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The best Cookout tray is the one built for what you want tonight. A tray is one main, two sides and a drink, and a Regular Tray is commonly $7.39 (about $6.29 to $7.49 depending on the location). The nine builds below cover the classic order, the Southern order, a high-protein order and a lighter one, with calories from Cook Out's own nutrition figures.
What goes on a Cookout Tray?
You pick one main, two sides and a drink. Doubling up on one side instead of choosing two is allowed, and you can trade the drink for a milkshake for $1.00 more ($1.60 for a fancy flavor). The Jr. Tray, commonly $6.39, uses a smaller list of mains.
| Part | Your choices | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Tray main | Big Double Burger, Regular 1/4 lb Burger, Regular Barbecue, 2 Hot Dogs, 2 Quesadillas, Regular Chicken, Cajun Chicken, Spicy Chicken, BBQ Chicken, 3 Chicken Strips or Strip Sandwich | About 310 to 660 |
| Jr. Tray main | Small Burger, 2 Chicken Strips, 2 Corn Dogs, BLT, 1 Hot Dog, 1 Quesadilla | About 245 to 515 |
| Sides (pick 2) | Bacon Wrap, White Cheddar Cheese Bites, Chicken Nuggets, Chicken Wrap, Corn Dog, Fries, Hushpuppies, Onion Rings, Quesadilla, Slaw or Chili | About 128 to 522 each |
| Drink | Large drink, Huge Tea, Dasani water, Cheerwine or Coke float, or a regular milkshake (+$1.00) | 0 to 925 |
The 9 best Cookout tray combos
Calories come from Cook Out's official nutrition guide, using side-size portions for hushpuppies, onion rings and nuggets. The shake tray is a range because it depends on the flavor.
| Tray | Main | Sides | Drink | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Classic | Big Double Burger | Fries + Hushpuppies | Large Coke (24 oz) | 1,168 |
| The Carolina | Regular Barbecue | Hushpuppies + Slaw | Huge Sweet Tea (32 oz) | 1,403 |
| Strips Night | 3 Chicken Strips | Fries + Corn Dog | Large Coke (24 oz) | 1,437 |
| Spicy Chicken | Spicy Chicken Fillet | Onion Rings + Hushpuppies | Large Coke (24 oz) | 1,084 |
| Hot Dog Tray | 2 Hot Dogs | Chili + Fries | Large Coke (24 oz) | 1,241 |
| Shake Tray | Big Double Burger | Onion Rings + Chicken Nuggets | Regular milkshake | 1,121 to 1,508 |
| Protein Tray | 3 Chicken Strips | Chicken Wrap + Chicken Nuggets | Dasani water | 1,305 |
| Lighter Tray | Char-Grilled Chicken | Chili + Onion Rings | Dasani water | 669 |
| Jr. Lean | Small Burger (Jr.) | Onion Rings, doubled | Diet Coke | 501 |
The Classic: Big Double + fries + hushpuppies
This is the order most regulars start with. The Big Double gives you two thin char-grilled patties, and fries plus hushpuppies cover salty and sweet. At about 1,168 calories with a large Coke, it is a full meal.
The Carolina: barbecue, hushpuppies and slaw
Chopped North Carolina barbecue with hushpuppies and slaw is the most Southern tray on the board. It is also heavier than it looks: Cook Out's slaw is 405 calories a side, and a huge sweet tea adds 330, for about 1,403 in total.
The Protein Tray: strips, a wrap and nuggets
Three chicken strips, a Cajun chicken wrap and a side of nuggets put three chicken items on one tray for about 71 grams of protein. Water keeps it at about 1,305 calories. See our high-protein Cookout guide for more.
The Lighter Tray: grilled chicken, chili and onion rings
Char-grilled chicken instead of a fried main, chili and onion rings instead of fries and slaw, and water instead of soda brings a full tray down to about 669 calories.
Jr. Lean: the lightest tray
A Jr. Tray with a small burger, a double order of onion rings and a Diet Coke comes to about 501 calories, the lightest tray you can build from Cook Out's official figures. More ideas are in our Cookout under 500 calories guide.
Which tray should you order?
| If you want | Order | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The most food for the money | The Classic or Strips Night | Heaviest mains and sides at the same tray price |
| A true Carolina meal | The Carolina | Chopped barbecue, hushpuppies and slaw |
| Dessert included | Shake Tray | A 31 to 35 oz shake for $1.00 more than a soda |
| High protein | Protein Tray | About 71 g of protein |
| Fewer calories | Lighter Tray or Jr. Lean | About 669, or about 501 on the Jr. Tray |
How much is a Cookout Tray in 2026?
A Regular Tray is commonly $7.39 and a Jr. Tray $6.39, with most locations between $6.29 and $7.49 for a Regular Tray. The milkshake swap adds $1.00, or $1.60 for a fancy flavor. Prices are set by location, so the menu board at your store has the final word. The full breakdown is on our Cookout Tray menu page.
Tips for a better tray
- Double up on your favorite side instead of choosing two different ones.
- Ask for two milkshake flavors mixed; there is no extra charge.
- Check the tray side list: some sides, like cheese curds and okra, are sold separately and are not tray sides.
- Add up your own build with the Cookout calories calculator.
FAQs
1What is the most popular Cookout tray?
The Big Double Burger with fries and hushpuppies is the order most fans point to first. It is filling, cheap and hard to get wrong.
2Can you get two of the same side on a Cookout Tray?
Yes. The menu board says "choose 2 sides or double up," so two orders of hushpuppies or fries is fine.
3What is the difference between a Regular and a Jr. Tray?
The Jr. Tray, commonly $6.39, has smaller mains such as a small burger, one hot dog or two chicken strips. Sides and drinks work the same way.
4Can a milkshake be your tray drink?
Yes. Swap the drink for a regular milkshake for $1.00 more, or a fancy flavor for $1.60.