Fifteen Cook Out tray ideas we like (June 2026)
Published June 16, 2026
Nutrition varies by location
Calories on the nutrition page are transcribed from Cook Out’s public PDF on cookout.com (retrieved August 31, 2026; the file is undated). We do not invent missing items. Confirm calories and allergens in-store. Unofficial tools on this site are planning sketches only.
Quick Answer: A tray we keep recommending is Big Double Cook Out Style + Cajun fries + hushpuppies + Cheerwine Float. Regular trays often run about $7.39 plus a shake/float upgrade. This is taste-and-value opinion, not an official combo list, and we do not publish official calories.
The tray is the meal deal: one main, two sides, and a drink. You can mix those pieces in a lot of ways. Most people repeat the same order. These are builds we like — not a scored “best of” from Cook Out.
1. How the tray works
The Regular Tray (often about $7.39) is one main, two sides, and a drink. The Jr. Tray (often about $6.39) is the same structure with smaller portions at many stores. Confirm the board — some locations describe Jr. differently.
Mains include burgers, chicken, hot dogs, BBQ, wraps, and quesadillas. Sides include fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, cheese bites, corn dogs, slaw, chili, and sometimes a quesadilla. The drink starts as fountain soda or tea; a Fancy Milkshake upgrade is often about $1.50–$1.60.
Quesadilla-as-a-side is a real value move at stores that allow it: a second handheld inside the tray price.
2. The classic tray
Big Double Cook Out Style, Cajun fries, hushpuppies, Cheerwine Float upgrade.
This is the “show someone Cook Out” ticket: signature burger, two fried sides, regional drink. Heavy. Fine as a treat. We will not invent a calorie total for it.
3. The chicken tray
Crispy spicy chicken breast, cheese fries, onion rings, Fresh Banana milkshake.
Heat from the chicken, rich fries, crunch from rings, banana shake to cool it down. Another large, fried-forward tray.
4. The BBQ tray
BBQ plate, chili, hushpuppies, fresh brewed tea.
Chopped pork with a Carolina-leaning sauce, chili on the side, hushpuppies, tea. Skip the shake if you want a simpler drink.
5. A cheaper Jr. Tray
Jr. Tray with a Cook Out Style hot dog, corn dog as the side, fountain drink.
Often the cheapest complete meal on the board. Another cheap build: Jr. Tray, chicken quesadilla, cheese bites, water.
6. A lighter-style tray
Grilled chicken, slaw, a smaller second side (or skip a fried side if the store will), tea.
Relative to the classic tray, this is the usual lighter path. It is not a diet plan and we do not publish official calories. The calorie calculator is unofficial.
7. A spicier tray
Cajun char-grilled chicken, Cajun fries, cheese bites, chocolate milkshake.
Cajun on the chicken and the fries; cheese bites and chocolate to cool it down.
8. Shake upgrade notes
A tray drink upgrade to a Fancy Milkshake is usually cheaper than buying the shake alone. Half-and-half mixes are typically free of a second-flavor charge.
Pairings we like: Banana Pudding with a burger, Cheesecake with crispy chicken, Cheerwine Float with BBQ. See the milkshake list.
9. All 15 builds
| # | Name | Main + sides + drink |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic | Big Double CO Style + Cajun fries + hushpuppies + Cheerwine Float |
| 2 | Chicken | Spicy crispy chicken + cheese fries + onion rings + banana shake |
| 3 | BBQ | BBQ plate + chili + hushpuppies + tea |
| 4 | Budget Jr. | Jr. hot dog CO Style + corn dog + fountain drink |
| 5 | Lighter-style | Grilled chicken + slaw + corn dog or extra slaw + tea |
| 6 | Spice | Cajun chicken + Cajun fries + cheese bites + chocolate shake |
| 7 | Cheese-forward | Cheddar Style burger + cheese fries + cheese bites + vanilla shake |
| 8 | Out West | Out West burger + onion rings + chili + Cheerwine |
| 9 | Strips | Chicken strips + fries + hushpuppies + Coke Float |
| 10 | Quesadilla | Beef quesadilla + chicken quesadilla (side) + slaw + tea |
| 11 | Huge | Huge Burger + Cajun fries + onion rings + strawberry shake |
| 12 | Dogs | Hot dog + corn dog + fries + orange shake |
| 13 | Walking taco | Walking taco + cheese bites + slaw + Dr. Pepper |
| 14 | Smaller Jr. | Jr. hamburger + slaw + tea |
| 15 | Snack-heavy | Corn dog + cheese bites + hushpuppies + cheesecake shake |
Opinion list, June 2026. Boards and allowed side swaps vary. No official calorie column — we do not invent those totals.
Build your own tray
Interactive picker with planning prices. Any calorie total in the tool is unofficial.
Launch Tray Builder