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Cook Out's chicken nuggets are the lowest-rated item we have found from a national food outlet. Cheapism ranked them ninth of ten fast food nugget chains in October 2026, ahead of only Wendy's, and called them soft and chewy with filling that does not resemble chicken. TikTok fans disagree, and the nutrition guide shows why the nuggets earn a place on trays anyway: 16 grams of protein in a 240-calorie full order for about $1.99.
- 9th of 10
- Cheapism nugget ranking
- 16 g
- Protein, full order
- 240
- Calories, full order
- $1.99
- Typical price
October 16, 2026
Ties the cheese curds
A tray side is 144
5 pieces
Where did Cheapism put them?
| Rank | Chain |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chick-fil-A |
| 2 | KFC |
| 3 | Bojangles |
| 4 | Popeyes |
| 5 | Sonic |
| 6 | Arby's |
| 7 | McDonald's |
| 8 | Burger King |
| 9 | Cook Out |
| 10 | Wendy's |
Writer Wilder Shaw described Cook Out as chaotic and rule-free and wrote that the nuggets are soft and chewy. The only other nugget verdicts we found are social posts: one TikTok creator who loves their crispy, tender, well-seasoned nuggets and tops loaded fries with them, and another who got a batch that was undercooked.
What is in a five-piece order?
| Side (144) | Full order (240) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.7 oz | 2.9 oz |
| Calories | 144 | 240 |
| Fat | 11 g | 18 g |
| Protein | 10 g | 16 g |
| Carbs | 7 g | 12 g |
| Cholesterol | 57 mg | 95 mg |
| Sodium | 324 mg | 540 mg |
Fat makes up 68% of a full order's calories. Protein runs 6.7 grams per 100 calories, level with the grilled Cajun sandwich's 6.6, at $1.99 against $4.85.
What do they pair with?
As a Jr. Tray side, in the lean builds on our tray menu: onion rings plus nuggets at 272 calories, or loaded onto fries by TikTok creators. A creator filming a loaded Cajun fries order added bacon, nacho cheese, chili and nuggets. See the loaded fries guide.
Who should still order the nuggets?
Children, low-carb eaters who want protein and anyone filling a tray cheaply. If the Cheapism review put you off, the chicken sandwiches are a better chicken order.