5 Raising Cane's Ordering Hacks, Tested And Ranked

I love a secret menu or an order tweak to make fast food a little more interesting. I find that once you get a handle on a chain's menu items, you can start concocting things to your liking. It's like a science experiment for your taste buds. Certain places have more options than others based purely on the number of products, sauces, and other random inclusions. I've done a Chick-fil-A secret menu test before, and it was more exciting because of the wider range of products, including salads and Ice Dreams. But what about when a chain is known for its minimalist menu? I set out to try various Raising Cane's ordering hacks and found only a mere handful. 

However, you can create other combinations based on the offerings if you really want to get creative. I've tested five hacks and tweaks to find the best. I'm looking for something that tastes good, sure, but I also want something that actually feels new, fresh, and different. Therefore, I ranked these by the overall interest of the final result's flavors and textures. Nothing's bad, but some are a little blander than others. I'll share what the hack is, how to order, what the results were, and whether I'd make any tweaks or suggestions if I were to do it again (or recommend it to you). By the end, you'll have some ideas to take with you on your next visit to the chicken chain.

There are a handful of Raising Cane's ordering tips to consider, and I tried two of them in this taste test. First up is asking for extra crispy chicken. I like the idea of this in theory, because I tend to cook my chicken tenders and nuggets a little extra anyway; I love the sensory experience of a crispy exterior. However, the difference here compared to the standard tenders is nominal and hard to tell. Apparently, Raising Cane's can only keep them in the fryer for so long (an extra 30 seconds, reportedly). I didn't notice much change in crispness, but on closer inspection, there was a slightly darker hue. 

The extra-crispy bits were more concentrated in certain spots rather than the whole tender being considerably crunchier. I don't doubt there's a difference here, especially since people swear by this hack, but it just wasn't worth it for me. This didn't give me what I wanted, and the difference in texture wasn't noticeable enough to warrant a higher ranking. This hack can also be a little inconvenient during the lunch or dinner rush. I dined in at around noon, and there was hardly anybody in the restaurant; the employee called out my order to the kitchen staff, likely to get a start on it since it requires extra time.

I found an ordering hack someone on Reddit mentioned, which piqued my interest. They suggested combining coleslaw, ketchup, and Cane's Sauce with fries. I think I misunderstood the assignment and assumed it was meant to be a dip for the fries, but I believe I was actually supposed to mix the coleslaw concoction with the fries — either works. 

I enjoy the coleslaw enhancement here, thanks to the added flavor and creaminess from the Cane's Sauce and ketchup. Rather than a relatively straightforward mayo base, there's some tangy complexity from the other ingredients, along with a touch of sweetness. This ramps up the coleslaw's flavor and gives me ideas for further enhancing basic coleslaw at home. I like the overall flavor profile as a side dish, as it takes menu staples to new heights. I would be happy to try this again.

The caveat, though, is that this hack adds quite a lot of moisture to the slaw because we are not adding any more veggie base. Hence, it becomes a bit loose in consistency. I think this is great if you can get the proportions right, so start very small. If you add too much ketchup, it turns into a too-sweet mess, but there is room for potential here. To make this, order coleslaw and Cane's Sauce, then grab a portion of ketchup in-store. Take a bite of coleslaw to make room for the added condiments, then mix together.

I had higher expectations for the crispy tenders because of my personal affinity for crispy chicken, so I didn't think the naked version would be all that interesting. This popular menu hack skips the breading altogether. Simply ask for naked tenders when ordering, and they'll (generally) know what to do. However, if you think it's a nice and light dish, that is not the case. This is still heavily fried; in fact, the oil puddle on my tray was more noticeable here than anything else, likely because there was no breading to absorb it. However, this was very impressive. The fried element still brought considerable texture and added a smidge of flavor to the chicken. There's a little bit of complexity, though it's not as interesting as the breaded version. 

However, the texture alone really ramps things up, offering a slightly crisp, brown exterior. The execution reminds me of a dish my mother-in-law makes, like an unbreaded chicken version of steak milanesa. Here, it is still deep-fried but doesn't seem as heavy as the breaded version. I enjoyed this and would be pleased to purchase it again over the slaw medley. The chicken interior is still quite juicy, but the flavor is minimal. I like that it totally transforms the chicken and would add it to my order rotation, but I wouldn't say it's the best hack for flavor. 

I have to credit Reddit user that-jackpot for this delightful hack, affectionately called "dumpster fries." Here, you order fries, coleslaw, and your desired amount of chicken fingers. Beyond that, ask for lemon and pepper, as they are important for adding flavor to your creation. I followed the instructions and very much enjoyed the result. Of course, it's mostly the same mix of ingredients as many menu items, like any combo, but it's just a new format. The presentation makes all the difference in giving it fresh life and a high ranking. 

The do-it-yourself lemon-pepper adds acidity and some seasoning to every bite. I think I could take a lesson from the earlier hack and add Cane's Sauce and/or ketchup as well to give it more flavor. Alternatively, drizzling Cane's Sauce over the top would be a great finisher. I enjoyed the textures of the crisp breaded chicken and the moist coleslaw. As you might imagine, this is best eaten fresh, as things can get soggy pretty quickly. You can order the ingredients separately — fries, tenders, coleslaw — or just order your favorite combo. Redditor that-jackpot suggests four or five tenders, so The Box Combo's set of four might be a terrific way to go. I'd definitely try this again; it's the most creative and interesting out of all the hacks I tried.

The Box Combo with an extra slice of Texas toast is my top pick because it's a classic combination and a well-known fan-favorite hack. You're crafting something interesting, and it's only a nominal added fee for an extra piece of toast. But you could do what founder and CEO Todd Graves does and replace the coleslaw with another piece of bread. I love the coleslaw because it adds a little bit of freshness to an otherwise incredibly heavy meal. 

A chicken sandwich made with the tenders is divine, especially with the buttery toast. I forgot how good the bread is, and when I took a bite, I was hit with the richness and the saltiness of the chicken. I recommend using the naked chicken in the sandwich because the breaded chicken and toast were a bit heavy. It works regardless, but that's just my suggestion if you want something slightly lighter and different. 

I added some Cane's Sauce to the bread to give it something to stick to, but this is where you can start getting creative and add ketchup or coleslaw. This DIY chicken sandwich puts Raising Cane's staples in a new but familiar format. Chicken sandwiches are widely available at fast food chains, Raising Cane's included — this hack is just a different take. I would totally get this again and would probably never need to order the standard sandwich. This is the hack winner for me.

I did some research to see what people were ordering that wasn't exactly on the menu. Ultimately, I found some hacks that sounded interesting, but there are other options beyond what I tried, such as getting the Texas toast buttered on both sides. I wrote out a list of all the elements I needed and wanted to try, and ordered them accordingly. 

I tasted all of the hacks in-store in a single visit to ensure the freshest results. To determine how a hack ranked, I mainly considered the execution and overall flavor and texture. My top two are the most complex and enjoyable. Since none of these are particularly groundbreaking, I would suggest ordering to your taste.