This page is for the backyard kind of cookout — your grill, your people. Below is a complete summer cookout menu for about 10 guests: mains, sides, drinks and dessert with estimated calories per serving, a shopping list, a make-ahead timeline and a budget breakdown. Calories are planning estimates for homemade food (not restaurant lab values) — portions and recipes move them around. No grill? No problem: the box at the bottom shows how regulars fake a backyard spread with Cook Out restaurant trays.
The Menu (with Estimated Calories)
Estimates are per typical serving of homemade food — your mileage (and your mayo hand) will vary.
| Dish | Est. calories | Cook's notes |
|---|---|---|
| Classic smashed cheeseburgers (1/4 lb, potato bun) | ≈550 cal | 80/20 chuck, American cheese, pickles, burger sauce |
| All-beef hot dogs + chili & slaw bar | ≈380 cal | Carolina-style toppings: chili, slaw, onions, mustard |
| BBQ chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) | ≈420 cal | Dry rub night before; sauce in the last 10 minutes |
| Grilled corn on the cob, chili-lime butter | ≈210 cal | Grill in husks 15–18 min; finish with butter + lime |
| Loaded potato salad | ≈320 cal | Make a day ahead — flavors marry overnight |
| Baked beans with bacon & brown sugar | ≈290 cal | Slow cooker frees grill space |
| Watermelon-feta-mint salad | ≈110 cal | The lightest thing on the table; serve ice-cold |
| Chips, guacamole & pico | ≈180 cal | Buy the chips, make the dips — best effort ratio |
| Sweet tea (16 oz) & lemonade bar | ≈180 / 140 cal | Plus water + ice: plan 1 lb ice per guest |
| Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream | ≈450 cal | Or skip baking: hand-spun shake run (below) |
🛒Shopping List (10 guests)
- 5 lb ground chuck (80/20) + 12 potato buns
- 18 all-beef hot dogs + buns; 2 cans chili or 3 cups homemade
- 4 lb bone-in chicken thighs; 1 bottle BBQ sauce; dry rub spices
- 10 ears corn; 4 lb potatoes; eggs, mayo, mustard, celery, pickles
- 3 cans baked beans + 6 slices bacon; 1 whole watermelon, feta, mint
- Tortilla chips, 6 avocados, tomatoes, onions, limes, cilantro
- Tea bags + lemons (or 2 gal store sweet tea); 10 lb ice
- Peaches, sugar, flour, butter — or a cobbler kit; 1 tub vanilla ice cream
⏱️Make-Ahead Timeline
- Day before: potato salad, rub the chicken, chop toppings, brew tea.
- Morning: beans into slow cooker; watermelon salad (dress later); shape patties with parchment dividers, chill.
- T-60 min: light grill; corn on first (husks on, indirect).
- T-35 min: chicken thighs, skin-side down; target 165°F internal.
- T-10 min: burgers (160°F for ground beef) and dogs till steaming/plump; toast buns last 60 seconds.
- Serve: keep cold food under 40°F and hot food over 140°F; two-hour rule outdoors (one hour above 90°F).
💲Budget
Rough 2026 supermarket math: $90–$130 for 10 guests ($9–$13 per person) buying store-brand buns, chips and tea. The cheapest swaps: frozen patties, drumsticks instead of thighs, and a watermelon instead of a bakery cake.
🍱 No-Grill Shortcut: Fake It With Cook Out Trays
Hosting without cooking is a proud Southern tradition. Order one Regular Tray per guest (Big Double, BBQ and strips mains travel best), double the hushpuppies and Cajun fries, add a round of $3.99 shakes for dessert, and decant Huge Teas over ice. Official restaurant menu and locator: cookout.com ↗.
FAQs
How much food do I need for a summer cookout of 10?
Plan 1 burger + 1 dog + 1 chicken piece per adult, roughly 4–6 oz of each side per person, and 2–3 drinks. Appetites shrink in heat; shade and water matter more than a fifth side dish.
What are the safest grill temperatures?
Ground beef burgers 160°F, chicken 165°F, hot dogs steaming hot (140°F+). Use a thermometer — color lies, especially at dusk.
Can I make a lighter summer cookout menu?
Yes: turkey or chicken burgers (≈350 cal), vinegar slaw (≈90), grilled vegetables, watermelon salad (≈110) and unsweet tea (0) build a full plate near 800 calories.