Crispy Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers with Cane’s Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

If you’ve never had the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, you’ve been truly missing out! These crispy fingers are made with juicy chicken breast and served with the famous Cane’s sauce. Those who are in the know will tell you that these chicken fingers are better than anything found at competitors like KFC and Chik-Fil-A. They’re THAT good!

Raising Cane’s is a fast food chain founded in Louisiana with 570 locations across the country. Though their menu is limited to chicken fingers, many argue that these are the best ones money can buy. If Raising Cane’s isn’t open in your state, here’s how you can recreate these chicken fingers at home.

What’s So Good About Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers?

Raising Cane’s mission is to create the very best chicken fingers using fresh, high-quality ingredients. They use only 100% premium chicken tenderloins and there are no fillers or processed ingredients. Best of all, these fingers are never frozen, so you can be sure to get fresh, juicy and tender chicken every time.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• Milk
• Lemon Juice
• Sugar
• Cornstarch
• Salt & Pepper
• Panko Breadcrumbs (Panko and regular breadcrumbs)
• All-purpose Flour
• Onion Powder
• Vegetable Oil

How to Make Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers at Home

• Cut the chicken breasts into thin strips against the grain. Place the strips into a zip-top bag and set aside.
• Make the Marinade by whisking together milk, lemon juice, and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Then add cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
• Pour the marinade into the zip-top bag and gently shake until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
• Add oil to a large pot or deep fryer and heat to 350˚F.
• In the meantime, combine Panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, flour, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl.
• Remove chicken strips from the bag a few at a time. Add them to the breadcrumb mixture and coat them thoroughly.
• Once the oil is ready, carefully add a few chicken strips into the pot, and fry for about 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.

Pro Tips for the Best Tender and Juicy Chicken Fingers

• Marinate the chicken tenders before frying: Taking the time to marinate your chicken will result in juicier and more tender fingers. Marinating prevents meat from drying out or becoming chewy when fried.
• Use vegetable oil such as canola oil for deep-frying: Using oil with a high smoke point is best for deep frying chicken. We recommend using vegetable or canola oil.
• Make sure to keep the oil temperature between 300-350˚F: Be sure to keep the temperature of the oil between 300 and 350˚F. If the oil is too hot, the chicken will burn and if it’s not hot enough, your fingers won’t be crispy.
• Don’t overcrowd the pot: To allow all your chicken fingers to cook properly, avoid overcrowding your pot. Cook a few pieces at a time for best results.
• Drain the chicken fingers briefly on paper towels after frying: To prevent your chicken fingers from being too greasy, be sure to drain them on a paper towel after removing from the pot.

How to Make Cane’s Sauce for Dipping?

Some say the dipping sauce is the best part of the Raising Cane’s experience. They claim it’s a secret recipe, but we’ve got it figured out. You can recreate this tangy, creamy sauce by combining mayonnaise, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, then stirring in garlic powder, ground black pepper and salt. Simple, yet satisfying!

How to Correctly Cut Chicken for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers?

The best way to cut the meat when making chicken fingers is to slice against the grain. Look at the meat and you’ll notice faint lines across the surface. You’ll want to cut perpendicular to these lines. This small step has a huge impact in how tender your chicken will be.

What’s the Best Oil for Deep Frying?

Vegetable oil is an affordable all-purpose oil that’s great for deep frying. Due to its neutral flavor and high smoke point, it pairs best with most meats. Canola oil is another excellent option.

What to Serve with Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers?

Be sure to whip up a batch of Cane’s sauce for dipping your chicken fingers. Raising Cane’s fingers are usually served in box combos with crinkle-cut fries and cole slaw. The combos also famously include Texas toast – warm, buttery toast seasoned with garlic. You can recreate all of these sides at home to have the full Cane’s experience.

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