Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Tender chicken strips coated in a delicious and crispy breading, these Copycat Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers come with an addictive Creole sauce. Plus they are so easy to make. No deep fryer? No problem!

Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Copycat Cane’s Chicken Strips

Raising Cane’s is famous for the most wonderfully crisp and delicious chicken strips, and this recipe serves up awesome copycat strips! Fried in vegetable oil, these juicy strips come out golden brown and delicious, they are utterly addictive!

You can deep fry these beauties or use a large walled pan like a Dutch oven.

Looking for more chicken recipes? Why not also try my Crockpot Chicken Fajitas and my Baked BBQ Chicken!

Why You’ll Love this Chicken Fingers Recipe:

  • A Real Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for parties, game day. Kids and adults will love them.
  • Homemade Dipping Sauce: Made with mayo, ketchup, creole seasoning, and Worchester sauce – make a big batch of this, it’ll go quick!
  • Seasoned Breading: The crispy coating is so delectable! Made with paprika, onion powder, garlic, and breadcrumbs. Plus it has the perfect crunch!

This is such an easy party food recipe, you’ll be coming back to it again and again!

Trademark Note: In the spirit of transparency, I want to note that some of this recipe is a copycat version of a trademarked product. Raising Cane’s is a proprietary brand that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.

Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to Make Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Cut your chicken breasts into strips.
  2. Using a zip-top bag, coat your chicken in the buttermilk marinade. Place in fridge overnight.
  3. Whisk your sauce ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate overnight.
  4. When ready, dredge your chicken in egg then coat in your breadcrumb mix.
  5. Working in batches fry the chicken strips.
  6. Serve with the sauce and enjoy!
Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)
Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

What is Creole seasoning?

Creole seasoning is a spice blend commonly used in Southern recipes that includes paprika, garlic, onion, oregano, basil, thyme, cayenne, and more. It’s what gives this Raising Cane’s chicken its unique and recognizable flavor.

Can I use chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts?

Absolutely! Chicken tenders are a great way to save prep time in this recipe.

How can I fry chicken without a deep fryer?

Instead of using a deep fryer, use a Dutch oven or other deep pot. Heat the oil to 350°F and fry the chicken, increasing and reducing the heat as needed to maintain 350°F.

Can I make these chicken fingers without buttermilk?

The buttermilk’s acidity is essential for tenderizing the chicken fingers. To make your own buttermilk, measure 1 cup of milk, remove 1 tablespoon of it, and mix in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.

Do the sauce and chicken really need to refrigerate for 24 hours?

This time in the refrigerator allows the sauce flavors to mingle and the chicken to tenderize. At a minimum, refrigerate the sauce for at least 6 hours and let the chicken marinate for at least 2 hours.

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Make Ahead Instructions

For best results, give yourself 2 days to make these chicken fingers. Prepare the marinade and sauce on day 1, refrigerate overnight, and fry the chicken on day 2. Serve immediately for super crispy chicken.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover chicken fingers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Freezing Instructions

To freeze, arrange the cooked chicken tenders on a baking sheet and and freeze until hard, about 1-2 hours. This ensures that the tenders do not stick together. Transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Reheat Chicken Fingers

For extra crispy leftover chicken, store the chicken separately from the sauce. When ready to reheat, remove the chicken from the refrigerator 20 minutes prior to baking. Heat oven to 400°F and set a wire cooling rack onto a baking sheet. Place the chicken pieces on the rack and bake for 20 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

What to Serve with Chicken Fingers

For a classic meal, serve copycat Raising Cane’s chicken fingers with fries, Texas toast, and coleslaw. For a healthier alternative, try baked sweet potato fries or serve the chicken fingers atop a crunchy salad.

