Raising Cane’s might be famous for its simple yet delicious chicken finger meals, but if you’re not careful, that bill can add up FAST. Sure, you can grab a combo meal or use the occasional promo, but what if you could hack the system and save even more? Here are a bunch of out-of-the-box ways to save money at Raising Cane’s, many of which you won’t find anywhere else.

The Secret “Slaw Swap” Hack

When ordering a meal that includes coleslaw, most people don’t realize that you can swap out slaw for extra toast, fries, or even extra sauce if that’s your jam—for FREE.

If you hate coleslaw and end up throwing it away, this is a great way to get more bang for your buck.

Skip the Drink and Get a Free Water Cup—Then Upgrade It

Raising Cane’s offers free water cups, but here’s the twist: If you get a larger water cup and fill it with ice, it’s basically the same as a small soda once it melts.

Bring a flavor packet from home or grab a free lemon wedge to make it taste like lemonade.

PRO HACK: FREE TEA REFILL

If your location has a self-serve soda machine, ask for water first, then politely ask for a refill with tea. Some locations allow one refill of tea for water cups.

See Also: Try the KFC Secret Menu and Pay Homage to the Colonel

Buy the Toast and Ask for Extra Sauce

A sneaky way to get a taste of Raising Cane’s without the high price is to order a side of Texas Toast and a Cane’s sauce instead of a full meal.

If you want more, you can double the order and still spend less than a box combo.

The toast is surprisingly filling, and the sauce gives it that signature flavor -OR- you can buy these Raising Cane’s fingers dupe and make it at home for pennies on the dollar.

Also, you can always swap the Texas toast for a buttered and toasted roll, just like the one used for their sandwiches.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS SCORE A SUPER FRESH MEAL

For the freshest meal, I always order extra crispy chicken and fries at Cane’s. Even if you’re not a fan of extra crispiness, it’s only slightly crispier but much fresher.

It insures that you get your chicken and fries right out of the fryer, pipping hot.

Use the “No Ice” Trick for More Lemonade

Cane’s lemonade is legendary, but they load it with ice, cutting down the actual liquid you get.

Ask for “no ice” and chill your drink later at home. You’ll get almost double the lemonade for the same price.

PRO TIP: SPLIT A DRINK

If you’re ordering multiple meals, get a large lemonade to split instead of individual small ones. It’s often way cheaper per ounce.

The Freebie Birthday Hack (Even If It’s Not Your Birthday)

While Raising Cane’s doesn’t have a public birthday freebie, many locations give a free toast, sauce, or even a tender if you mention it’s your birthday.

If you’re polite and friendly, you might get a freebie even if it’s just close to your birthday.

PRO HACK: CANIAC COMBO IS YOUR FRIEND

When ordering for 2 people, maybe for you and your spouse, consider ordering The Caniac Combo ($18.69) and you’ll get 6 chicken fingers, fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and a 32 oz drink.

This is a HUGE meal that can easily be split and WAY cheaper than ordering two 3 Finger Combo meals ($11.79 each). You’ll only get one drink which you can split, or you can get a free cup of water.

Use Your Receipt for a Freebie Later

Always check your receipt—sometimes Raising Cane’s prints survey codes that let you get a free item (like toast or extra sauce) on your next visit.

Even if it’s not on your receipt, ask your cashier if there are any current promotions or survey offers.

Some locations will let you do multiple surveys per month, meaning you can keep getting freebies with every visit.

PRO HACK: MAKE YOUR OWN SAUCE AT HOME

According to a fired Raising Cane’s employee here’s the recipe for their sauce:

• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Ketchup
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1/4 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Paprika to taste

See Also: Check Out These Brilliant Ways to Save at Chick-fil-A

The Leftover Cane’s Sauce Stash Trick

Instead of buying extra Cane’s sauce, ask for an extra one and save it for later.

Cane’s sauce lasts a while in the fridge, and you can use it on homemade tenders, fries, or even sandwiches to recreate the experience at home.

PRO HACK: GET SAUCE AFTER YOU EAT

If you’re dining in, ask for your sauce after your meal so you can take it home unopened.

