A Dairy Queen kids meal costs about $4.99 and comes with a kid-size entrée, fries or applesauce, milk or a soft drink, and a Kids’ vanilla cone. You choose a cheeseburger, 2 chicken strips or a hot dog. With fries and the cone, the meals run from about 600 to 660 calories. Below are the details for each meal, the lighter swaps, allergen pointers and how the kids meal compares with DQ’s value deals for older kids. Prices are typical and vary by location.
DQ kids meals at a glance
All three kids meals cost the same, so the choice comes down to what your child will eat. Here is how they compare.
| Kids meal | Entrée | Price | Calories (fries + cone) | Calories (applesauce + cone) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Cheeseburger Meal | Kid-size cheeseburger | $4.99 | ~600 | ~475 |
| Kids Chicken Strips Meal | 2 chicken strips with a dipping sauce | $4.99 | 610 | 485 |
| Kids Hot Dog Meal | Hot dog on a bun | $4.99 | 660 | 535 |
The full menu, with the side and drink choices spelled out, is on our DQ kids meals page.
What comes in each DQ kids meal
Every kids meal has the same four parts: an entrée, a side, a drink and a Kids’ vanilla cone. Only the entrée changes.
- Entrée: a kid-size cheeseburger, 2 breaded chicken strips, or a hot dog.
- Side: fries or applesauce.
- Drink: milk or a soft drink.
- Dessert: a Kids’ vanilla soft serve cone.
Kids Hot Dog Meal
The hot dog meal is about 660 calories with fries and the cone, the most of the three by a small margin. It is a good pick for smaller kids or anyone who eats slowly, since a hot dog is easy to hold and finish.
Kids Cheeseburger Meal
The cheeseburger is a smaller patty than the full-size Original Cheeseburger, so it suits a young appetite. The meal is about 600 calories with fries and the cone, the lightest of the three.
Kids Chicken Strips Meal
This meal is about 610 calories with fries and the cone. It comes with one dipping sauce, such as ranch, honey mustard, BBQ or gravy. Most kids can finish two strips. For an extra-hungry child, add a side of fries or an order of 2-piece chicken strips (about $3.49).
Is the DQ kids meal a good deal?
Yes. The cone alone makes it one of the better-value kids meals in fast food. Take the hot dog meal as an example. Bought one by one, a hot dog costs about $3.99, regular fries about $2.49 and a Kids’ vanilla cone about $1.79. That is about $8.27 before you add a drink. The kids meal gets you all of it plus a drink for about $4.99, a saving of at least $3.28.
The same logic applies to the strips meal. It costs only $1.50 more than 2-piece strips on their own, and that $1.50 covers the side, the drink and the cone.
How to make a DQ kids meal lighter
The easiest change is the side. Applesauce is about 45 calories, compared with about 170 for Kids’ fries, so the swap takes about 125 calories off any kids meal.
- Choose applesauce: the cheeseburger meal drops to about 475 calories, the chicken strips meal to about 485 and the hot dog meal to about 535, all with the cone still included.
- Choose milk over soda: it is the better everyday drink for kids and skips the sugary fountain soda.
- Save the cone for later: if you are eating in, you can ask the crew to hold the cone until your child finishes the meal, so it does not melt on the table.
For calorie numbers across the rest of the menu, see our Dairy Queen calories guide.
What age is the DQ kids meal for?
Kids meals are sized for younger children. Our kids meals page suggests roughly 12 and under as a guide, but DQ does not set a strict age limit at the register. In practice, most preschool and early grade-school kids are well served by one. Tweens and teens with bigger appetites often want more food, which is where the value deals come in (see below). Adults who want a small meal can order a kids meal too.
Best DQ treats for kids
If the included cone is not enough, or you are stopping just for dessert, the best kid-size picks are the small treats with a fixed portion. These are the ones parents tend to reach for.
| Treat | Typical price | Calories | Why kids like it |
|---|---|---|---|
| DQ Sandwich | $1.49 | ~180 | No drips, easy in the car |
| Kids’ vanilla cone | $1.79 | 160 | The classic curl on top |
| Dilly Bar | $1.99 | ~220 | Round bar on a stick, chocolate shell |
| Non-Dairy Dilly Bar | $2.49 | 220 | Made without milk |
| Chocolate dipped cone (small) | $3.19 | 320 | The shell is fun to crack |
| Mini Oreo Blizzard | $3.49 | 330 | Mild, familiar cookie flavor |
| Mini M&M’s Blizzard | $3.49 | 370 | Colorful, crunchy candy |
Our pick for most kids: the DQ Sandwich. It is the cheapest treat on the menu and one of the lightest, and there is no melting cone to chase. For a Blizzard, stick with the Mini. A Small Oreo Blizzard is about 600 calories, which is a lot for a young child after a meal. Summer flavors like Cotton Candy cost more, at about $4.49 for a Mini.
Adding a Mini Blizzard to a kids meal brings the total to about $8.48. More cones, Dilly Bars and sundaes are on the classic treats menu.
Allergen pointers for parents
Every kids meal contains wheat and soy, and the cone adds milk to all three. Here is what each meal lists:
- Kids Cheeseburger Meal: milk, wheat, soy. The cheese adds milk to the entrée, not just the cone.
- Kids Chicken Strips Meal: milk, wheat, soy and eggs.
- Kids Hot Dog Meal: wheat and soy, with milk only from the cone. It has the shortest allergen list, so for a dairy-sensitive child, order it with no cone.
A few more things to know:
- The vanilla cone lists milk, wheat and soy. The Dilly Bar lists milk and soy.
- The Non-Dairy Dilly Bar is made without milk, but it may be made in a facility that also handles milk.
- The M&M’s Blizzard may contain peanuts. Check before ordering for a child with a peanut allergy.
- Blizzards are blended on shared mixers, and fries often share oil with breaded chicken, so nothing made in the restaurant is guaranteed allergen-free.
Always check DQ’s official allergen information and talk to the store for a serious allergy. Our DQ gluten-free and allergen guide goes into more detail.
Kids meal vs. $7 Meal Deal vs. 2 for $5 for older kids
For a young child, the kids meal is the best buy. For a hungry older kid or teen, the $7 Meal Deal is usually worth the extra $2.01, and the 2 for $5 Mix & Match works for a big snack.
| Option | What you get | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids meal | Kid-size entrée, fries or applesauce, milk or soft drink, Kids’ cone | $4.99 | ~600 to 660 (with fries) |
| $7 Meal Deal | Original Cheeseburger or 3-piece strips, regular fries, soft drink, small sundae | $7.00 | ~950 (burger) or ~1,010 (strips) |
| 2 for $5 | Any two eligible items, e.g. 2-piece strips plus a cheeseburger | $5.00 | ~650 for that pair |
- Pick the kids meal for younger kids. It is the only option with both a drink and a dessert under $5.
- Pick the $7 Meal Deal for a teen who eats like an adult. The chicken version has 3 strips instead of 2, adult-size fries and a sundae instead of a Kids’ cone.
- Pick 2 for $5 when your older kid wants a big snack rather than a full meal. There is no drink or dessert included. The eligible list varies by store, so check what yours offers.
Our DQ meal deals guide breaks down each deal, and the DQ deals page lists every current combo in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Looking for a specific item? See the full Dairy Queen menu with prices for every Blizzard, burger, basket and cake.
Sources: Dairy Queen U.S. nutrition and allergen information, in-store menu boards and the DQ app. Prices are typical U.S. prices and vary by location. Last checked October 2026.