Homemade Raising Cane's Chicken and Cane's Sauce

This Cane's chicken recipe makes the most delicious crispy chicken tenders and includes a homemade Cane’s sauce for dipping. It brings what I think is the most delicious fast-food combo right into your kitchen! 

The Best Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and Sauce

When I first tried Raising Cane's chicken fingers, I thought it was the tastiest crispy chicken I've had from a fast-food restaurant. Then paired with their iconic dipping sauce, it was a combo I fell in love with.

Since I don't have any Raising Cane's restaurants near me, I had to create a homemade version. My copycat recipe for Cane's chicken tenders and sauce hits the mark - just like my Costco chicken bake.

The buttermilk marinade makes the chicken incredibly tender, and the breading is extra crispy and crunchy. The homemade Raising Cane’s sauce adds the perfect balance of tangy and smoky flavors, and I love that it's made with basic, staple ingredients.

Ingredients 

Speaking of ingredients, here’s what you’ll need to make this copycat recipe!

Chicken Marinade:

• 2 lbs of chicken tenderloins
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Dredge for the Chicken:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 3 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• Fresh black pepper to taste

Cane’s Sauce:

• ½ cup mayo
• ¼ cup ketchup
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder

How to Make Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and Cane's Sauce

Step 1. Marinate the Chicken

In a large bowl, mix the buttermilk, egg, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, and onion powder.

Add the chicken tenderloins to a resealable bag and pour the marinade you just mixed all over them. Seal the bag and refrigerate the chicken for at least 2 hours (or overnight for the best flavor).

Step 2. Prepare the Dredge

While it's marinating take out another bowl and mix the flour, baking soda, corn starch, salt, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, and black pepper.

Once the chicken has marinated, take each piece out and coat it in the flour mixture. Make sure to coat the marinated chicken well on both sides.

Step 3. Fry the Chicken

Once the tenders are breaded, heat about 5 cups of oil in a large frying pot to 350°F (175°C). Once it's hot, add the chicken to it in batches, frying for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the tenders reach an internal temperature of 165°F. 

As soon as it's cooked, place the chicken fingers on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet to drain the excess oil.

Step 4. Make the Cane’s Sauce

While the chicken fries, combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. That will be the mayo, ketchup, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Give all that a stir until smooth and creamy.

Step 5. Serve

Serve the crispy chicken with a generous side of Cane’s sauce, and enjoy!

Tips To Make Crispy Chicken Tenders

• Marinate the chicken. Let the chicken marinate overnight to ensure the tenderloins absorb all the flavor and stay juicy.
• Double dredge for extra crispiness: Dredging the chicken twice gives it that signature crispy texture that Raising Canes is known for.
• Don’t overcrowd the fryer. Fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lower the oil temperature and lead to soggy chicken.
• Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes after the first dredge. This helps the coating stick better and crisp up during frying.

FAQ's

Can I bake the chicken instead of frying it?

Yes, you can bake the chicken at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, but frying will give you a crispier texture. That's why I prefer to fry the tenders.

How do I store leftover chicken fingers and sauce?

Store any leftover chicken fingers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The Raising Cane's sauce will last in an airtight container or sealed glass jar in the fridge for about a week. 

Can I use chicken breasts instead of tenderloins?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts, but be sure to adjust the cooking time to ensure they’re cooked through. You'll need to fry the chicken for a few extra minutes. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure the chicken is cooked.

Is the Cane’s sauce spicy?

No, the sauce from Raising Cane's is more tangy and smoky. With that said, you can add extra cayenne or hot sauce for more heat.

More Copycat Recipes To Try

• Chicken Big Mac
• Raising Cane's bread
• Panda Express chicken teriyaki
• Popeye's chicken tenders
• Cava's chicken
• Cava's crazy feta dip