More Copycat Recipes We Love

  • Copycat McRib Sandwich
  • Iced Honey Almondmilk Flat White (Starbucks Copycat)
  • Olive Garden Salad with Copycat Dressing
  • Fiesta Lime Chicken (Applebee’s Copycat Recipe)
Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

Chicken strips made tender from a buttermilk marinade and then coated with a super crunchy, seasoned breading – accompanied by an additive creole dipping sauce – what’s not to love! This is such an easy chicken recipe, the perfect party food – made for game day and good times!

More Fried Chicken Recipes to Try:

  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe
  • Oven Fried Chicken Breast
  • Crispy Chicken Sandwich
  • Korean BBQ Chicken
  • Air Fryer Fried Chicken

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Copycat Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Recipe

4.77 from 59 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 1 day day 50 minutes minutes

Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

Serves4

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Tender chicken strips coated in a delicious and crispy breading, these Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers come with an addictive Creole sauce. Plus they are so easy to make. No deep fryer? No problem! You can use a Dutch oven.

Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup buttermilk (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Sauce

  • ½ cup mayonnaise store-bought or homemade
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Creole seasoning store-bought or homemade
  • Pinch kosher salt

For the Breading

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • On a clean work surface, cut the chicken breasts into ¾-inch strips. Place the chicken breasts in a large Ziplock bag.

    1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

    Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

  • Pour the buttermilk, salt, and ground black pepper over the chicken and seal the bag. Massage the marinade around the chicken. Refrigerate overnight.

    1 cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

  • Meanwhile, make the sauce. Add all of the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until well combined. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

    ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon Creole seasoning, Pinch kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

  • When ready to fry the chicken, set a colander in the sink. Drain the chicken strips in the colander.

  • Preheat a deep fryer to 350°F. Set out two plates and line one with paper towels. Set aside.

    vegetable oil

  • Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. Whisk the eggs in one bowl. In a second bowl, whisk the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and white pepper together. Spread the bread crumbs in an even layer in the third bowl.

    2 large eggs, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon ground white pepper, 1½ cups breadcrumbs

    Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (15)

  • Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, dip in the eggs, and coat with bread crumbs. Place each strip on the clean plate and repeat with the remaining strips.

    Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

  • Working in batches, fry the chicken strips in the hot oil for 6-9 minutes, or until golden brown and 165°F in the center. Transfer cooked chicken strips to the paper towel-lined plate. Serve with the sauce and enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • DIY Buttermilk: To make your own buttermilk, measure 1 cup of milk, remove 1 tablespoon of it, and mix in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
  • No fryer? No problem! Fry these chicken fingers in a Dutch oven or other high-walled pot.

Storage:Store chicken fingers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 4g Calories: 753kcal (38%) Carbohydrates: 63g (21%) Protein: 50g (100%) Fat: 32g (49%) Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g Monounsaturated Fat: 8g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 209mg (70%) Sodium: 1505mg (65%) Potassium: 957mg (27%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 9g (10%) Vitamin A: 666IU (13%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 182mg (18%) Iron: 5mg (28%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (18)

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Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Cane's chicken tenders? ›

Raising Cane's Copycat Tender and Sauce Recipe🍗 Tenders Ingredients: - Chicken breast tenderloins: 1kg - Buttermilk: 1 carton - All-purpose flour: 1.5 cups - Garlic powder: 1 tsp - Paprika: 1 tsp - Cayenne pepper: 1/2 tsp (adjust for spice level) - Salt: 1 tsp - Ground black pepper: 1/2 tsp - Vegetable oil: Enough for ...

Does Raising Canes marinate their chicken? ›

At Raising Cane's we have One Love - quality chicken finger meals. We use Always Fresh. Never Ever Frozen. premium chicken tenderloins, marinated for 24 hours, hand battered and cooked to order.

Does Raising Cane's have a secret menu? ›

While there isn't a huge secret menu, there are a few ways to change your usual order and make it even more mouth watering. In this article, we're providing the tastiest Raising Cane's hacks that you can try at any location. So, if you're ready to elevate your Caniac Combo, keep reading!

