Save My brother showed up at a game day gathering with a plate of these buffalo chicken celery boats, and I watched them disappear faster than the actual snacks we'd planned. He'd been experimenting with keto cooking and landed on this by accident, really—he had leftover buffalo chicken and a bunch of celery, and instead of making a salad, he decided to get creative. The combination of crispy, cool celery with spicy, creamy chicken and that sharp blue cheese hit something I didn't know I was craving.
I remember bringing these to a potluck where everyone was doing the whole low-carb thing, and a friend who normally avoids spicy food asked for the recipe after eating three boats. She said the blue cheese mellowed the heat just enough to make it interesting rather than punishing, and that's when I realized these aren't just a diet hack—they're actually genuinely good.
Ingredients
- Cooked chicken breast, shredded: Use rotisserie chicken if you're short on time; it's juicier and you'll notice the difference immediately.
- Buffalo wing sauce: Check the label carefully—most regular sauces sneak in sugar, so grab one labeled keto or sugar-free from the condiment aisle.
- Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt: Mayo creates that creamy texture you want, but Greek yogurt works if you're watching fat intake and honestly makes the whole thing feel lighter.
- Unsalted butter, melted: This adds richness and helps bind the filling so it doesn't slide out when you bite in.
- Garlic and onion powder: These little additions deepen the flavor without adding liquid, which keeps the filling from getting soggy.
- Large celery stalks: Pick ones that are thick and straight; thin, curved stalks are harder to fill and might split.
- Blue cheese, crumbled: Don't buy pre-crumbled if you can help it—crumble it yourself and you'll get bigger chunks that add real texture and flavor bursts.
- Fresh chives: These add a mild onion flavor and a bright finish that makes the whole thing feel less heavy.
Instructions
- Build your buffalo mixture:
- In a bowl, combine your shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce, mayo, melted butter, and spices, stirring until everything is evenly coated and the color shifts to a peachy-orange. The mixture should feel creamy and cling to the chicken, not slide off.
- Prep your celery boats:
- Cut your celery into 3 to 4-inch pieces and lay them out on whatever you're serving from—a platter, a board, or even a baking sheet. Make sure the hollow side faces up so you've got a natural pocket ready for filling.
- Fill generously:
- Using a spoon or a piping bag, fill each celery piece with the buffalo chicken mixture, pressing it in slightly so it stays put. Don't be shy—these boats are meant to be loaded.
- Top and finish:
- Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese over each boat while the filling is still soft enough for it to stick a little, then scatter chives on top if you're using them. The contrast of colors actually makes people more likely to reach for these.
- Serve it right:
- These are best eaten right away while the celery is still crisp and cold against the slightly warm filling, but you can chill them for up to 2 hours if you need to prep ahead.
Save There was a moment at a work lunch when someone described these as tasting like "sophisticated bar food," and it clicked for me that they'd stopped being a keto workaround and become something I'd genuinely want to make even if I wasn't watching carbs. That's when a recipe becomes real.
Making Them Your Own
The base recipe is solid, but this is one of those appetizers that invites tinkering. Some people add a tiny pinch of cayenne to the chicken mixture for extra heat, while others prefer cooling things down with ranch dressing instead of blue cheese. I've seen versions with crispy bacon crumbled on top, and honestly, those are hard to argue with.
Storage and Timing
You can prep the chicken mixture the night before and keep it in the fridge in a covered container—it actually tastes better after a day as the flavors meld. Cut your celery a few hours ahead if needed, but store it in water so it stays crisp. The real trick is assembling everything just before people eat, because that's when the magic happens.
Variations and Swaps
If you're cooking for people with different preferences, you can make half the batch with blue cheese and half with feta or even a drizzle of ranch for the less adventurous crowd. Some folks use rotisserie turkey instead of chicken if they want something leaner, and it works surprisingly well. The formula is flexible enough that you can adjust heat, cheese, and toppings without losing what makes these special.
- Swap blue cheese for crumbled feta or a ranch drizzle if someone at your table isn't into funky cheeses.
- Add crispy bacon bits, diced celery leaves, or even a tiny sprinkle of smoked paprika for extra dimension.
- Make these ahead and bring them to a potluck in a sealed container—they travel better than you'd expect and always impress.
Save These celery boats have become my go-to when I need something that feels impressive but doesn't require much time or effort. They're proof that keto cooking doesn't have to feel like compromise.
Recipe FAQ Section
- → What type of chicken works best for this dish?
Shredded cooked chicken breast is ideal as it holds the sauce well and provides a lean protein base.
- → Can I substitute blue cheese with another topping?
Yes, feta or ranch dressing crumbles make tasty alternatives if blue cheese is not preferred.
- → How do I make the buffalo mixture more spicy?
Adding a dash of cayenne pepper to the chicken mixture will increase the heat level.
- → What is the best way to assemble celery boats for serving later?
Prepare the filling ahead and refrigerate separately; fill celery boats just before serving to keep them crisp.
- → Are these celery boats suitable for low-carb diets?
Yes, the combination of chicken, buffalo sauce, and celery fits perfectly within low-carb and keto dietary needs.