Cook Out vs Dairy Queen: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 20, 2026 7 items matched

The short answer

Cook Out is the cheaper of the two. Of the 7 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cook Out is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $1.04 per item.

Typical menu price: Cook Out $4.79 · Dairy Queen $5.00

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cook Out's wording first.

Item	Cook Out	Dairy Queen	Difference
Chicken Strip Plate (4 pc)vs Chicken Strip Basket (4 pc.)	$9.79	$9.29	$0.50 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Grilled Chicken Platevs Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$9.79	$6.49	$3.30 cheaper at Dairy Queen
Cajun Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$5.49	$6.29	$0.80 cheaper at Cook Out
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$5.29	$6.49	$1.20 cheaper at Cook Out
Cheesecake Shakevs Shake (medium)	$4.79	$4.99	$0.20 cheaper at Cook Out
Onion Ringsvs Onion Rings (medium)	$2.79	$3.79	$1.00 cheaper at Cook Out
Cajun Friesvs Fries (small)	$2.49	$2.79	$0.30 cheaper at Cook Out

Cook Out vs Dairy Queen at a Glance

	Cook Out	Dairy Queen
Typical menu price	$4.79	$5.00
Average menu price	$5.16	$6.86
Cheapest item	Coleslaw — $1.99	Dilly Bar — $2.29
Most expensive item	Double Burger Plate — $9.99	10" Round Ice Cream Cake — $34.99
Items priced	43	42
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1989	1940
Headquarters	Thomasville, North Carolina	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Locations	About 300 restaurants across the Southeast	About 4,300 restaurants in the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Cook Out has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.79 against $5.00 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cook Out gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cook Out is strongest on Cook Out Tray, Big Double Burger, Cajun Chicken Sandwich; Dairy Queen on Oreo Blizzard, Chicken Strip Basket, Dilly Bar. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cook Out

The Cook Out Tray at $7.49 to $8.79 includes an entree, two sides and a drink — the cheapest complete combo of any national or regional chain.
Upgrading the tray drink to a milkshake for $2.99 costs less than buying the shake separately at $4.29.
Cook Out stays open until 3:00 or 4:00 AM, which makes it one of the only late-night sit-down-quality options in much of the Southeast.

Dairy Queen

The $7 Meal Deal includes a mini Blizzard alongside a sandwich, fries and a drink — the Blizzard alone is normally $3.99.
A Dilly Bar at $2.29 is the cheapest branded frozen treat at any national chain and has been on the menu since 1955.
A mini Blizzard at $3.99 is $1.60 less than a medium for about two thirds the volume — the mini is the sensible size for one person.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cook Out vs Dairy Queen — FAQ

Is Cook Out cheaper than Dairy Queen in 2026?

Cook Out is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 7. Across the whole menu Cook Out is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.79 for a typical item against $5.00 at Dairy Queen.

What is the price difference between Cook Out and Dairy Queen?

On matched items the average difference is $1.04, or about 25% overall. Cook Out averages $5.16 across 40 priced items; Dairy Queen averages $6.86 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cook Out or Dairy Queen?

Cook Out starts at $1.99 (Coleslaw) and Dairy Queen at $2.29 (Dilly Bar).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.