What is cane's sauce made of? ›

What Is In Cane's Sauce? Cane's sauce is a take on Russian Dressing or Thousand Island Dressing, AKA many fast food chain's special sauce. It's a mayonnaise-based sauce with ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings like garlic powder and lots of freshly cracked black pepper.

What kind of oil does Cane's chicken use? ›

Raising Cane's cooks all of our fried foods in an all-vegetable, trans fat free blend of soybean and canola oil. According to the FDA, highly refined soybean oil is not considered allergenic, and therefore is not labeled as such.

Does Raising Canes use frozen chicken? ›

A Raising Cane's Box Combo includes one signature Cane's sauce. No, Raising Cane's does not use frozen chicken.

What liquid tenderizes chicken? ›

Findings. By the three-hour mark, the most tenderizing marinades were lemon juice, tomato sauce, orange juice, and yogurt.

Why marinate chicken in vinegar? ›

Acids, whether you're using fruit juice or vinegar, help break down the dense protein, tenderizing the meat. Seasonings, as with any food, boost flavor.

What do raising cane's cook their chicken in? ›

At Raising Cane's, we use soy, canola and deep frying oil. Yes - at Raising Cane's, we offer free refills for iced tea and soft drinks. At Raising Cane's, our chicken is hand marinated and premium quality. Yes, extra sauce at Raising Cane's is chargeable.

Is Cane's chicken healthier than Chick-fil-A? ›

If you're in a fast-food chicken type of mood, but also would like to stick to a healthier choice, go for Chick-Fil-A because their food is much more nutritiously clean. Get yourself some Raising Canes Chicken if you want something extraordinarily delicious, and make sure to try the sauce when they give it to you!

What's the most popular thing at Raising Cane's? ›

Best: Chicken Finger

We think it should be celebrated that chicken fingers pack a solid serving of protein into one extra on Raising Cane's menu.

Is Cane's better than Chick-Fil-A? ›

There are many differences between each one's chicken. Both have different styles of chicken with Chick-fil-A prioritizing flavor, and Cane's prioritizing texture. I'm certain that most think that Cane's chicken is much crispier with seemingly higher-quality chicken.

Can you buy a bottle of canes sauce? ›

And, unless you want to hit the drive-thru and pay extra for a small cup of sauce or make the sauce yourself, you're out of luck. Unlike a few other fast food brands, Raising Cane's has yet to bottle its beloved sauce and take it to market.

Which came first Zaxby's or Raising Canes? ›

Zaxby's opened in 1990. Layne's opened in 1994. Raising Cane's, probably the most famous of them all, opened in 1996.

What to use instead of Worcestershire sauce? ›

Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes
  • Soy Sauce. Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly. ...
  • Tamari. Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly. ...
  • Coconut Aminos. Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly. ...
  • Vegetable Broth. Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly. ...
  • Miso Paste. Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly. ...
  • Tamarind Paste. ...
  • Pomegranate Molasses. ...
  • Fish Sauce.
Jan 22, 2024

Do canes chicken tenders have dairy? ›

The “naked” Chicken Fingers do not contain gluten, dairy, or other top allergens. However, they are still cooked in the same fryer as Raising Cane's classic Chicken Fingers, which do contain milk, egg, and wheat. Their buns do not contain milk, so you can order a “naked” chicken tender sandwich without milk.

What part of the chicken are tenders made from? ›

Also known as chicken fingers, chicken goujons, chicken strips or chicken fillets, tenders are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat (pectoralis major).

What do Raising Canes cook their chicken in? ›

At Raising Cane's, we use soy, canola and deep frying oil. Yes - at Raising Cane's, we offer free refills for iced tea and soft drinks. At Raising Cane's, our chicken is hand marinated and premium quality. Yes, extra sauce at Raising Cane's is chargeable.

What kind of meat does Canes use? ›

Perfection is a matter of taste. And you'll find all of them in “The Box.” Four Raising Cane's® chicken fingers made from fresh, never-ever frozen premium chicken tenderloins.

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