Cook Out has earned a loyal following across the Southeast, and the Cookout menu is a big part of that reputation. Since opening in Greensboro, North Carolina, the chain has built its name on char-grilled burgers, barbecue, and one of the largest milkshake lineups in fast food, all at prices well below most competitors. Today it runs more than 350 locations across eleven states, still built on the same idea: fresh food, low prices, and a menu with something for everyone.
This guide breaks down the full Cookout menu with prices, covers the tray system that made the brand famous, and walks through the burgers, chicken, shakes, sides, and drinks that keep customers coming back.
Cookout Menu With Prices
The Cookout menu is built around value. Burgers start around $2.49 for a small size, hot dogs run about $1.99 to $2.99, and sides begin under a dollar. Most people order a Cookout Tray instead of buying items one by one, since a tray bundles a main item, two sides, and a drink for one set price. Prices shift a little by state and by store, so the numbers below are a general guide rather than an exact receipt.
Fast food regulars know that a full meal at Cook Out often costs less than a single combo at bigger chains, which is the main reason the brand has such a loyal following among students and night shift workers.
Cookout Tray Menu
The Cookout Tray is the single most ordered item on the menu, and it explains most of the brand’s cult following. A tray gives you one main item, two sides, and a drink, with thousands of possible combinations depending on what you pick. There are two tray sizes.
The Regular Tray runs from roughly $5.25 to $7.69 and fits mains like the Big Double Burger, a full Chicken Breast, or the BBQ Plate. The Jr. Tray costs less, usually between $4.69 and $6.49, and comes with smaller mains such as two chicken strips or a small burger. Both trays let you double up on sides instead of picking two different ones, and both let you swap the drink for a milkshake for an extra $1.00 to $1.60.
For most people, the tray beats ordering items separately, since bundling saves a dollar or two compared to buying the same pieces on their own.
Cookout Burgers Menu
Cook Out burgers are char-grilled to order rather than frozen and reheated, which is part of why the chain has built such a strong reputation for taste. Burgers come in four sizes: Small at an eighth of a pound, Regular at a quarter pound, Huge at a half pound, and the Big Double with two quarter pound patties stacked together.
On top of size, customers pick a topping style. The Cookout Style comes loaded with chili, slaw, mustard, and onion. The Cheddar Style adds bacon, cheese, and grilled onion. Other styles include House, Steak, Out West, and Nacho Chili, each built around a different sauce and topping combination. Burger prices usually land between $2.49 and $6.99 depending on size and style, with extra toppings like bacon or cheese priced separately.
Cookout Chicken Menu
Chicken eaters have just as many choices as burger fans. The chicken breast comes char-grilled in styles like Original, BBQ, Cajun, Cheddar, Club, Homemade, and Spicy, priced roughly between $3.69 and $4.99. Chicken strips are breaded and fried, sold as a snack order, a sandwich, or the loaded Chicken Strip Club.
For something handheld, the wraps combine crispy chicken strips, cheese, and ranch inside a grilled tortilla, with flavors like Cajun, Ranch, Honey Mustard, and Bacon Ranch. Quesadillas round out the chicken lineup, with Cheese, Chicken, and Cheeseburger versions all priced around $1.99 each.
Cookout Shakes Menu
The Cookout shakes menu is where the brand really stands out from other fast food chains. Cook Out serves more than 40 hand-spun milkshake flavors, all priced around $3.99 for a large size close to 33 ounces. Classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry sit next to specialty options such as Oreo Mint, Reese’s Cup, Banana Pudding, and Caramel Fudge.
Seasonal flavors show up throughout the year too, including Pumpkin Pie in the fall and Peppermint or Fresh Eggnog around the holidays. Because the shakes are hand spun in store rather than pre-mixed, flavor and thickness can vary slightly from one location to another, which is part of the appeal for regulars who have a favorite spot.
Cookout Sides and Drinks
Sides are where a lot of customers build their perfect tray. Cajun Fries and Cheese Fries are the most requested, followed by Hushpuppies, Onion Rings, and White Cheddar Cheese Bites. Prices for sides generally sit between $1.99 and $3.99.
On the drink side, sweet tea is a Southern staple at Cook Out, alongside lemonade, fountain soda, and bottled water. The Cheerwine Float, made with soft-serve ice cream and cherry flavored Cheerwine soda, is a regional specialty that is hard to find outside the chain’s home territory in North Carolina.
Cookout Hours
Cook Out is known for staying open late, which is a big part of why it draws a crowd after other restaurants have closed. Most locations open at 10:30 AM and stay open until around 3:00 AM on weeknights, stretching to 4:00 AM or later on Friday and Saturday nights. Exact hours vary by store, so checking with a local location is the safest bet before a late night run.
Final Thoughts
The Cookout menu earns its following through a simple formula: fresh char-grilled food, a tray system that makes ordering easy, and a shake lineup that few competitors can match. Whether the goal is a quick burger, a full tray, or just a milkshake on a hot night, there is enough variety here to keep any regular coming back. Prices and hours do shift by location, so a quick call ahead or a check of the store locator will always give the most accurate picture before ordering.