Cookout Tray Menu 2026 — Prices, Calories, Best Combos & What to Order
A Cookout Tray gives you one entrée, two sides, and a large drink for $6.29 to $7.69 in 2026. Choose from 10+ mains and 15+ sides. Upgrade to one of 40+ hand-spun milkshakes for just $1 more. No fast food chain in America matches that tray deal right now.
McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Chick-fil-A charge $11 to $14 for fewer items. This guide covers every cookout tray menu option, prices verified across multiple states, best combos ranked by value, a full calorie breakdown, budget builds under $6, and the ordering mistakes that cost you food and money. Read it once. Order smarter every time.
What Is a Cookout Tray?
The Cook Out Tray is one entree, two sides, and a large drink at one flat price. No preset combos. No upsell pressure. You build it your way from a menu that gives you genuine tray options.
Morris Reaves opened the first Cookout in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989. The format has not changed in 37 years. The mission was to serve quality food at affordable price that works for students, families, and working people. That idea still beats every competitor in 2026.
How the Tray Works
Pick one main from 10+ entrees. Choose any two sides from 15+ options. Pick your drink. Pay one flat price.
The sides list is where most people miss the real value. The cookout tray menu puts wraps, quesadillas, and chicken nuggets in the sides section. That means three full food items on one tray for one combo price. Most customers never figure this out.
Regular Tray vs. Jr. Tray
Regular Tray starts at $6.29. Cookout jr tray starts at $5.29. Both give you identical side options and the same drink choices. The only difference is entree size and starting price, and that cookout tray cost is never more than $1.50.
The Double Up Option
Pick the same side twice. Double hushpuppies. Double Cajun fries. Cook Out allows it at no extra charge. Most people never use it.
Cook Out Tray Menu Categories: Mains, Sides & Drinks
With over 54,000 possible combinations and prices starting at $6.29, the Cookout tray is still the best value meal in American fast food in 2026. One main, two sides, one drink built your way, priced honestly, and better than anything else at this price.
Regular Tray at Cookout with Photos and Calories
Every regular tray at Cookout is built fresh to order and priced in a way that makes every other fast food combo feel overpriced by comparison.
Big Double Burger Tray
$7.69 | 1400 Cal
Hamburger Tray
$6.49 | 1100 Cal
Cheeseburger Tray
$6.69 | 1200 Cal
BBQ Plate Tray
$7.69 | 1400 Cal
Hot Dog Tray
$6.99 | 1000 Cal
Corn Dog Tray
$3.39 | 1100 Cal
BBQ Sandwich Tray
$7.29 | 1100 Cal
Cookout Style Burger Tray
$6.79 | 1300 Cal
Chicken Strips Tray
$7.29 | 1200 Cal
Cajun Chicken Tray
$7.49 | 1100 Cal
Spicy Chicken Tray
$7.29 | 1200 Cal
Chicken Nuggets Tray
$7.49 | 1050 Cal
Quesadilla Tray
$7.29 | 1150 Cal
JR Tray Main Entree Options & Calories
Every Jr. Tray at Cookout gives you a real char-grilled main, two sides, and a drink at a price that makes it the smartest light meal on the menu. These smaller entrees hit the same fresh quality as the regular tray without the extra calories or the extra cost.
Small Burger
245 Cal
1 Hot Dog
260 Cal
2 Corn Dogs
440 Cal
1 Quesadilla (Chicken or Beef)
220–260 Cal
BLT Sandwich
392 Cal
🍟 Pick the Perfect Sides
The sides are what turn a good Cookout tray into a great, one so pick two different ones or double up on your favorite and build the meal exactly the way you want it.
Hushpuppies
600 Cal
Cajun Fries
465 Cal
Onion Rings
256 Cal
Regular Fries
347 Cal
Choose the Perfect Drink
No meal at Cookout is complete without something cold to sip on, and whether you go with fresh-brewed tea or swap in a hand-spun milkshake for just $1.00 extra, the drink choice alone is worth thinking about.
Dasani
20 oz
Cheerwine (Regular)
16 oz
Cheerwine (Large)
32 oz
Coca Cola (Regular)
16 oz
Fresh Brewed Tea
16 oz
Fresh Brewed Tea (Huge)
32.9 oz
Coca Cola (Large)
32 oz
Regular Tray vs. Jr Tray — Which One Is Better Value?
