Cookout Secret Menu
🗓️ 2026 Update (October 12, 2026): Cook Out has no official secret menu. This guide now separates real, everyday menu items (like the Mexi Hot Dog and Cheese Curds, which older guides wrongly called “secret”) from fan-made combos built from regular ingredients. Approximate 2026 add-on prices are included. Whether a store will make a combo is up to the staff.
Cook Out’s menu is already huge: burgers in five styles, hot dogs, BBQ, chicken, quesadillas and more than 40 milkshakes. That variety is what makes “secret menu” ordering possible. There are no hidden items only insiders know about, but you can combine regular ingredients into custom orders. Below are the most popular fan combos, the best Tray hacks and tips to order them without slowing down the drive-thru.
Is There Really a Cook Out Secret Menu?
Not officially. Cook Out’s website and menu boards list everything it sells, and nothing is kept hidden. What people call the “secret menu” is really custom ordering: mixing shake flavors, adding toppings or using Tray rules in clever ways. Several items that older articles called “secret,” such as the Mexi Hot Dog, the Chicken Quesadilla and the white cheddar Cheese Curds, are regular menu items listed in Cook Out’s own nutrition guide.
Popular Cook Out Secret Menu Combos
| Fan Combo | How to Order It | Approx. Extra Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mix-and-Match Shake | Ask for two flavors blended, such as Peanut Butter + Banana Pudding or Oreo + Mint | Usually none |
| Shake Tray | Order any Tray and swap the drink for a milkshake | About $1.00 – $1.60 |
| Double Quesadilla Tray | Pick a quesadilla as the entrée and another as one of your sides | Often none; some stores charge extra |
| Chili Cheese Fries | Order Cheese Fries and add a side of chili on top | About $0.65 for the chili |
| Cook Out Style Chicken | Ask for chili, slaw, onions and mustard on a char-grilled chicken sandwich | Varies by store |
| Huge Cheddar Out West | Ask for a Huge Burger with both Cheddar Style and Out West Style toppings | Varies by store |
| Cheese Sauce Everything | Add cheese sauce to fries, hushpuppies or a hot dog | About $1.00 |
| Cheerwine Float | Ask for a float made with Cheerwine instead of Coke | About $2.39 total |
Best Cook Out Tray Hacks
🌮 HACK 1
Use “big” sides
A corn dog, quesadilla or chicken nuggets can count as sides at many stores, turning a Tray into two meals’ worth of food.
🥤 HACK 2
Swap in a shake
Replace the Tray drink with any of the 40+ shakes for about $1 to $1.60, much cheaper than buying a shake on its own.
🌭 HACK 3
Two hot dogs
Two hot dogs count as one Tray entrée. Make one Mexi and one Cook Out Style for variety.
See every Tray option in our Cook Out Tray guide.
Custom Milkshake Ideas
Cook Out staff will often blend two flavors into one shake at no extra charge. Some favorite fan pairings, with each flavor’s official calories for a full shake:
| Custom Shake | Mix These Flavors | Calories of Each Flavor (official) |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut Butter Banana Pudding | Fresh Peanut Butter + Banana Pudding | 847 / 781 |
| Cookies and Mint | Oreo + Mint | 802 / 605 |
| Strawberry Cheesecake | Strawberry + Philadelphia Cheesecake | 610 / 845 |
| Peach Cobbler Cheesecake | Peach Cobbler + Philadelphia Cheesecake | 790 / 845 |
| Mocha Chip | Mocha + Chocolate Chip | 620 / 783 |
| Banana Split | Banana Berry + Hershey’s Chocolate | 671 / 620 |
Seasonal flavors rotate too, such as watermelon in summer and holiday flavors like eggnog later in the year. Ask what’s seasonal at your store, and see the full list in our Cook Out Milkshake guide.
Regular Menu Items Often Called “Secret”
| Item | What It Is | Calories (official) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexi Hot Dog | Char-grilled hot dog with a spicy, Mexican-style topping combo | 385 |
| Cheese Curds (white cheddar bites) | Breaded white cheddar bites, side or full order | 150 / 299 |
| Chicken Quesadilla | Grilled tortilla with chicken and cheese | 449 |
| Big Double Burger | Two thinner patties instead of one | 311 |
| Cook Out Rounds | Fried side, sold as side or full order | 149 / 298 |
👍 How to Order Off-Menu at Cook Out
- Order by ingredients, not nicknames. Say “a Peanut Butter shake mixed with Banana Pudding,” not a made-up name.
- Avoid the late-night rush. Custom orders are easier when the line is short.
- Expect small charges for extra sauces (about $0.20 – $0.50) or cheese sauce (about $1.00).
- Accept a “no.” Each store decides what it can make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not officially. Cook Out has no hidden items, but its large menu makes custom combos easy, like mixed milkshakes, shake Trays and chili cheese fries.
Yes. Many stores will blend two flavors into one shake, usually at no extra cost. Popular mixes include Peanut Butter with Banana Pudding and Oreo with Mint.
Yes. You can usually swap the Tray drink for a milkshake for about $1.00 to $1.60 extra in 2026.
No. The Mexi Hot Dog is a regular Cook Out menu item and is listed in Cook Out’s nutrition guide at 385 calories.
Ordering a Tray with a quesadilla or corn dog as a side and swapping the drink for a shake gets you the most food for the money at many stores.
More Cook Out guides: Menu with Prices · Tray · Milkshakes · Hot Dogs
MenusHouse is an independent website and is not affiliated with Cook Out. Prices shown are approximate and vary by location.
