one entrée, any two sides from a list of 15+, and a large drink. The Regular Tray runs $6.29–$7.69 at most locations (most boards clock in at $7.39), while the Junior Tray — a slightly smaller format — starts around $5.29–$6.39.
That price point becomes even more remarkable when you factor in what the sides can be. At Cook Out, sides aren’t just fries and a drink. A quesadilla counts as a side. So does a corn dog, a chicken wrap, or cheese bites. That flexibility means you’re often getting what amounts to two meals bundled into a single tray price.
You can also upgrade the included drink to a regular milkshake for $1.00 extra, or to a Fancy Milkshake for $1.00–$1.60 extra depending on flavor. Nearly every regular customer takes the milkshake upgrade. At a price point where a comparable combo at McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A runs $10–$14 in 2026, the Cook Out Tray doesn’t just win on value — it’s in a different category.
Available Tray Entrées:
- Hamburger (any style)
- Big Double Burger
- Chicken Strips
- Cajun Chicken Breast
- Spicy Chicken Breast
- BBQ Sandwich
- BBQ Chicken
- Hot Dog (any style)
- Quesadilla
- Wraps
Cook Out Menu with Prices: Full Breakdown
Burgers
Cook Out’s burgers are fresh, never frozen, char-grilled to order, and available in four sizes across seven named styles. This is where the Cook Out menu with prices starts to look genuinely different from the competition.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Small Burger | $1.99–$2.99 |
| Regular Burger (1/4 lb.) | $2.99–$3.99 |
| Big Double Burger | $3.95–$4.49 |
| Small Cheeseburger | $2.29–$3.29 |
Burger Styles (available on Regular and Big Double, small premium per style):
| Style | What’s On It | Approx. Price Add |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Style | Your choice of condiments only | Base price |
| Cook Out Style | Chili, slaw, mustard, onions | +$0.30–$0.50 |
| Out West Style | BBQ sauce, bacon, grilled onions | +$0.50 |
| House Style | Lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard | +$0.30 |
| Cheddar Style | Cheddar cheese, bacon, grilled onions, mayo | +$0.50–$0.70 |
| Steak Style | A1 sauce, grilled onions, pepper jack | +$0.50 |
| Nacho Chili Style | Nacho cheese, jalapeños, chili, onions | +$0.50–$0.70 |
Additional toppings (tomato, bacon, cheese, chili, slaw, grilled onion) are available à la carte at the window. All condiments — ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles, onion, lettuce, Cajun seasoning — are included at no charge.
The Cook Out Style is the signature order for first-timers: chili, slaw, mustard, and onions on a char-grilled patty. It tastes like a Carolina-style hot dog translated into burger form, and it’s one of the dishes that explains why this chain has the following it does.
Chicken
Chicken at Cook Out covers a wider range than the menu board suggests. You’ve got the classic chicken strip tray anchor, grilled breast options, spicy preparations, and sandwiches — all made to order.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken Strip Sandwich | $3.99–$4.99 |
| Cajun Chicken Breast | $4.49–$5.29 |
| Spicy Chicken Breast | $4.49–$5.29 |
| Original Chicken Breast | $3.99–$4.99 |
| Chicken Strips (entrée) | $3.99–$5.49 |
| BBQ Chicken Breast | $4.49–$5.29 |
| Cheddar Chicken | $4.49–$5.29 |
| Club Chicken | $4.49–$5.99 |
The Cajun Chicken Breast is consistently one of the most recommended items across Cook Out’s loyal customer base. The char-grill char on the Cajun seasoning creates a smoky, spiced crust that’s hard to replicate in a fast-food setting. Order it as a tray entrée with hushpuppies and Cajun fries, then upgrade to a Peanut Butter Fudge milkshake — that combination comes in under $9.50 and represents one of the best value meals available at any American drive-thru in 2026.
BBQ
Cook Out’s BBQ program is one of the most underrated parts of the Cook Out menu with prices. The pulled pork is smoked in-house — a detail that separates it sharply from chains that source pre-made BBQ products. If you grew up eating North Carolina-style pork BBQ, this tastes like the real thing because it essentially is.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| BBQ Plate (pulled pork, slaw, hushpuppies, fries) | $7.49 |
| BBQ Sandwich | $3.99–$4.99 |
| BBQ Chicken Sandwich | $4.49–$5.29 |
The BBQ Plate at $7.49 is one of the few items not tied to a tray, and it’s worth every cent. You get pulled pork, coleslaw, hushpuppies, and fries in a single order — a plate that would run $14–$18 at a sit-down Southern BBQ restaurant.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are a serious category at Cook Out, not an afterthought. All dogs are beef, char-grilled, and available in several styles, ranging from classic to deeply Southern.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Plain Hot Dog | $1.19 |
| Chili Cheese Dog | $2.49–$3.29 |
| Mexi Dog (chili, cheddar, Texas Pete, lettuce, tomato) | $3.79 |
| Bacon Cheddar Dog | $2.99–$3.79 |
| Corn Dog | $1.49–$1.99 |
| Cook Out Style Dog (chili, mustard, slaw, onions) | $2.99–$3.49 |
The Mexi Dog at $3.79 is a legitimately excellent hot dog — Texas Pete hot sauce, cheddar, chili, and fresh toppings on a char-grilled beef dog. The plain hot dog at $1.19 remains one of the cheapest prepared food items at any restaurant in the country.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas appear both as entrées and as tray sides — which is part of what makes the Cook Out menu so flexible. As a standalone or tray entrée, they come filled with chicken or cheese.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken Quesadilla | $3.49–$4.49 |
| Cheese Quesadilla | $2.49–$3.49 |
A popular ordering hack: get a Chicken Quesadilla as one of your tray sides with a burger entrée. You’ve now built a tray that contains a full burger and a full quesadilla alongside a drink, all for under $8.
