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Cane's Style Chicken Fingers

These homemade chicken fingers are juicy and tender, coated with a crispy crust, and served with an addictive sauce, inspired by America's beloved fast food chain.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 2 lb chicken breast, cut into uniform strips
  • Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
For the Wet Batter
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste
For the Dry Batter
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste
For the Cane's Sauce
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • Salt to taste

Method
 

Building the Wet Marinade
  1. Whisk the buttermilk, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt in a large bowl until completely uniform.
  2. Add the chicken strips, pressing them down to fully submerge. Cover and refrigerate.
  3. Marinate for a minimum of 2 hours, ideally overnight.
Building the Dry Batter
  1. Combine flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt in a wide, shallow bowl. Whisk thoroughly.
The Dredging Process
  1. Lift each chicken strip from the buttermilk and let the excess drip off.
  2. Press each strip firmly into the dry batter, turning to coat all sides.
  3. Rest coated strips on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
Frying to Golden Perfection
  1. Heat oil in a heavy pot or deep skillet to 350°F.
  2. Fry in small batches for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  3. Rest on a wire rack before serving.
Making the Sauce
  1. Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
  2. Make the sauce before frying and refrigerate.

Notes

For lighter air-fried version, spray with oil and air fry at 400°F for 12-14 minutes.