Both cookout trays include two sides and identical drink options. The decision comes down to appetite and entrée size.
Choose the Regular Tray If
You are actually hungry. You want a full-size entree. You want maximum food per dollar. The price gap is only $1 to $1.50, but the food difference is a full entrée size. Most adults should default to the Regular Tray every time.
Choose the Jr Tray If
You want a lighter meal. You are ordering for a child. You want to spend under $6.50 and still get two sides and a drink. The sides and drink options are identical to the Regular Tray — you just get a smaller entree. The junior tray cookout works best for kids and smaller appetites.
Does the Jr Tray come with 2 sides?
Yes. Every cookout jr tray includes two side choices or the option to double up on one.
Cook Out Tray Menu Calories Table
Here is every main, side, and drink available on the cookout tray menu in 2026. Know your cookout tray options before you pull up to the window.
Main Entrée Options With Calories
| Main Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| Big Double Burger | 311 cal |
| Regular ¼ lb Burger | 328 cal |
| Cajun Chicken Sandwich | 377 cal |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | 446 cal |
| BBQ Sandwich | 368 cal |
| BBQ Plate | 976 cal |
| Chicken Strips (3 pieces) | 660 cal |
| Chicken Strip Club | 846 cal |
| 2 Hot Dogs (Plain) | 520 cal |
| Chicken Quesadilla | 449 cal |
| Beef/Cheeseburger Quesadilla | 514 cal |
| Bacon Ranch Wrap | 419 cal |
| Ranch Wrap | 522 cal |
| Cajun Wrap | 501 cal |
| BLT Sandwich | 392 cal |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 393 cal |
| Small Burger Jr | 245 cal |
| 2 Corn Dogs Jr | 440 cal |
| Chicken Nuggets (6 pc) | 240 cal |
- Big Double Burger Tray Cookout: The Big Double Burger features two beef patties, chili, slaw, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a toasted bun. The most ordered item on the full menu.
- Cajun Chicken Sandwich Tray: Char-grilled breast with authentic Cajun seasoning. Not frozen. Not reheated.
- Spicy Chicken Sandwich: Breaded with genuine heat. Not the watered-down version other chains serve.
- BBQ Sandwich: Chopped pork BBQ on a toasted bun. No other fast food chain does this at drive-thru prices.
- BBQ Plate: Same chopped pork served with coleslaw and hushpuppies.
- Chicken Strips 3 Pieces: Served with your choice of Cook Out sauce, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, ranch, Polynesian, or buffalo.
- 2 Hot Dogs: Char-grilled. Plain or dressed with chili, slaw, mustard, and onion.
- 2 Corn Dogs: Battered, fried, no frills.
- Chicken Quesadilla: Chicken or beef with cheddar. Order as a main or as a side.
- Bacon Ranch Wrap: Chicken, bacon, ranch, lettuce, and tomato. Also available as a side.
Cook Out Tray Sides List — Full Options With Calories
Review the full cookout tray sides list below before you reach the window.
| Side | Calories |
|---|---|
| Cajun Fries | 465 cal |
| Regular Fries | 347 cal |
| Hushpuppies | 600 cal |
| Onion Rings | 256 cal |
| Coleslaw | 405 cal |
| Chicken Nuggets (6 pc) | 240 cal |
| White Cheddar Cheese Bites | 299 cal |
| Corn Dog | 220 cal |
| Cheese Quesadilla | 355 cal |
| Okra | 228 cal |
| Side of Chili | 164 cal |
| Cook Out Rounds | 298 cal |
Drinks and Milkshake Options
- Standard drinks: Cheerwine, Coke, Sprite, Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, Dasani Water.
- Upgrade options: Regular milkshake +$1.00. Fancy milkshake +$1.60.
- Top shake flavors based on customer ordering trends: Peanut Butter Fudge, Oreo Mint, Banana Pudding, Strawberry Cheesecake, Cheerwine Float, Coke Float.
- Seasonal flavors: Pumpkin Pie in fall. Fresh Eggnog in December. Fresh Watermelon July through August.