Wraps
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ranch Wrap (Crispy Chicken) | $3.49–$4.49 |
| Cajun Chicken Wrap | $3.49–$4.49 |
| BBQ Chicken Wrap | $3.49–$4.49 |
Wraps are portable, modestly sized, and genuinely well-built. The Ranch Wrap — crispy chicken strips, lettuce, tomato, and ranch in a flour tortilla — is the most popular of the three. These also qualify as tray sides, which is a fact worth remembering when you’re deciding how to build your order.
Sides
This is where the Cook Out menu with prices truly separates itself from every national fast-food chain. Most places give you fries or a salad. Cook Out gives you 15+ legitimate side options, most of which can double as mini-meals.
| Side | À La Carte Price |
|---|---|
| Regular Fries | $1.49–$2.49 |
| Cajun Fries | $1.49–$2.49 |
| Onion Rings | $1.99–$2.99 |
| Hushpuppies | $1.49–$2.49 |
| Cheese Bites | $1.99–$2.99 |
| Corn Dog | $1.49–$1.99 |
| Chicken Nuggets | $1.99–$2.99 |
| Mac & Cheese | $1.99–$2.99 |
| Coleslaw | $1.49–$1.99 |
| Walking Taco | $2.49–$3.49 |
| Chicken Quesadilla (as a side) | $1.99–$2.99 (side price within tray) |
| Chicken Wrap (as side) | $1.99–$2.99 (side price within tray) |
Hushpuppies deserve special mention. They’re made fresh, not from a bag, and they come out of the fryer hot and slightly sweet in a way that pairs perfectly with a char-grilled burger. Doubling up on hushpuppies as both your tray sides is one of the most recommended moves among Cook Out regulars, and for good reason.
Note: All fried items — fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, chicken strips, corn dogs, and cheese bites — are cooked in peanut oil. If you have a peanut allergy, avoid all fried items and confirm with your local location before ordering.
Milkshakes
Cook Out’s milkshake program might be the most underpriced product in fast food. Over 40 flavors, thick enough to barely move through a straw, made with real ice cream, starting at $2.99–$3.99 for a regular and $3.99–$4.99 for a large. Added to a tray: $1.00 for a regular shake, $1.00–$1.60 for a Fancy Milkshake.
Core Milkshake Flavors (available year-round):
| Category | Flavors |
|---|---|
| Classic | Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Banana |
| Specialty | Oreo, Oreo Mint, Reese’s Cup, Peanut Butter Fudge, Banana Pudding |
| Fruit | Peach, Cherry, Blueberry, Blackberry |
| Cheesecake | Plain Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Cherry Cheesecake |
| Candy | M&M, Heath Bar, Butterfinger |
| Coffee | Mocha, Cappuccino |
| Seasonal | Watermelon (summer), Eggnog (winter), Pumpkin Pie (fall) |
You can also ask for custom blends — Oreo and Peanut Butter Fudge together, for example, or Banana Pudding with a swirl of caramel. The kitchen works from ingredients, not a locked recipe list. The current summer rotation includes Fresh Watermelon, which is one of the chain’s most requested seasonal offerings.
Drinks
| Item | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Drink (Coke, Sprite, etc.) | Small (12 oz) | $1.49 |
| Soft Drink | Regular (16 oz) | $1.79 |
| Soft Drink | Large (24 oz) | $2.19 |
| Soft Drink | Huge (32 oz) | $2.59 |
| Sweet Tea / Unsweet Tea | Small–Huge | $1.49–$2.59 |
| Fruit Drinks | Small–Huge | $1.49–$2.59 |
Desserts & Floats
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cheesecake Slice | $1.99–$2.49 |
| Ice Cream Sandwich | $1.49–$1.99 |
| Float (milkshake + soda) | $2.49–$3.49 |
| Sundae | $1.99–$2.99 |
Value Strategy: How to Build the Best Order
The Cook Out menu with prices rewards people who build strategically. Here’s how to get the most out of every visit:
Best value build (under $9): Cajun Chicken Breast tray + hushpuppies + Cajun fries + Peanut Butter Fudge milkshake upgrade. Filling, bold, and complete.
Best classic build: Cook Out Style Big Double Burger tray + onion rings + hushpuppies + Oreo milkshake upgrade. This is the order that converts skeptics.
Best light build: Char-grilled Chicken Breast tray + coleslaw + regular fries + unsweetened tea. Under 700 calories for the whole meal if you skip the milkshake upgrade.
