Independent, unofficial Cook Out guide — October 2026

Cookout Secret Menu & Fan Combos

The truth first: Cook Out has no official secret menu. What fans call the “secret menu” is really the art of customizing standard items — and with 40+ shake flavors and endless tray combos, the possibilities are half the fun.

The Honest Truth: No Official Cookout Secret Menu

You can browse the standard lineup on Cook Out’s official site.

Let’s clear this up before anything else: Cook Out has never published a secret menu. There is no hidden list of items, no code words at the counter, and no off-menu dishes the staff are trained to make. Any website presenting named “secret menu items” as official Cook Out offerings is misleading you.

What “secret menu” really means here Everything on this page is a fan-created customization — combinations and tweaks built from standard, on-the-menu ingredients. They’re “secret” only in the sense that you have to know to ask. Availability always depends on the location, the ingredients on hand, and how busy the kitchen is.

Milkshake Flavor Mixes

The most genuinely “secret menu” thing at Cook Out is also the simplest: with more than 40 shake flavors on the board, fans commonly report asking for two flavors blended into a single cup. It’s the customization the menu is practically begging for.

  • Pick two flavors you know you like. The full flavor list is in our milkshakes guide — start from flavors you’d happily drink solo.
  • Keep it to two. Fans report that two-flavor blends come out best; three or more gets muddy.
  • Ask simply. “Can I get half Oreo, half mint chocolate chip in one cup?” is the kind of clear, quick request a busy shake station can actually fulfill.
Cookout secret menu: fan-made milkshake flavor mixes
Good to know Not every location will do blends, and some may charge for the extra flavor — that’s a location-level call. Ask before assuming, and don’t be surprised by an occasional no.

Cook Out Style Everything

The closest thing Cook Out has to a signature “secret” build is hiding in plain sight: Cook Out style — chili, slaw, mustard, and onions piled onto burgers and hot dogs. It’s a standard option, but plenty of first-timers don’t know to ask for it.

  • Try it on a burger. The Cook Out style build is most famous on the burger lineup — see our burgers guide for the styles it pairs with.
  • Try it on a hot dog. The same chili-slaw-mustard-onion treatment works on dogs; our hot dogs guide covers the dog styles.
  • Mix and match toppings. Fans report ordering individual toppings — extra slaw, chili on fries, extra sauce — as simple add-ons. If it’s a standard ingredient, it’s usually fair game to request.

Tray Hacks

Cookout secret menu tray hacks

The tray format — a main plus two sides and a drink — is already Cook Out’s best value, and it’s also a customization playground:

  • Double up on a favorite side. Nothing says the two sides have to be different — fans commonly report ordering two of the same side they love.
  • Upgrade the shake. Ask whether your location lets you swap the tray drink for a milkshake; fans report this as a popular move where it’s offered.
  • Split and share. Cook Out portions are famously generous — one tray plus an extra side is a legitimate two-person strategy. See our deals guide for more value plays.
Tray basics New to trays entirely? Our Cookout trays guide explains Regular vs. Jr. and how the combos work.

How to Order Custom

Custom orders go smoothly when you make them easy for the kitchen:

  • Use standard ingredients. Requests built from items already on the menu are the ones that succeed.
  • Be specific and brief. Name the item, name the change, done. Long stories slow down a fast-moving line.
  • Read the room. A packed Friday late-night line is not the moment for a five-part custom build — save the experiments for quieter visits.
  • Accept the occasional no. Locations differ in what they’ll accommodate. A gracious “no worries” keeps you welcome next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Cook Out has never published an official secret menu, and there is no hidden list of items at the restaurant. When fans talk about the Cook Out secret menu, they mean customizations and combos built from standard menu items — like the ideas on this page.

Fans commonly report asking for two shake flavors blended in one cup, and many locations will do it — with 40+ flavors, the combinations are endless. It varies by restaurant, so ask politely and keep the request simple.

There are no official secret menu items, so there is no single answer. The most-loved fan customizations are milkshake flavor mixes, Cook Out style builds on burgers and dogs, and creative tray side combinations.

It varies by location. Simple customizations from standard ingredients are usually fine; elaborate requests depend on staffing, ingredients on hand, and how busy the kitchen is. When in doubt, keep it simple and ask nicely.

Related Guides

Cookout Milkshakes

40+ flavors to mix, match, and blend.

Cookout Trays

The combo format behind the best tray hacks.

Cookout Burgers

Styles and builds worth the Cook Out style treatment.

Cookout Sides

The sides worth doubling up on in a tray.