Anticipation builds in Rockford as Raising Canes Chicken Fingers announces a new location. With this new recipe discovery, you won't have to wait to enjoy their delicious dipping sauce at home. Discover how easy it is to make at home with just 4 ingredients.

Restaurant Chains We Wish Were in Rockford

Every conversation I've had in the last few years about what restaurant chains still aren't in Rockford includes someone saying how much they wished Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers would open a location in Rockford.

An informal poll on the 97ZOK Facebook page showed that yet again, Raising Cane's is the most often mentioned chain we wish would come to Rockford.

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5 Chain Restaurants We Wish Would Come to Rockford

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Getty Images
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Cheesecake Factory


Google Maps
Google Maps
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Bonefish Grill


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In-N-Out Burger


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Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Waffle House


By now, you must've heard the good news, that not only is Rockford finally getting a Raising Cane's location in the fall of 2025, there are 3 other new restaurants opening in the Rockford area.

Raising Cane's Facebook
Raising Cane's Facebook
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Raising Canes


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I've Never Eaten at Raising Cane's.

That's a true statemen about me, until recently. After all the talk about Raising Cane's, I had to make the drive from Rockford to Dekalb to give it a try.

It's not my favorite, but it was pretty good. My kids like it, but if you give them a chicken finger with sides of salt, butter, or ketchup, they're pretty much set. Something was a little different though about their reaction to the the famous Raising Cane's dipping sauce.

I must say, their dipping sauce is pretty outstanding.

Raising Cane's Chicken Finger Dipping Sauce

The entire back of your head might blow off when you taste the Cane's sauce. The two men who started Cane's in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Todd Graves, and Craig Silvey, made sure their sauce represented some of that southern tanginess.

Todd and Craig will likely never share what goes into making the Raising Cane's sauce, but this recipe is unbelievably close.

Now you don't have to wait until they open in Rockford at 6445 E. State Street to try the BEST thing (IMO) from Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.

Raising Cane's Dipping Sauce Recipe

I do love me some recipes that are simple to make with very few ingredients. To make this Raising Cane's chicken finger copycat dipp[ing sauce, you only need 4 ingredients.

1. Mayonnaise (Hellman’s or Dukes for an authentic touch)

2. Heinz ketchup

3. Worcestershire sauce

4. Garlic Powder

I cannot wait to try this. Another sauce that my kids will want to put on everything.

Here's the full recipe.

Does Raising Cane's Have The Best Chicken Fingers In Illinois? In my opinion, the answer to that question is no. The best chicken fingers in the area are coming from Baked Wings on E. Riverside Blvd in Loves Park.

Baked Wings Facebook
Baked Wings Facebook
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This chicken finger and waffle dish from Baked Wings was one of the best meals I had in 2023. By the way, the word 'baked' is not a reference to how the chicken is cooked. These fries will give you a better idea of how the word 'baked' is being used.

Baked Wings Facebook
Baked Wings Facebook
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