If you ask for an extra one before eating, they might charge you.

Join a Local Facebook “Buy Nothing” or Freebie Group

Believe it or not, some people give away free Cane’s gift cards or discounts they don’t plan to use.

Check Facebook groups, Nextdoor, or community forums for giveaways or discounted gift cards.

People often get Raising Cane’s gift cards from fundraisers or promotions and may be willing to trade or give them away.

Also, if you know someone who works at Raising Cane’s, ask if they get free or discounted food—many employees get meal perks and might be willing to share.

PRO TIP: GET MORE FOOD FOR LESS

Who doesn’t want more food for less money? This hack comes from an employee who’s also a family friend.

To make it happen, you’ll want to start by ordering a sandwich combo, but swap the roll for Texas toast (this gets you 2 slices of toast).

Next, skip the lettuce and ask for the sauce on the side. This way you’ll get everything included in a 3-finger combo—plus a FREE piece of toast—all at a lower price. Beautiful!

Sign Up for the Caniac Club (Free Food Rewards)

The Caniac Club is Raising Cane’s official rewards program, and it’s totally free to join.

When you sign up, you get:

✅ A free Box Combo just for joining.
✅ Special birthday rewards (usually a free drink or meal).
✅ Exclusive discounts and promotions throughout the year.

Make sure to register your Caniac Club card online after you get it from a participating location to start earning rewards.

PRO TIP: TRICK TO GET MULITPLE FREE COMBO MEALS

When signing up for the “Caniac Club” you can simply add a dot to the front part of your email address and get another account and subsequent free meal.

So if your email is [email protected] you can sign-up again and use [email protected] and the email from Raising Cane’s will get re-routed to you correctly, scoring you another free Combo Box meal.

Check Your Receipt for Freebies

Raising Cane’s occasionally prints survey offers on receipts, which let you score free food (like a toast, extra sauce, or a drink) on your next visit.

Always take 2 minutes to do the survey and save your receipt for your next order.

Order the Tailgate Box for a Cheaper Group Meal

If you’re feeding multiple people, instead of ordering individual meals, go for a Tailgate Box.

It includes 25, 50, 75, or 100 chicken fingers, along with Cane’s sauce.

PRO TIP: BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS

When feeding a large group, instead of buying drinks there, buy a gallon of tea or lemonade (which is WAY cheaper per ounce than buying multiple drinks).

Bring your own cups and ice for even more savings.

Follow Raising Cane’s on Social Media for Deals

Cane’s occasionally drops flash deals, contests, and giveaways on their social media accounts.

Follow them on:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter (X)
TikTok

PRO TIP: BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DEALS

Keep an eye out for limited-time promotions, especially around major events like football season, grand openings, or National Chicken Finger Day (July 27th).

Ask About Student, Military, or Local Discounts

Some Raising Cane’s locations offer student, military, or first responder discounts (usually 10% off).

It’s not an official nationwide policy, but it NEVER hurt to ask.

PRO TIP: PULL OUT YOUR I.D.

Show your student ID, military ID, or work badge at the register and politely ask if any discounts apply.

Use Cash-Back Apps & Discounted Gift Cards

Cash-back apps like Fetch, Rakuten, or Ibotta sometimes offer restaurant rewards, including Raising Cane’s.

Also, sites like CardCash sell discounted Raising Cane’s gift cards at a lower price.

Order a Kids’ Meal for a Cheaper Combo

Not super hungry? Order a Kids’ Meal—it comes with two tenders, fries, toast, and a drink ($8.19 at my local Cane’s) and costs significantly less than a standard combo.

This is a great option for light eaters who still want a full meal without overpaying.

Check for Local Fundraisers & Promotions

Cane’s regularly partners with schools, sports teams, and charities to offer fundraising nights where a portion of sales go to a cause.

Sometimes, they even give out BOGO (Buy One, Get One Free) deals for event participants.

If a local school or team is doing a fundraiser, stop by to support them and take advantage of special promotions.

Ask the Reader: Besides raising and butchering your own chickens, what’s your favorite way to save some cash at Raising Cane’s? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)