Cookout Walking Taco – Price, Calories & Menu Guide 2026

On the Cookout menu, the Walking Taco is a fun twist on a classic taco served right in a chip bag. You get seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa mixed with crunchy chips. Everything stays in the bag, so you can eat while walking around.
This menu item costs between $2.39 and $3.39 at most Cookout locations, though prices vary by state and city. The Walking Taco works as a side dish or a standalone snack.
You can order it by itself or add it to a Cookout tray. Many customers choose it because it’s filling, portable, and easy to customize.

A Walking Taco is a deconstructed taco served inside a chip bag. Cookout uses a small bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos or Fritos as the base. Then they add taco meat, cheese, and fresh toppings right into the bag.
You shake the bag to mix everything together. No plate needed. No messy shell crumbling in your hands.
The concept started at Midwest fairs and sporting events. People needed food they could eat while standing or moving. Cookout brought this idea to their Southern fast food menu.
Availability varies by location. Not all Cookout restaurants carry the Walking Taco. Larger cities typically stock it year-round. Smaller towns may offer it seasonally or not at all. Call your local store to confirm before visiting.
Some locations keep it available even when it’s not listed on the menu board. Ask the counter staff directly if you don’t see it advertised.

Item	Serving Size	Calories
Chips	1 oz (~28 g)	150–200
Ground Beef	2 oz (~56 g)	150
Cheese	¼ cup	110
Tomatoes	¼ cup	5
Lettuce	¼ cup	5
Sour Cream	2 tbsp	60
Salsa	2 tbsp	10

The Cookout Walking Taco typically costs $2.39 to $3.39. This price applies when you order it as a standalone item.
Prices change based on your location. Larger cities like Charlotte or Atlanta may charge closer to $3.39. Smaller towns often price it around $2.39 to $2.79.
You can also add the Walking Taco as a side in your Cookout tray. Tray meals start at $5.99 and include an entree, two sides, and a drink. Choosing the Walking Taco as one of your sides doesn’t cost extra beyond the base tray price.
Cookout doesn’t charge extra for basic customizations like swapping Doritos for Fritos. Premium add-ons like extra meat may cost $0.50 to $1.00 more.

The standard Cookout Walking Taco includes these ingredients:

Base:

• Small bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos or Fritos (1 oz)

Protein:

• Seasoned ground beef (80% lean, 2 oz cooked)

Toppings:

• Shredded cheddar cheese (¼ cup)
• Shredded lettuce (¼ cup)
• Diced tomatoes (¼ cup)
• Sour cream (2 tbsp)
• Salsa (2 tbsp)

Some locations offer ground turkey as an alternative protein. This option contains less fat than beef. Ask your server if turkey is available at your store.

The taco seasoning includes chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. This creates the classic Tex-Mex flavor.

The chip bag stays sealed until your order is prepared. This keeps the chips fresh and crunchy. Staff open the bag, crush the chips slightly, then add all toppings while you wait.

Your order comes with a plastic fork and napkins. Eat it immediately for the best texture. The chips will soften if the bag sits too long.

Full Nutrition Breakdown

Here’s the complete nutritional information for a standard Cookout Walking Taco:

Ingredient	Serving Size	Calories	Protein (g)	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)
Nacho Cheese Doritos	1 oz	150	2	8	18
Ground Beef (80% lean)	2 oz	150	14	10	0
Shredded Cheddar Cheese	¼ cup	110	7	9	1
Lettuce	¼ cup	5	0	0	1
Tomatoes	¼ cup	5	0	0	1
Sour Cream	2 tbsp	60	1	5	1
Salsa	2 tbsp	10	0	0	2
Total	–	490	24	32	24

The total calorie count ranges from 450 to 550 depending on portion sizes. Different locations may use slightly different amounts of toppings.

The Walking Taco provides 24 grams of protein. Fat content comes mainly from the chips, ground beef, and cheese. Choosing turkey instead of beef reduces fat by about 4 grams.

Sodium levels run high at approximately 800-950mg per serving. The Walking Taco contains no trans fats.

Allergen Information

The Cookout Walking Taco contains several common allergens:

Ingredient	Contains	Free From
Doritos/Fritos	Corn, Milk (cheese flavoring)	Gluten, Nuts, Soy
Ground Beef	None	Dairy, Gluten, Nuts
Cheddar Cheese	Milk	Gluten, Nuts, Soy
Lettuce	None	Dairy, Gluten, Nuts
Tomatoes	None	Dairy, Gluten, Nuts
Sour Cream	Milk	Gluten, Nuts
Salsa	None (varies by recipe)	Typically Dairy, Gluten, Nuts

Gluten: Most Doritos flavors are gluten-free, but cross-contamination can occur during manufacturing. Fritos Original are certified gluten-free. If you have celiac disease, request Fritos instead of Doritos.

Dairy: The Walking Taco contains dairy in the cheese, sour cream, and chip flavoring. You cannot make this item dairy-free at Cookout.

Vegetarian/Vegan: The standard Walking Taco contains ground beef. Some locations may substitute black beans, but this isn’t guaranteed. Call ahead to confirm.

Nuts: None of the standard ingredients contain nuts. However, Cookout kitchens are not nut-free facilities.

Cross-Contamination: Cookout kitchens are not nut-free or gluten-free facilities. Cross-contact with allergens is possible during food preparation.

