Cookout BBQ Plate: Price, Calories & Options

Cookout BBQ Plate: Price, Calories & Options

If you grew up anywhere in the Carolinas, you know that barbecue is practically a religion, and this is Cook Out’s answer to the backyard smokehouse. For around four dollars you get real slow-smoked pulled pork that holds its own against places charging twice as much. But which BBQ option should you actually order? The regular pulled pork, the char-grilled chicken, or the sandwich? Each one hits differently, and the calorie counts aren’t what you’d expect. Here’s the honest breakdown of every option so you can order with confidence.

Cookout BBQ Plate Price & Calories

The cookout bbq plate lineup is short and sweet, with every option priced under five dollars:

  • Regular Pulled Pork BBQ ~$3.99, 370 calories
  • BBQ Char-Grilled Chicken ~$3.99, 380 calories
  • BBQ Sandwich (pulled pork on a toasted buttered bun) ~$4.49, ~450 calories

Prices vary slightly by location, but the pulled pork at ~$3.99 is the headliner. Think about that for a second: slow-smoked Southern pulled pork for less than a fancy coffee. The 370 calorie count is also friendlier than most people assume. That’s less than the spicy chicken and way less than the chicken strips. The BBQ sandwich adds a toasted buttered bun and lands around 450 calories, which is still a reasonable lunch by fast food standards.

Cookout BBQ plate with pulled pork and smoky sides

The 3 BBQ Options Compared

Three choices, three different eaters. Here’s who each one is really for.

Regular Pulled Pork BBQ (~$3.99, 370 Cal)

This is the classic. Shredded pork with that smoky, tender texture that pulls apart easily. It’s the version BBQ purists order, and it’s the one that shows up as a tray entree too. If you want the authentic Cook Out BBQ experience, start here. No bun getting in the way, just pork.

BBQ Char-Grilled Chicken (~$3.99, 380 Cal)

Same price, ten more calories, totally different vibe. The char-grilled chicken gets those flame-kissed edges and a BBQ seasoning that leans sweeter. It’s the better pick if you want BBQ flavor without the richness of pork, or if you just prefer chicken. Honestly, at 380 calories it’s one of the lighter full-size entrees on the menu.

BBQ Sandwich (~$4.49, ~450 Cal)

Pulled pork piled on a toasted buttered bun. The bun soaks up the juices and the buttered toast adds a richness the platter version doesn’t have. It’s fifty cents more than the platter and about 80 extra calories, but if you want something you can eat one-handed in the car, this is your pick. Just know going in: it’s delicious and it’s messy.

What the Pulled Pork Tastes Like

Let’s set expectations honestly. It won’t make you forget your favorite smokehouse that slow-cooks shoulders for 14 hours. But for a fast food drive-thru? It’s genuinely good barbecue.

The pork is tender and shreds easily, with a smoky backbone that tastes like real smoke rather than liquid smoke from a bottle. It’s seasoned in that Eastern Carolina style: vinegar-tangy rather than thick and sweet like Kansas City sauce. If you’re used to sugary BBQ sauce slathered on everything, the Cook Out version might taste lighter at first. Give it a second bite. The flavor builds.

The texture is the best part. Good pulled pork should have a mix of soft shreds and slightly crispy bark bits, and Cook Out delivers that contrast. Every bite isn’t identical, and that’s exactly how real barbecue should be.

Pulled pork cookout BBQ plate in a bowl with sides

Why the Southern BBQ Angle Matters

Cook Out was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1989, and North Carolina takes its barbecue more seriously than just about anywhere on earth. There are literally two regional styles within the state: Eastern (vinegar and pepper) and Lexington (a little tomato sweetness). Cook Out’s BBQ leans toward that vinegar-tangy Eastern Carolina profile.

Why does that matter for your order? Because it changes what you should pair it with. Vinegar-based BBQ loves creamy, cooling sides. That’s why hushpuppies and homemade coleslaw are the classic partners here. The coleslaw’s creaminess tames the tang, and the hushpuppies give you something to mop up the juices. Order them together and you’ll understand why Carolinians are so stubborn about their barbecue.

It also means the cookout bbq plate tastes different from the BBQ you’d get at a national chain. If you’ve only had sweet, thick-sauced BBQ, Cook Out’s version will taste brighter and a little sharper. That’s not a flaw. That’s Carolina.

BBQ on the Tray: The Smart Play

Here’s where the cookout bbq plate gets really interesting. The regular Cook Out Tray (about $7.69) lets you pick the Barbecue Pulled Pork (370 Cal) or the BBQ Char-Grilled Chicken (380 Cal) as your full-size entree, plus two sides and a large drink.

Do the math: pulled pork a la carte is ~$3.99. Add fries (~$1.99), coleslaw (~$1.49), and a large drink (~$1.99), and you’re over $9 buying separately. The tray saves you real money and gives you the full BBQ meal experience. If you’re ordering BBQ and you’re actually hungry, the tray is almost always the better deal.

What sides work best? My recommendation: hushpuppies and coleslaw. It’s the most Carolina combination on the menu, the flavors balance each other, and the whole meal stays under $8. For drinks, a Cheerwine (that iconic NC cherry soda) with BBQ is a regional pairing that just makes sense.

Cookout BBQ plate tray with hushpuppies and coleslaw sides

One last tip: if you’re new to Carolina BBQ, order the regular pulled pork plate first and try it plain before adding sauce. You’ll taste the smoke and the vinegar tang the way it’s meant to be eaten, and then you can decide exactly how you like it dressed.

Cookout BBQ Plate FAQs

How much is the cookout bbq plate?

The regular pulled pork cookout bbq plate is about $3.99, the BBQ char-grilled chicken is also ~$3.99, and the BBQ sandwich on a toasted buttered bun is ~$4.49. Prices vary slightly by location.

How many calories are in the cookout bbq plate?

The pulled pork plate has 370 calories, the BBQ char-grilled chicken has 380, and the BBQ sandwich is around 450 calories.

Is Cook Out BBQ real smoked barbecue?

Cook Out serves slow-smoked Southern pulled pork with a Carolina-style vinegar-tangy profile. It’s fast food BBQ, not a 14-hour smokehouse brisket, but the smoke flavor is genuine and the pork shreds properly.

Can I get the cookout bbq plate as a tray entree?

Yes. Both the Barbecue Pulled Pork (370 Cal) and the BBQ Char-Grilled Chicken (380 Cal) are available as full-size entrees on the regular Cook Out Tray (~$7.69), which adds two sides and a large drink.

What sides go best with the cookout bbq plate?

Hushpuppies and homemade coleslaw are the classic Carolina pairing. The creamy slaw cools the vinegar tang of the pork, and the hushpuppies are perfect for the juices.

Ready for some real Carolina BBQ? Start at the Cook Out menu guide homepage, find a spot near you in Greensboro NC, Durham NC, or Nashville TN, and check out the full tray breakdown or pair your BBQ with hushpuppies and coleslaw.