The Surprising Amount Of Sodium In Raising Cane's Cane Sauce

There's no shame in enjoying a good chicken tender, chicken strip, chicken finger, or whatever else you want to call it. While some may associate chicken tenders with kids' menus or greasy and gristly messes, there are some restaurants that recognize the true value of the chicken strip. Take, for example, Raising Cane's. With crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside white-meat tenders, crinkle-cut fries, and Texas toast as its flagship items, the chain leans more towards selling chicken tenders than it does the mainstream attraction of chicken sandwiches. 

While Raising Cane's is known for its tenders, many die-hard "Caniacs" can tell you that one item you should try is the Cane's Sauce. Described by Raising Cane's as being "tangy with a little bit of spice and full of flavor" (via Raising Cane's), many people have attempted to crack just what exactly makes up the sauce through a variety of copycat recipes. The Kitchn claims that the secret recipe for Cane's Sauce consists of mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire, black pepper, and garlic powder — surprisingly common ingredients for such an acclaimed sauce.

But for as good as Cane's and its tender-craving fans claim the tangy and peppery sauce to be, perhaps it may be a bit more sensible to skip ordering a plastic cup of the stuff the next time you want to grab a Caniac Combo.

Now, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise to hear that Raising Cane's isn't exactly health food. This isn't to say that it doesn't taste good, but fried chicken tenders with garlic butter-soaked Texas toast isn't a cornerstone of many healthy diets. Even the famed Cane's Sauce, despite how simple it is, is something that probably shouldn't be eaten every day due to its high amount of sodium.

According to Eat This, Not That, Cane's Sauce contains roughly 580 milligrams of sodium, alongside an impressive 200 calories. While 580 milligrams may not sound like much compared to other fast-food offerings, the sauce contains more than three times the sodium of a regular bag of Lay's potato chips. Those clock in at 170 milligrams, according to Eat This Much. Combine that with the standard order of tenders, fries, and coleslaw, and you would have an incredible amount of sodium in one serving.

To reiterate, there's nothing wrong with satisfying a tender craving every now and then. But it's important to keep in mind what's in them when you do so.