Always inform staff about severe allergies before ordering.

Ordering at the Counter

1. Walk up to the counter and ask for a Walking Taco. The staff will confirm if you want it as a standalone item or part of a tray.
2. Tell them your chip preference right away. Say “Walking Taco with Doritos” or “Walking Taco with Fritos” to avoid confusion.
3. Mention any customizations upfront. For example, “Walking Taco with Doritos, no tomatoes, extra cheese.”
4. The preparation takes about 3 to 4 minutes. Staff will call your number when it’s ready.
5. The Walking Taco may not appear on the menu board at every location. Ask the counter staff directly if you don’t see it listed.

• Order clearly through the speaker. Say “Can I get a Walking Taco” and wait for the staff to acknowledge.
• They’ll ask if you want Doritos or Fritos. Choose quickly to keep the line moving.
• Mention customizations after selecting your chip type. Keep requests simple for drive-thru orders.
• The Walking Taco comes in a sealed bag with a fork. Check your bag before driving away.
• Drive-thru orders sometimes take slightly longer because staff prepare each Walking Taco fresh. Expect 4 to 5 minutes during peak hours.

Adding to Your Cookout Tray

• The Cookout tray includes one entree, two sides, and a drink. The Walking Taco counts as one side.
• When ordering, say your entree first. Then add “Walking Taco as my first side” or “Walking Taco as one of my sides.”
• Popular tray combinations include a burger, Walking Taco, onion rings, and a drink. Or try chicken tenders, Walking Taco, hushpuppies, and a milkshake.
• Tray pricing stays the same regardless of which sides you choose. This makes the Walking Taco an excellent value.

If you’re ordering a Cookout tray, pair your Walking Taco with these sides:

Onion Rings: Crispy and savory. They add crunch even after the chips get soft.

Hushpuppies: These fried cornmeal balls are slightly sweet. They balance the spicy taco seasoning nicely.

Quesadilla: Cookout offers a cheese quesadilla as a side option. This gives you double the Mexican-inspired flavors.

Coleslaw: The cool, creamy slaw contrasts with the warm, spicy taco.

Fries: Simple and classic. Fries are the safe choice if you want something familiar.

Avoid pairing the Walking Taco with heavy sides like chili cheese fries. This creates too much richness in one meal.

Chip Choices

You can choose between two standard chip types:

Nacho Cheese Doritos: These add a bold cheese flavor to every bite. The orange coating mixes with the taco toppings for extra seasoning.

Fritos Original: These offer a simpler corn chip taste. The flavor is more neutral, letting the taco meat and toppings stand out.

Some stores test seasonal chip flavors like Cool Ranch Doritos or Chili Cheese Fritos. Availability is unpredictable and varies by location. Ask what’s currently in stock when you order.

The chip choice affects the overall flavor significantly. Try both standard options to see which you prefer.

Meat Options

Most Cookout locations serve the Walking Taco with seasoned ground beef. This remains the default protein.

Some stores offer ground turkey as a substitute. Turkey contains less fat and fewer calories than beef. Availability varies by location, so confirm with staff when ordering.

Black beans are NOT standard at most locations. A few stores have tested vegetarian options, but this isn’t available everywhere. Call ahead to check if your store offers meatless alternatives.

You can request extra meat for an additional charge, usually around $1.00.

Topping Upgrades

Standard toppings include cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa. You can modify these:

Remove toppings: Ask for no sour cream, no tomatoes, or no lettuce. This doesn’t reduce the price.

Extra toppings: Request extra cheese, extra salsa, or extra lettuce. Small increases are usually free.

Jalapeños: Many locations will add jalapeños if you ask.

Guacamole and queso are NOT available for Walking Tacos at Cookout. These items aren’t part of the regular menu.

Classic Combo: Doritos, ground beef, all standard toppings. This is the most popular order and gives you the full Walking Taco experience.

Spicy Version: Doritos, ground beef, extra jalapeños, no lettuce. Customers who like heat prefer this option.

Cheese Lover’s: Doritos, ground beef, double cheese, no lettuce, no tomatoes. Perfect for maximum cheese flavor.

Healthier Walking Taco Swaps

The standard Cookout Walking Taco contains about 490 calories and 32 grams of fat. You can make it lighter with these swaps:

Choose Fritos over Doritos: This saves about 10 to 20 calories.

Request ground turkey: Turkey reduces total fat by 4 grams and calories by 20 to 30.

Skip the sour cream: Sour cream adds 60 calories and 5 grams of fat.

Ask for light cheese: Request half the normal cheese portion. This cuts about 55 calories.

Add extra vegetables: More lettuce and tomatoes fill you up without many calories.

Use salsa instead of sour cream: Salsa adds flavor with only 10 calories per serving. This swap saves 50 calories.

Combining these changes can reduce the Walking Taco to around 350 to 380 calories.

The Cookout Walking Taco offers solid value at $2.39 to $3.39. You get chips, seasoned beef, cheese, and fresh toppings in one portable bag.
Customize the chips, meat, and toppings to match your preferences. The Walking Taco contains around 490 calories. Make it lighter by choosing turkey, skipping sour cream, or adding extra vegetables.
Call your local Cookout to confirm availability before visiting. Not all locations carry it year-round.