Many customers stick to fries and coleslaw whenever they visit, rarely exploring the full range of options available. The Cookout sides menu offers more variety than many guests realize, with several underrated choices worth trying.
Beyond the familiar staples, the Cookout sides menu includes unique and flavorful sides that can add variety to your meal. Exploring these lesser-known options may help you discover a new favorite beyond the usual fries and coleslaw.
This guide covers all 15 sides currently available, including a few genuinely underrated picks like the walking taco and fried okra that rarely show up in other Cookout guides at all.
The Full Cookout Sides Menu at a Glance
| Side | Category | Estimated Calories |
| French Fries | Classic | 320 – 360 |
| Cajun Fries | Bold | 340 – 390 |
| Cheese Fries | Bold | 450 – 500 |
| Jalapeño Cheese Fries | Bold | 470 – 520 |
| Onion Rings | Classic | 380 – 420 |
| Coleslaw | Classic | 180 – 220 |
| Baked Beans | Classic | 170 – 200 |
| Hush Puppies | Underrated | 260 – 300 |
| Mac and Cheese | Underrated | 300 – 340 |
| Corn on the Cob | Underrated | 140 – 180 |
| Fried Okra | Bold | 250 – 300 |
| Walking Taco | Bold | 350 – 450 |
| Side Salad | Lighter | 30 – 50 |
| Green Beans | Lighter | 60 – 90 |
| Fruit Cup | Lighter | 60 – 100 |
Every figure here is an estimate compiled from third-party sources, since Cookout doesn’t publish official nutrition data — the same caveat that applies across every calorie figure on this site.
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Classic Sides Everyone Orders
French Fries
The default choice for a reason. Salted, consistent, and the side most people never think twice about — which is exactly why it’s worth branching out from occasionally.
Onion Rings
Crispy, lightly battered, and slightly sweet. A genuine step up from fries if you want more texture without moving into fully “loaded” territory.
Coleslaw
The Cookout sides menu offers creamy, refreshing options that balance heavier mains without adding excessive richness to your meal. Their fresh flavor and smooth texture make them a versatile pairing with almost everything on the menu.
Baked Beans
Thick, smoky, and slightly sweet. The most substantial of the classic sides, and one of the few that adds real protein to your Tray.
The Underrated Sides Regulars Love
Hush Puppies
Small, golden-fried cornbread bites with a slightly sweet center. A distinctly Southern option that doesn’t get ordered nearly as often as it deserves.
Mac and Cheese
The Cookout sides menu includes rich, creamy sides that pair especially well with lighter mains like grilled chicken or hot dogs. Choosing a creamy option alongside a lighter entrée creates a balanced meal with complementary flavors and textures.
Corn on the Cob
One of the lightest sides on the entire menu, and a smart pick if you want something that still feels substantial without the calorie weight of a fried option.
Lighter Side Options
Side Salad
The lowest-calorie option by a wide margin. Basic, but genuinely useful if you’re building a lighter Tray without giving up the second side entirely.
Green Beans
A simple vegetable side that rarely gets mentioned in most Cookout guides, despite being one of the lightest and most straightforward options on the board.
Fruit Cup
A refreshing, naturally sweet alternative to the heavier fried sides. Works particularly well in warmer months or alongside a spicier main.
The Bold, Loaded Sides
Cajun Fries
Regular fries with a Cajun seasoning blend — more flavor, a bit of kick, and a genuinely different experience from the plain version without requiring a completely different side.
Cheese Fries
The Cookout sides menu features cheese fries, combining crispy fries with warm, creamy cheese sauce for a simple yet indulgent option. This popular upgrade is perfect when you want a richer, more flavorful alternative to regular fries.
Jalapeño Cheese Fries
The boldest fry option on the menu — cheese sauce plus jalapeños for real heat. This is one of the specific items showing up in real search data that most competitor guides never mention at all.
Fried Okra
The Cookout sides menu includes crispy, breaded Southern-style vegetables, a flavorful option that has become a sleeper favorite among regular customers. If you haven’t tried this unique side yet, it’s definitely worth ordering at least once.
What Is the Cookout Walking Taco?
The Cookout sides menu includes the unique walking taco, a portable option made by adding seasoned taco meat, cheese, and toppings directly into a bag of corn chips. Enjoy it straight from the bag with a fork for a convenient, no-plate-needed snack.
Unlike traditional sides, this Cookout sides menu option feels more like a loaded, filling snack than a standard accompaniment. It’s a great choice when you want something heartier than fries without ordering another full main dish.
Estimated calories: 350–450, depending on toppings and portion size at your specific location.
Cookout Sides Calories: Quick Reference by Goal
If you’re building your Tray around a specific goal, here’s the fastest way to choose.
Lowest calorie: Side salad, green beans, and fruit cup all sit under 100 calories, making them the clear picks if you’re minimizing your total.
Best balance of substance and calories: Baked beans and corn on the cob both deliver real satisfaction without tipping into the 400+ calorie range of the loaded options.
Most indulgent: Jalapeño cheese fries and cheese fries are the heaviest choices on the list, both landing close to 500 calories on their own.
How to Pick the Right Two Sides for Your Tray
Since every Tray includes two sides, pairing them thoughtfully makes a real difference in how the whole meal feels.
Avoid doubling up on fried, crunchy textures.
The Cookout sides menu offers better variety when you pair a crispy fried side with something creamy like coleslaw or lighter like a side salad. Mixing textures and flavors creates a more balanced meal than ordering fries and onion rings together.
Match your sides to your main.
A heavier main like the Nacho Chili burger pairs well with a lighter side like coleslaw or a side salad. A lighter main like grilled chicken leaves more room for something indulgent like cheese fries.
Try one side you haven’t ordered before.
The Cookout sides menu offers 15 different options, giving you plenty of choices beyond the usual favorites. Try something new like fried okra or a walking taco, and you may discover a new favorite side.
How many sides does Cookout offer?
Cookout sides menu includes 15 total options, ranging from classic choices like fries and coleslaw to bolder picks like jalapeño cheese fries, fried okra, and the walking taco.
What is a Cookout walking taco?
A walking taco is seasoned taco meat, cheese, and toppings served directly inside a bag of corn chips, eaten with a fork straight from the bag rather than on a plate.
What is the lowest-calorie side at Cookout?
A side salad without dressing is the lightest option at approximately 30 to 50 calories, followed closely by green beans and a fruit cup.
Does Cookout have Cajun fries?
Yes. Cajun fries are regular fries prepared with a Cajun seasoning blend, offering more flavor than the standard version.
Is fried okra available at every Cookout location?
The Cookout sides menu may vary slightly by location, with most restaurants offering the standard selection of popular sides. Before ordering, check your local Cookout location to confirm that your preferred side is currently available.
Can I get two of the same side on my Tray?
Typically no — Tray pricing is built around two different sides. Ordering two of the same item usually requires purchasing an additional side separately.
Final Thoughts
The Cookout sides menu is a lot deeper than the fries-and-coleslaw default most people fall into. Fifteen real options, spanning classic staples, lighter picks, and genuinely bold choices like the walking taco and jalapeño cheese fries, give you far more room to build a Tray that actually fits your mood.
Next time you’re at the window, try something off this list you haven’t ordered before. The walking taco alone is different enough from everything else on the menu to be worth a first try.