Cheerwine is a North Carolina original cherry soda you will not find at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Chick-fil-A. Ordering it with your tray is the local move.
How to Build Your Cook Out Tray — Step by Step
Step 1: Choose Your Main
Big Double Burger for the most filling option. Cajun Chicken for the best flavor-to-calorie ratio. BBQ Plate when you are genuinely hungry — it sits near 980 calories on its own.
Step 2: Pick 2 Sides or Double Up
Use the 3-item trick — order a chicken wrap or quesadilla as one side. Second side goes to Cajun fries or hushpuppies. If you are skipping the trick, hushpuppies plus Cajun fries is the most popular cookout tray sides combination across all locations.
Step 3: Drink or Milkshake Upgrade?
Get the milkshake. A dollar more for a 33 oz hand-spun shake made from real ice cream is the best $1 decision on this menu. Banana Pudding and Oreo Mint are the two most ordered flavors based on customer data.
Which Main Gets You the Most Per Dollar?
The 3 Chicken Strips Tray at $6.49 delivers 390 to 430 main calories plus two full sides. The 2 Hot Dogs Tray at $6.29 is the lowest-priced entry with 340 to 380 main calories. The BBQ Plate near $7.29 tops out at 980 main calories — best calorie-per-dollar on the entire menu.
Best Cookout Tray Combos Ranked in 2026
These are the seven best cookout trays you can builds in 2026, ranked by value, flavor, and smart ordering. Each tray combo is ready to order exactly as listed.
Top Pick: The College Student Special
- Main: Big Double Burger
- Side 1: Hushpuppies
- Side 2: Cajun Fries
- Drink: Peanut Butter Fudge Shake upgrade
- Total: approximately $8.49
Two beef patties, crispy hushpuppies, Cajun fries, and a hand-spun shake, all for less than a basic Big Mac combo. Best value tray on this list. No argument.
Strongest Flavor Build: Cajun Chicken
- Main: Cajun Chicken Sandwich
- Side 1: Cajun Fries
- Side 2: Hushpuppies
- Drink: Cheerwine Large
- Total: approximately $7.49
Every bite carries double Cajun seasoning, from the first bite to the last fry. Cheerwine is a North Carolina original that no other chain carries. This combo tastes like the Southeast. This is the best first-visit order for new Cook Out customers.
Smartest Order: The Three Entree Trick
- Main: Chicken Quesadilla
- Side 1: Bacon Ranch Wrap
- Side 2: Chicken Nuggets
- Drink: Sweet Tea Huge
- Total: approximately $7.99
Three full food items. One tray price. Wraps and nuggets sit in the sides section. Most customers never notice. Three full food items. One tray price. Wraps and nuggets sit in the sides section — most customers never notice. The ones who do never go back to a basic tray.
For Heat Lovers: Spicy Chicken Build
- Main: Spicy Chicken Sandwich
- Side 1: Cajun Fries
- Side 2: Coleslaw
- Drink: Oreo Mint Shake upgrade
- Total: approximately $8.49
The chicken brings genuine heat. Coleslaw cuts through the spice. The Oreo Mint shake finishes it clean. This combo has a flavor arc most fast food meals completely lack.
Most Southern: BBQ Lover’s Tray
- Main: BBQ Sandwich
- Side 1: Hushpuppies
- Side 2: Coleslaw
- Drink: Sweet Tea Huge
- Total: approximately $7.49
This tray brings chopped pork, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and a huge sweet tea. It is the most Southern tray on the menu. Nobody does chopped pork BBQ at drive-thru prices better than cookout tray menu.
Late Night Order: The 2AM Build
- Main: 2 Hot Dogs
- Side 1: Cajun Fries
- Side 2: Hushpuppies
- Drink: Cheerwine Float
- Total: approximately $7.49
Fast, filling, no decisions required at 2am. Cook Out runs until 3am daily and 4:30am on weekends. This tray exists for exactly those hours.
Family Value: Chicken Strips Tray
- Main per person: Chicken Strips 3 Pieces
- Sides: Regular Fries and Hushpuppies
- Drink: Coke or Cheerwine
- Per tray: approximately $7.49
- Family of four: approximately $30
Four Cook Out trays cost $30. The same four meals at McDonald’s run $45 to $55. Chicken strips work for every age. Hushpuppies convert first-timers every single time.
