CookoutMenuAndPrices

Cookout Sauces & Toppings — Free Condiments and Paid Add-Ons

Cookout offers 8 free condiments on every burger, hot dog, and sandwich at no extra charge — plus paid sauces and toppings starting at just $$0.10. The signature Cookout Sauce ($$0.50) is the most underrated upgrade on the menu. The full customization guide for every Cookout order below.

8 Free condiments
13 Paid sauces
9 Paid toppings
$0.10 Starts at

Cookout's customization options are one of the chain's understated value features. While most fast food chains charge a premium for "extra everything" or "loaded" upgrades, Cookout includes 8 free condiments on every burger, hot dog, and sandwich at no extra charge — and prices paid toppings between $$0.10 and $0.95. The cheapest paid add-on is under $0.20; the most expensive (grilled bacon) is under $1.00.

The standout is the Cookout Sauce at $$0.50 — a house signature condiment that doesn't appear on any other fast food chain's menu. It's not advertised on the menu board, doesn't get free-condiment treatment, but most regulars consider it the chain's most-underrated paid add-on. Order it once on a burger or with hushpuppies and you'll understand why.

The page below covers everything you can put on a Cookout order — all 8 free condiments, all 13 paid sauces, all 9 paid toppings, plus the most-recommended sauce-and-topping combinations regulars use to maximize the flavor of every burger, hot dog, sandwich, and side.

Free Condiments — Included on Every Order

Cookout includes 8 free toppings at no charge on any burger, hot dog, or sandwich. You can pick none, all, or any combination. There's no premium for "loaded" — the menu price is the price.

Mayo
Mustard
Ketchup
Pickles
Onion
Lettuce
Grilled Onion
Cajun Seasoning

For example: a Plain Hot Dog at $0.99 loaded with mustard, ketchup, onion, pickles, lettuce, and Cajun seasoning costs the same $0.99. A Small Burger at $2.99 with all 8 free toppings stays at $2.99. This is the cheapest way to get a fully-loaded burger or hot dog experience at Cookout — and it's the structural reason regulars can build their own custom Cookout Style hot dogs from a Plain Hot Dog base without paying for the named version.

Pro tip: Build a custom Cookout Style burger or hot dog using the free toppings instead of ordering the named version. Order a Plain Hot Dog or Small Burger and ask for mustard, ketchup, onion, pickles, lettuce, Cajun seasoning, and grilled onion. You skip paying for chili and slaw (the two paid toppings on the named Cookout Style) but get a fully-loaded version at the base price.

Cookout Sauce — The Chain's Most-Underrated Paid Add-On

The Cookout Sauce at $$0.50 is the chain's house signature condiment. It's exclusive to Cookout — you won't find this exact recipe at any other fast food chain. The flavor profile sits somewhere between a thousand-island dressing and a creamy buffalo sauce, with a slight tangy-sweet finish that works on a surprisingly wide range of items.

Most regulars discover Cookout Sauce by accident — usually after ordering it once at a friend's recommendation. After that first order, it tends to become a default add-on on most subsequent visits. The sauce isn't advertised on the menu board and doesn't appear in the chain's promotional materials, so first-time visitors typically miss it entirely.

What Cookout Sauce works best on:

Insider tip: Order Cookout Sauce on the side rather than as a topping built into the burger. Used as a dip for hushpuppies and fries plus a few squeezes on the burger itself, you get more flavor coverage from the same $$0.50 order. Most regulars do this without thinking about it.

Cookout Sauce Pairings — What Goes With What

Most Cookout sauces work better on some items than others. The pairing guide below reflects what regulars actually order across the chain.

Sauce Best For Avoid On
Cookout Sauce Burgers, hushpuppies, onion rings, fries, quesadillas Milkshakes (obviously)
BBQ Sauce Out West Burger, BBQ sandwich, chicken Fish sandwich, fries
Cheese Sauce Fries, quesadillas, hot dogs Burgers (use sliced cheese instead)
Honey Mustard Chicken (Original Style includes it), wraps Burgers, BBQ items
Ranch Cajun Chicken Wrap, quesadillas, onion rings Burgers (clashes with chili-slaw)
A1 Sauce Steak Style burger (already includes it), Big Double Chicken, hot dogs
Hot Sauce (Texas Pete) Hot dogs, BBQ, Walking Taco Cheesecake (also obvious)

The Best Cookout Topping Combinations

Below are the four most-ordered topping combinations across the chain. Most are named-style configurations, but some are off-menu builds regulars discovered through experimentation.

#1

Cookout Style — Chili + Slaw + Mustard + Onion

Free: mustard, onion • Paid: chili (+$0.65), slaw (+$0.50)

Total topping cost: +$1.15  •  Calories added: ~110

The signature Cookout build. Works on any burger size or any hot dog. The chili-slaw combination is the chain's regional Carolina foundation. Most-ordered topping config across the chain.

#2

Bacon Cheese Mayo — Pure Indulgence

Free: mayo • Paid: cheese (+$0.50), bacon (+$0.95)

Total topping cost: +$1.45  •  Calories added: ~190

The "go big" combo. Bacon + cheese + mayo on a Big Double Burger is the heaviest standard topping configuration. Adds nearly 200 calories on top of the burger but delivers a sit-down-restaurant burger experience for under $5 total.

#3

Out West Build — BBQ + Bacon + Cheddar

Paid: BBQ sauce (+$0.30), bacon (+$0.95), cheddar (+$0.50)

Total topping cost: +$1.75  •  Calories added: ~205

The Out West Style topping configuration. BBQ-forward, bacon-heavy, cheese-rich. Already included on the named Out West Style burger but you can apply this build to any burger, hot dog, or chicken sandwich at the listed paid prices.

