National Chicken Finger Day 2025 Complete Guide To Free Chicken Tenders And Finger Deals

National Chicken Finger Day, celebrated annually on July 27, has become a significant promotional event in the restaurant industry, with multiple chains offering special deals and freebies to commemorate the occasion. The holiday, which Raising Cane's claims to have originated 16 years ago, has evolved into a competitive marketing opportunity as various chicken establishments seek to capitalize on the celebration with their own unique offers. This comprehensive guide examines the available freebies, promotional deals, and participation requirements from major restaurant chains celebrating National Chicken Finger Day in 2025.

The Great Chicken Debate: Fingers vs. Tenders

The chicken industry has developed a nuanced terminology around its products, with some establishments making clear distinctions between "chicken fingers," "chicken strips," and "chicken tenders." This terminology has become particularly relevant as restaurants position themselves within the competitive chicken finger market.

Raising Cane's, which trademarked "National Chicken Finger Day" in 2019, has positioned itself as the definitive authority on chicken fingers. The chain emphasizes its specific preparation and claims to have created the holiday to give chicken fingers the spotlight they deserve. Meanwhile, Wingstop has entered the fray by filing a trademark application for "National Chicken Tender Day" on July 27, creating an apparent marketing distinction between the terms.

"We proudly serve chicken tenders, never fingers, and there's a reason for that," stated Andy Howard, CEO and president of Huey Magoo's, a fast-casual chicken tenders chain. "Let's be honest, chickens don't have fingers. What we serve is the tenderloin, the most tender, premium 3% of the chicken."

This semantic distinction has marketing implications, as chains attempt to differentiate their products while still participating in the July 27 celebration. Some restaurants, like Huey Magoo's, specifically use the term "tender" to describe their premium chicken products, while others, like Raising Cane's, proudly embrace the "finger" terminology.

Raising Cane's: The Originator of National Chicken Finger Day

Raising Cane's has positioned itself as the pioneer of National Chicken Finger Day, claiming to have started the celebration 16 years ago. The fast-casual chain has made the holiday a cornerstone of its marketing strategy, with significant promotional efforts in 2025.

For National Chicken Finger Day 2025, Raising Cane's is offering customers who purchase a Box Combo (which includes four chicken fingers, fries, buttery toast, and signature sauce) a free additional chicken finger. Notably, no coupon or code is required for this offer, which can be redeemed in-store, at the drive-thru, via the mobile app, or online. The chain has emphasized that there is no limit to the offer—every Box Combo order will come with free chicken fingers.

"This isn't the first time Snoop and Raising Cane's have collaborated," according to the company's promotional materials. In addition to appearing in "Raising Cane's Drive-Thru Comedy" streaming show, the celebrity co-starred with Graves in the Discovery+ series "Restaurant Recovery" and the A&E series "Secret Sauce." Last year, Graves made a cameo appearance in the Prime Video exclusive "The Underdogs," which stars Snoop as a coach for a youth football team.

The chain has stated that it has given away "more than 150,000 Chicken Fingers on National Chicken Finger Day alone," highlighting the scale of its promotional efforts. Additionally, select rewards members will receive a limited-edition collectible necklace featuring a golden chicken finger charm, adding an exclusive element to the celebration.

Huey Magoo's: Celebrating with Premium Tender Bites

Huey Magoo's, a fast-casual chicken tenders chain with more than 75 locations, is participating in National Chicken Finger Day with its own unique offer. The chain is giving away five free Tender Bites with the purchase of any three-piece or larger Tender Meal on July 27, while supplies last.

Notably, Huey Magoo's distinguishes its product as "tenderloins" rather than "fingers," emphasizing what it considers to be a premium cut of chicken. The company describes its product as "the Filet Mignon of Chicken®," available either grilled or hand-breaded and made fresh to order.

The offer comes with a clear limitation—it is subject to availability and may not be honored once supplies run out. This contrasts with Raising Cane's unlimited offer, suggesting different approaches to managing promotional inventory among participating chains.

PDQ: Introducing Honey Butter Tenders for the Holiday

PDQ is leveraging National Chicken Finger Day to launch a new menu item: Honey Butter Tenders. The chain describes these as "crispy, hand-breaded buttermilk tenders fried golden and glazed in sweet honey butter." According to promotional materials, this is the first time the item has appeared on the menu, and it is positioned as a limited-time offer.

The Honey Butter Tenders are available in two formats: as a standalone item for $8.59 or as part of a meal for $12.49. PDQ has timed this product launch to coincide with National Chicken Finger Day, suggesting that the new offering is part of the chain's celebration of the holiday.