Biggest mistake first-timers make: Ordering à la carte. A burger, a side of fries, and a separate milkshake ordered individually will cost $3–$5 more than the same items bundled into a tray. Always start with the tray.
The milkshake upgrade: Most regulars take it every single time. The cost difference between a soda and a milkshake at Cook Out is $1.00. At any other chain, a standalone milkshake is $5–$7. This is the single best upgrade deal in fast food.
Cook Out Secret Menu
Cook Out doesn’t publish a secret menu, but the kitchen is flexible and regulars have developed a set of unofficial builds that use standard ingredients in non-standard ways. Ask for these by describing the ingredients — the staff know what you mean.
Firecracker Hot Dog: Chili, jalapeños, Cajun seasoning, and Texas Pete on a char-grilled dog. Not on the board. Absolutely worth ordering.
Peanut Butter Bacon Burger: Peanut butter spread and bacon on any burger style. Sweet and savory in a way that sounds strange and tastes exactly right.
Quesadilla Burger: A burger patty placed inside a quesadilla instead of a bun. Adds crunch and extra cheese without adding much cost.
Bacon Grilled Onion Fries: Fries topped with bacon, grilled onions, and cheese sauce. Request it as an off-menu add-on.
Custom milkshake blends: Any two or three shake flavors mixed together. Oreo + Peanut Butter Fudge is the most popular combination.
Hours and Ordering
Most Cook Out locations open at 10:30 AM daily and stay open late into the night — typically until 1:00–3:00 AM on weekdays and 3:00–4:30 AM on weekends. The drive-thru usually runs later than the dining room, which is why Cook Out has built a strong late-night reputation, especially near college campuses.
Cook Out does not offer delivery through its own platform. Some locations partner with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates, but delivery app pricing includes markups and fees. For the most accurate prices on the Cook Out menu, always use the in-store board or order in person at the drive-thru window. In-store pickup is almost always cheaper than third-party delivery.
FAQ
Q: What is the Cook Out Tray and how much does it cost? The Cook Out Tray is the chain’s signature combo: one entrée, two sides, and a large drink. Regular Trays run $6.29–$7.69 (most boards: $7.39), and the Junior Tray starts at $5.29–$6.39. You can upgrade the drink to a milkshake for $1.00 extra.
Q: How many milkshake flavors does Cook Out have? Cook Out offers over 40 milkshake flavors year-round, with additional seasonal options including Watermelon in summer and Eggnog in winter. Standalone shakes start at $2.99–$3.99. Adding one to your tray costs $1.00.
Q: Does Cook Out use fresh or frozen beef? All Cook Out beef is fresh and never frozen. Patties are ground and delivered fresh to each location, then char-grilled to order. This is one of Cook Out’s core brand commitments and a meaningful quality differentiator at its price point.
Q: What can I use as a side in the Cook Out Tray? Cook Out offers 15+ side options including regular fries, Cajun fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, corn dogs, cheese bites, chicken nuggets, coleslaw, mac and cheese, quesadillas, chicken wraps, and a walking taco. Quesadillas and wraps that function as full entrées elsewhere count as sides within the tray.
Q: Does Cook Out have a breakfast menu? No. Cook Out does not serve breakfast. The menu focuses on lunch, dinner, and late-night — operating from 10:30 AM through the early morning hours.
Q: Are there vegetarian options at Cook Out? Cook Out doesn’t have a labeled vegetarian section, but there are workable options. Cheese quesadillas, grilled cheese, fries, hushpuppies, onion rings, coleslaw, milkshakes, and most drinks are vegetarian-friendly. Note that all fried items are cooked in peanut oil.
Q: Can I order Cook Out online? Cook Out doesn’t have its own app or online ordering system. Some locations are available via DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates, but app pricing includes markups. Drive-thru or walk-up ordering gives you the actual board prices.
Q: What’s the cheapest item on the Cook Out menu? The plain hot dog at $1.19 is consistently the least expensive item on Cook Out’s menu. A corn dog typically runs $1.49.
Q: Does Cook Out accept Apple Pay? Yes. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay have been accepted at Cook Out locations since early 2025. Acceptance can vary slightly by location, so it’s worth confirming before you get to the window.
Q: Why is Cook Out so much cheaper than other fast food chains? Cook Out owns every location outright — no franchising means no franchise fees getting baked into menu prices. The chain also controls its own supply chain and grinds its own beef. That vertical integration keeps overhead low and passes the savings directly to the customer.
Looking for Sushi Instead? Try Omakase in Rockford, IL
Not every great regional food story is happening in the South. In downtown Rockford, Illinois, Omakase has built a loyal following as the city’s dedicated sushi bar and ramen restaurant, located at 223 E State St on the corner of State and Madison. The menu covers fresh sushi, handcrafted ramen, chef-selected omakase, and a deep list of premium Japanese sake — the kind of variety that’s hard to find elsewhere in the region.
Seating at the sushi bar puts you close to the rollers at work, and the atmosphere skips formality without skipping polish — comfortable enough for a weeknight dinner, dressed-up enough for a celebration. Full hours, reservations, and the current menu are available at omakaserockford.com.
