Milkshake Flavors At Cookout

I recently stumbled upon a Twitter account named “Bring Cook Out To Louisville.” The account’s bio reads, “Louisville, KY has a population of 602,111 people who are all craving Cook Out.” A 2-year-old Change.org petition with the same mission—“Bring Cookout to Louisville”—has 331 signatures; under the reasons for signing, one supporter comments, “Because my love for Cookout transcends this material world.” Needless to say, Southerners feel very strongly about Cook Out.

Cook Out—an iconic chain with over 250 locations across the South—has just about everything you’d expect to find at a fast food joint. The food menu features North Carolina barbecue and fried favorites (the hushpuppies are a sure-fire crowd-pleaser). The tray is undoubtedly one of the best fast food deals you’ll find; the combo pairs your choice of a main (from a Cajun Chicken Sandwich to 2 Quesadillas) with two sides (in the dream world that is Cook Out, chicken nuggets count as a side), and a beverage (go for a fan-favorite Cheerwine Float or substitute a regular shake). You can get all of this for just $4.99. It’s almost too good to be true.

But cars really line up in the drive-thru lane for the signature milkshakes. Cook Out’s cast of “Fancy Milkshakes” includes 40+ flavors, ranging from Banana to Butterfinger. Not satisfied with the bounty of milkshake options? Mix up your own creation.

At Cook Out, you can combine any number of milkshake flavors to create your dream shake. Some all-star combinations include Chocolate-Oreo and Peanut Butter-Banana Fudge, but you can get as creative as you’d like. Want something extra nutty? Blend Banana Nut and Walnut. Want a fruity, refreshing shake that you can *almost* pass off as a smoothie? Try Red Cherry-Peach. Craving a Mocha-Pineapple mix-up? Sounds weird, but go for it. At Cook Out, the world of milkshakes brims with possibility. Countless concoctions are available at your fingertips—1,081 combinations, to be exact (if you mix any 2 flavors, including the seasonal specials).

Of course, you can’t go wrong with the basics: The chain boasts 7 different chocolate milkshake options, including Chocolate Chip Cherry, Chocolate Malt, and Chocolate Nut. Instantly ramp up a standard flavor with one of Cook Out’s substantial mix-ins—Cheesecake milkshakes come with whole chunks of the creamy, decadent dessert mixed in; Fresh Watermelon (only available July-August) is studded with gems of juicy watermelon.

While the chain has expanded exponentially since its 1989 opening in Greensboro, North Carolina, it’s still stayed true to its Southern roots. Some of the menu’s milkshakes (like Banana Pudding and Peach Cobbler) pay homage classic Southern desserts. You’ll need a spoon to fully enjoy the Banana Pudding shake; the thick vanilla base melds beautifully with fresh slices of banana and crunchy Nilla Wafers.

Although there’s really no wrong way to turn on Cook Out’s milkshake menu, a few flavors have gained our Editors’ seal of approval. Banana, Oreo, and “anything with brownie bits” are among our top picks, but we’re not here to declare any winners. Mama loves all her children (read: all her Cook Out shakes) equally.

Which milkshake flavor deserves a spot in the Cook Out hall of fame? Let us know, y’all.

From worst to best, here they are. The maximum score a milkshake can earn is 17 points. And none these bitches were graded on a curve.

Score: 5/17

Score: 5/17

Score: 6/17

Score: 8/17

Score: 8/17

Score: 8/17

Score: 9/17

Score: 9/17

Score: 9.5/17

Score: 9.5/17

Score: 9.5/17

Score: 10/17

Score: 10/17

Score: 10.5/17

Score: 10.5/17

Score: 11/17

Score: 11/17

Score: 11/17

Score: 11.5/17

Score: 11.5/17

Score: 11.5/17

Score: 12/17

Score: 12/17

Score: 12/17

Score: 12/17

Score: 12.5/17

Score: 13/17

Score: 13/17

Score: 13/17

Score: 13/17

Score: 13/17

Score: 13.5/17

Score: 13.5/17

Score: 14/17

Score: 14/17

Score: 15/17

Score: 15/17

Score: 15/17

Score: 15/17

Score: 15.5/17

Score: 15.5/17

Score: 15.5/17

Score: 15.5/17

Score: 15.5/17

Score: 16/17

Score: 16.5/17

It’s the hot glow of electric freedom. It’s a blazing sentry of liberty. It’s the neon sign across the street that reads COOK OUT — and those are tears in your eyes. To dine at Cook Out is to be presented a dazzling, dizzying array of choices. There are endless meal combinations — including the option to order a quesadilla or chicken wrap as a side — because this truly is the land of the free, the home of the tray. Then there are the milkshakes. The menu advertises 40+ flavors, from vanilla to eggnog. You’ll count 44 possibilities on the menu board, but the seasoned patron knows that the number is actually much larger than that. A new flavor like Butterfinger pops up now and again, and there are murmurs of secret shakes. This is also the place where dreams come true. If you want to combine flavors and order say, a Blueberry M&M shake, you just go ahead and follow your bliss. No one is here to judge. This Mother Church of grease and gluttony accepts all comers. Cook Out bills its milkshakes as “fancy,” and a truer word has never been spoken. Though Cook Out is a no-frills institution where meals are best enjoyed on a curb or on the hood of a car, the core tenet that drives Cook Out is this: View the world not for what it is, but for what it has the potential of becoming. You see a shake as ice cream and syrup blended in a Styrofoam cup. We see sugary manna from heaven. Trying to explain Cook Out to someone who isn’t from the South is like trying to explain the sky’s infinite stars to someone who only knows the sun. In many ways, the beautiful experience of eating at Cook Out transcends words, but it’s worth trying. Just like every shake on the menu. It’s fair to say there were shakes we didn’t like, but we don’t regret a single spoonful. Eating every Cook Out milkshake on the menu over the course of one summer was an emotional, physically taxing, lactose-laden, existential journey. And one we’d do all over again. Bless up.

Why Is Cook Out So Popular?

The first Cook Out restaurant opened in Greensboro, North Caroline in 1989. Since then, they have expanded to over 200 stores in the 11 southern states. They are known in the South for high-quality food, low prices and of course, delicious shakes.

Most Cook Out locations have a classic drive-through and many also have a walk-up window to serve more customers.

If you do visit a sit-down location, you’re likely to find personalized regional charm in the decor. You may also hear Christian rock coming through the speakers.

The restaurant is loved for its affordable menu of combo meals like burgers, chicken sandwiches, BBQ and hot dogs paired with fries, onion rings, slaw, hushpuppies and okra.

However, the best thing on the menu is its 40+ Cook Out milkshake flavors that can be mixed and matched to create custom flavors.

Below is a list of the 40+ shake flavors that you will find on the Cook Out menu.

What’s The Most Popular Milkshake At Cook Out?

While there is no official winner when it comes to the most popular shake at Cook Out, there are definitely some fan favorites.

Of the regular offerings on the Fancy Milkshakes menu, strawberry cheesecake, mint Oreo, banana pudding, peach cobbler, peanut butter fudge and chocolate malt flavors are mentioned repeatedly as go-to flavors from die-hard fans.

FAQ

What is the most popular milkshake at Cook Out?

Does Cook Out have vanilla milkshakes?

Does Cook Out have the watermelon milkshake?