#4

Cookout Sauce + Grilled Onions — The Regulars' Pick

Free: grilled onions • Paid: Cookout Sauce (+$$0.50)

Total topping cost: +$$0.50  •  Calories added: ~80

The minimalist regulars' pick. Cookout Sauce on a Big Double with grilled onions — the sauce is the star, the grilled onions add depth, the rest of the toppings stay out of the way. Cheapest "elevated" topping configuration that doesn't taste like fast food.

Cookout Sauces & Toppings — Tips From Regulars

Topping Calorie Math — How Much Do Add-Ons Add?

For diners watching calories, paid toppings add measurable calories on top of base item counts. Here's the calorie cost of each paid topping:

Topping Calories Added Price
Extra Pickles +1 cal +$0.10
Extra Lettuce +1 cal +$0.10
Tomato Slice +10 cal +$0.10
Extra Grilled Onion +10 cal +$0.10
Extra Cajun Seasoning +10 cal +$0.10
Homemade Slaw +40 cal +$0.50
Grilled Bacon +60 cal +$0.95
Cheese Slice +70 cal +$0.50
Homemade Chili +70 cal +$0.65

For comparison: free condiments like mustard, ketchup, and pickles add 5-25 calories each. Loading a burger with all 8 free condiments adds roughly 80-100 calories total. A Big Double Burger Cookout Style (with chili and slaw added) is approximately 110 calories more than a plain Big Double. Bacon-and-cheese add-ons can push 200+ calories on top of the base burger.

Cookout Sauces & Toppings — Frequently Asked Questions

What free condiments come with Cookout orders?
Cookout includes 8 free condiments at no charge on any burger, hot dog, or sandwich: mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onion, lettuce, grilled onion, cajun seasoning. You can request any combination — load up the order with all of them if you want. There's no premium for "loaded" or "extra toppings" — the menu price is the price. This is one of the under-discussed value features of the chain.
What is Cookout Sauce?
Cookout Sauce is the chain's house signature sauce — a creamy, slightly tangy condiment exclusive to Cookout that doesn't appear on any other fast food chain's menu. It costs $0.50 as a paid add-on (not free, despite some rumors). The flavor profile is somewhere between a thousand island and a creamy buffalo — works on burgers, hot dogs, hushpuppies, fries, and even quesadillas. Most regulars consider it the chain's most underrated paid add-on.
How much do Cookout paid toppings cost?
Cookout paid toppings start at $0.10 (extra pickles, tomato slice) and run up to $0.95 (grilled bacon — the most expensive add-on). Cheese slices and cheese sauce are $0.50, chili is $0.65, slaw is $0.50, and most other premium toppings cluster between $0.30-$0.70. Even the most expensive paid topping under $1 means you can fully load any item without doubling its base price.
Are Cookout sauces free or paid?
Most named Cookout sauces are paid add-ons. Free condiments include mustard, ketchup, mayo, BBQ sauce (when used as a free condiment, not as a paid named-sauce upgrade), and other basic toppings. The signature Cookout Sauce ($0.50), Cheese Sauce ($0.50), Honey Mustard ($0.30), Ranch ($0.30), A1 Sauce ($0.30), and Hot Sauce ($0.30) are paid add-ons. Pricing varies slightly by location.
What is the most popular Cookout topping?
The most-ordered paid Cookout toppings are cheese slices, grilled bacon, and house chili. Among free toppings, mustard and onions are the highest-volume requests across the chain. The signature Cookout Sauce has the most loyal following — regulars who use it once tend to order it on most subsequent visits. For burgers specifically, the chili-slaw combination (free + paid) is the most common topping configuration.
Can I get unlimited free toppings on a Cookout burger?
Yes. Cookout's 8 free condiments can be added in any combination at no charge. Loading a Small Burger ($2.99) with all 8 free toppings doesn't increase the price. This is the cheapest way to get a fully-loaded burger experience at Cookout — under $3 total. Most chains charge $0.50-$1.00 per "extra everything" request; Cookout includes them in the base price.
What makes Cookout's homemade chili different?
Cookout's chili is made in-house at every location — a Carolina-style red chili that's mostly meat with light beans and a vinegar-and-pepper-based foundation rather than a tomato-sauce-dominant chili. It's lighter and tangier than typical fast food chili. As a paid topping ($0.65), it works on burgers (the signature Cookout Style includes it), hot dogs (the Chili Dog), fries (Chili Cheese Fries), and as a side. The Walking Taco off-menu order also uses it as the base.
What sauces work best on what items?
Cookout Sauce works on almost everything — burgers, hot dogs, hushpuppies, fries. BBQ Sauce is best on burgers (Out West Style) and chicken. Cheese Sauce is best on fries and quesadillas. Honey Mustard pairs best with chicken (the Original Style chicken breast comes with it included). Ranch is best on wraps and quesadillas. A1 Sauce is best on burgers (the Steak Style includes it). Hot Sauce (Texas Pete style) works on hot dogs and BBQ.
Can I bring my own condiments to Cookout?
Technically yes (it's a public restaurant), but there's no real reason to. Cookout's 8 free condiments + paid sauces cover almost every common condiment preference. The only condiments missing are specialty items like sriracha, harissa, or aioli variants — uncommon at any fast food chain. If you have a strong preference for a specific brand of hot sauce, bringing your own is fine.

Explore More of the Cookout Menu

Sauces and toppings are how every other Cookout item gets customized. Now that you know what's available, browse the burger, chicken, hot dog, and side menus to see what builds work best with which sauces.

← Back to the full Cookout menu     Burger menu →     Cookout Tray menu →