Most Popular Cookout Tray Orders in 2026
Based on customer ordering trends, Reddit food communities, and menu engagement data:
Big Double Burger Tray
Most ordered tray across all locations. Search volume climbs consistently through 2026. Regulars call it the best burger value at any American drive-thru right now.
Cajun Chicken Tray
Second most popular. Strongest demand in college towns across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Char-grilled Cajun seasoning turns first-timers into regulars.
Three Entree Trick Combo
Most discussed Cook Out order on Reddit in 2026. Customers who find it share it immediately. Highest engagement tray build on the whole menu.
Healthiest Tray Build
Search volume for “healthiest Cook Out tray” grew consistently through 2025 and into 2026. Char-Grilled Chicken with Coleslaw and Corn on the Cob is the top recommended healthy tray build in health and fitness communities covering Southeast fast food.
Cheapest Cookout Tray Meals Under $6
Every build below uses the Jr. Tray format, with one main, two sides, and a large drink at the lowest cookout tray price on the menu. All totals are before tax.
Jr. Tray with Hot Dog: $5.29 to $5.59
One char-grilled hot dog, two sides, large drink. Add Cajun Fries and Hushpuppies. Filling meal under $6.
Jr. Tray with Small Burger: $5.29 to $5.79
Single beef patty, two sides, large drink. Pair with Regular Fries and Coleslaw. Best entry-level cookout tray menu build for first-timers on a tight budget.
Jr. Tray with 2 Corn Dogs: $5.29 to $5.69
Two corn dogs, two sides, large drink. Best Jr Tray for kids. Add Hushpuppies and a Coke Float — full order still lands under $7 with tax.
Jr. Tray with Quesadilla: $5.59 to $6.19
Quesadilla, two sides, large drink. More filling than the burger at the Jr price. Add a Bacon Ranch Wrap as one side and you get two full food items on a sub-$6 tray.
Four builds. All under $6. All with two sides and a drink. The Jr Tray still beats every competitor at twice the price.
Tips to Get the Most Value from Your Cook Out Tray
- Always upgrade to a milkshake. It costs $1 more. A hand-spun 33 oz shake made from real ice cream is worth every cent. Skipping it is the most common mistake at the window.
- Order Cajun fries over regular fries. Both cost the same as a side. Cajun fries are crunchier, more seasoned, and pair with every entrée on the menu. No reason to order plain.
- Double up if you love one side. Order hushpuppies twice. Order Cajun fries twice. Cook Out allows it. No extra charge.
- Ask about the secret menu. Many locations carry specialty shakes and custom builds not listed on the board. Ask at the window. Takes five seconds.
- Go Regular Tray over Jr Tray for adults. The price gap is $1 to $1.50. The food difference is a full entrée. Most adults who order Jr to save money end up hungry.
- Order Cheerwine if you have never tried it. It is a North Carolina original cherry soda. You will not find it anywhere else. It pairs perfectly with every tray on the menu.
Common Ordering Mistakes to Avoid
Most Cook Out customers leave value on the table every single visit. These five mistakes are the most common, and the easiest to fix.
Skipping the milkshake upgrade
A hand-spun shake in 40+ flavors for $1 more. Most first-timers skip it and regret it immediately.
Missing wraps in the sides list
Most customers see fries and stop reading. The full sides list includes wraps, quesadillas, and nuggets. Missing this means fewer food items for the same price.
Ordering Jr Tray to save money
The gap is $1 to $1.50. Most adults end up hungry. Regular Tray is the smarter budget call.
Choosing regular fries over Cajun
Same price. Cajun wins every time.
Never asking about the secret menu
Specialty shakes and custom builds vary by location. Always ask.
FAQs
Here are answers to the most searched questions about the tray at cookout restaurant in 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Cook Out Tray wins on honest math. It delivers one full entree, two proper sides, and a drink worth having — all under $8. Add a milkshake for $1 more. Order wraps as sides and get three food items for that same price. No competitor in America touches this value in 2026.
Pick your main. Use your sides wisely. Upgrade the drink. That is the whole formula.
You now know the cookout tray menu better than most people who have been ordering for years. Explore the complete Cookout menu for everything else on the board.