The Cook Out Tray Builder
Your Tray estimate
Updates live as you pick
Estimates only. Cook Out does not publish official prices or full nutrition; figures combine reported 2026 board prices and listed item nutrition. Prices and calories vary by location — check the menu board at your restaurant.
How does the Tray calculator work?
Choose a Tray size, one main, two sides and a drink — the builder adds up a midpoint price estimate and an approximate calorie and protein total. Reported 2026 boards put the Regular Tray at $6.29–$7.99 and the Jr. Tray at $5.29–$6.39, so the calculator uses $7.14 and $5.84 as the starting estimates and adds ~$1.30 if you upgrade the drink to a Fancy Milkshake. Calories are rough per-item estimates, not official figures — Cook Out does not publish a full nutrition chart. Updated: October 2026.
How Cook Out Tray pricing works
The Tray is Cook Out's famous combo deal: one eligible main, two sides and a drink for a single board price. There is no single national price — each restaurant posts its own board, which is why you will see different numbers reported online. In 2026, reported Regular Tray boards cluster between $6.29 and $7.99, and Jr. Tray boards between $5.29 and $6.39, before tax.
Extras change the math. The most common one is the milkshake upgrade: swapping the included drink for one of the 40+ Fancy Milkshake flavors was reported at $1.00–$1.60 across multiple locations in 2026, so the calculator uses the $1.30 midpoint. Paid styles, extra toppings and double-up sides can add more — always check your local board. For the full breakdown of what each Tray includes, see our Cook Out Tray menu guide.
The reason the Tray is such a value story is the bundle discount. Buying the main, two sides and a drink separately would cost noticeably more than the Tray price — that gap is the whole point of the deal, and it is why "how much is a Cook Out Tray" is one of the most searched questions in the niche.
Regular Tray vs Jr. Tray: what changes
| Tray | Estimated base price | Main list | Sides & drink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Tray | ~$7.14 (reported $6.29–$7.99) | Bigger mains: Big Double Burger, three chicken strips, two hot dogs, BBQ sandwich | Two sides + drink, same as Jr. |
| Jr. Tray | ~$5.84 (reported $5.29–$6.39) | Smaller mains: small burger, two chicken strips, one hot dog, corn dog, BLT | Two sides + drink, same as Regular |
The Jr. Tray is not a shrunken Regular — it has its own shorter main list. The two sides and the drink are the same either way, which is why the Jr. is such a smart pick for lighter appetites: you keep the full side experience and save roughly $1.30 on the estimate. Toggle between the two sizes in the builder above and watch the price and calorie totals move.
Calories: what drives your Tray total
A Cook Out Tray has no fixed calorie count — the range is enormous. The main is the biggest lever: a char-grilled chicken sandwich (~450 cal estimate) versus a Big Double Burger (~700 cal estimate) is a 250-calorie swing before you touch the sides. Sides are the second lever. Two fried sides (fries ~400 + onion rings ~450) add roughly 850 calories, while slaw (~200) plus nuggets (~300) add about 500 — same Tray format, 350 calories apart.
The drink is the silent budget-breaker. An unsweetened tea or water adds nothing; a soft drink or sweet tea adds ~250; a Fancy Milkshake upgrade adds roughly 600–800 calories on top of its $1.00–$1.60 surcharge. That one choice can nearly double a light Tray. If you are watching calories, the builder makes the trade-offs visible: try grilled chicken + slaw + unsweet tea for a Tray near 700–800 calories, or go full heavyweight with a double burger, two fried sides and a shake to see totals pass 1,600.
For per-item numbers across the whole menu, our Cook Out nutrition guide lists calories, protein, carbs and sodium for burgers, chicken, sides and shakes. Pair it with the milkshake flavors guide if you are weighing the shake upgrade — some flavors run heavier than others.
How we built these estimates
Cook Out does not publish official prices or a complete nutrition panel, so every number on this page is an estimate assembled from three sources: reported 2026 menu-board prices from multiple locations, the item nutrition figures listed across our menu guides, and standard portion assumptions for fried sides and shakes. Tray base prices use the midpoint of the reported 2026 ranges ($6.29–$7.99 Regular, $5.29–$6.39 Jr.); the shake upgrade uses the $1.30 midpoint of the reported $1.00–$1.60 surcharge.
That means two things. First, the calculator is for comparing combinations, not for predicting your receipt to the cent — your restaurant's board always wins. Second, we re-verify the ranges periodically and stamp the page when we do: this page was last reviewed in October 2026. If a number looks off for your location, the board photo is the tiebreaker — and if you spot a change, tell us so we can update the estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Cook Out Tray in 2026?
Reported 2026 board prices put the Regular Tray around $6.29–$7.99 and the Jr. Tray around $5.29–$6.39, before tax and extras. Prices vary by location, so the figures on this page are estimates — use the calculator above for a midpoint estimate of your combination.
What comes in a Cook Out Tray?
One eligible main, two side choices and an included drink. The main list differs between the Regular and Jr. Tray — the regular board carries bigger mains like the Big Double Burger and three chicken strips, while the Jr. board lists smaller mains like a small burger or one hot dog.
How many calories are in a Cook Out Tray?
It depends entirely on your picks. A lighter combination (grilled chicken, slaw, unsweetened tea) lands near 700–800 calories, while a heavyweight build (double burger, fries and onion rings, milkshake) can pass 1,600. The calculator above adds up estimate calories for each choice.
Can I substitute a milkshake for the drink in a Tray?
Yes, at most locations — but it is an upgrade, not a swap. A $1.00–$1.60 surcharge was reported at multiple restaurants in 2026, and a shake adds roughly 600–800 calories. Confirm the charge on your local board before ordering.
Is the Jr. Tray enough for an adult?
For lighter appetites, yes — the Jr. keeps the same two sides and drink, only the main is smaller. Bigger appetites usually prefer the Regular. If you are unsure, the Jr. plus water is the low-risk first order, and the calculator shows how the two compare on price and calories.