While PDQ is not explicitly offering a free product with purchase like some competitors, the introduction of this new, limited-time item provides customers with a novel reason to visit the restaurant during the National Chicken Finger Day celebration.

Popeyes: Wing Deals Leading Up to the Holiday

Although Popeyes does not have a specific National Chicken Finger Day promotion, the chain is running a significant wing promotion that overlaps with the holiday period. Popeyes is offering a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deal on bone-in wings now through August 3. With this offer, customers who purchase any bone-in wings order receive a free six-piece order on the house.

For customers preferring delivery, Popeyes has extended this offer to third-party platforms. When ordering through Uber Eats or DoorDash, customers can get a BOGO deal on six-piece wings, available in either bone-in or boneless options.

While not specifically tied to National Chicken Finger Day, Popeyes' wing promotion provides customers with an additional opportunity to take advantage of chicken-related deals during late July. The promotion's extension through early August suggests that the chain is capitalizing on the broader "chicken holiday" period that includes both National Chicken Finger Day (July 27) and National Chicken Wing Day (July 29).

Related Wing Day Deals (July 29)

Following National Chicken Finger Day, the restaurant industry shifts focus to National Chicken Wing Day on July 29, with several chains offering specialized promotions for this related holiday.

7-Eleven is offering two BOGO deals for loyalty program members: buy eight boneless wings and get eight free, or buy five bone-in wings and get five free. These deals are available for 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members at participating 7-Elevens, Speedways, and Stripes stores nationwide. Additionally, when customers buy two Red Bull drinks, they receive five bone-in wings for free.

Applebee's has an online deal for National Chicken Wing Day, offering a BOGO Mix & Match of 10-piece boneless wings and nine-piece bone-in wings when customers use the promo code WINGDAY25 in-app or online. Orders must be placed through the Applebee's website or mobile app, making the offer accessible for those who prefer not to dine in.

Buffalo Wild Wings, a chain known for its wings, is celebrating National Chicken Wing Day by offering six free wings of choice with any $10 minimum purchase. This straightforward deal provides an accessible entry point for customers looking to take advantage of the wing-focused holiday.

Popeyes continues its wing promotion into National Chicken Wing Day, maintaining its BOGO offer on six-piece wings, both bone-in and boneless, when ordered through delivery apps.

How to Maximize Your Chicken Deals

For consumers looking to maximize their savings during the July chicken celebration period, several strategies emerge based on the available offers:

1. Plan visits around specific promotions: Different chains offer deals on different days, so planning restaurant visits according to the specific promotions can help maximize value.

2. Join loyalty programs: Several offers, particularly at 7-Eleven, require membership in loyalty programs. Enrolling in these programs before visiting can unlock additional deals.

3. Take advantage of multiple offers: Since different chains run separate promotions, consumers can potentially visit multiple establishments to take advantage of various deals throughout the celebration period.

4. Consider delivery options: Some offers, like Popeyes', are specifically extended to third-party delivery platforms, providing flexibility for those who prefer not to dine in or pick up orders themselves.

5. Be aware of limitations: Some offers, like Huey Magoo's, are subject to availability and may not be honored once supplies run out. Visiting earlier in the day may increase the likelihood of receiving these limited-availability items.

Conclusion

National Chicken Finger Day has evolved from a modest celebration created by Raising Cane's into a competitive marketing opportunity across the chicken restaurant industry. The 2025 celebration offers consumers a variety of deals, from Raising Cane's unlimited free chicken fingers with purchase to Huey Magoo's limited-time Tender Bites giveaway. While terminology distinctions between "fingers" and "tenders" create marketing positioning opportunities for different chains, the common thread is the emphasis on quality chicken products during this mid-summer celebration.

For consumers, the holiday period provides an opportunity to try new products, take advantage of limited-time offers, and potentially save money on favorite chicken items. As the holiday continues to grow in popularity, consumers can expect more chains to participate with increasingly creative promotions in future years.

Sources

1. Burger Beast - National Chicken Finger Day
2. Fox Business - How to get free chicken from Popeyes, Raising Cane's next week
3. USA Today - Raising Cane's National Chicken Finger Day 2025
4. People - Score these National Chicken Sandwich Day deals
5. NJ Biz - Raising Cane's National Chicken Finger Day 2025
6. Her Campus - National Chicken Finger Wing Day 2025 deals
7. Recordnet - National Chicken Wing Day 2025 deals