Keto Buffalo Chicken Celery Boats

My coworker Sarah brought these to a potluck last spring, and I watched three people go back for seconds without realizing they were eating celery. That's when I knew this recipe was worth mastering—something so simple that makes people forget they're being healthy. The buffalo sauce hits immediately, the blue cheese lingers, and before you know it, you're hunting for the last boat on the platter.

I made these during a late-night game night when someone texted asking if I had snacks. Forty minutes from text to platter, and somehow they disappeared faster than the score changed on screen. My partner actually set down his controller mid-game to grab another, which rarely happens—that's how I knew the buffalo-to-blue-cheese ratio was exactly right.

Ingredients

• Cooked chicken breast, shredded (1 1/2 cups): Use rotisserie chicken if you're short on time, and make sure it's cooled completely so the buffalo sauce clings properly instead of sliding off.
• Buffalo wing sauce, sugar-free (1/4 cup): The keto-friendly versions taste just as good as the traditional stuff, but always check the label because some brands sneak in sweeteners that don't work with certain diets.
• Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt (2 tablespoons): Mayo binds everything together beautifully, but Greek yogurt adds tanginess and cuts the richness if that's more your style.
• Unsalted butter, melted (1 tablespoon): This adds richness and helps the spices distribute evenly throughout the chicken mixture.
• Garlic powder and onion powder (1/4 teaspoon each): These bring depth without adding moisture, which keeps your celery boats from getting soggy.
• Salt and pepper: Taste as you go because the buffalo sauce and blue cheese both contribute their own saltiness.
• Large celery stalks (8 pieces, cut into 3–4-inch lengths): Choose the thickest stalks you can find so they hold the filling without collapsing, and don't skip washing them thoroughly.
• Blue cheese, crumbled (1/3 cup): The funk of blue cheese is what makes these special, but if you find it too intense, crumbled feta or a drizzle of ranch works beautifully too.
• Fresh chives, chopped (2 tablespoons, optional): They add a mild onion note and visual pop, but honestly, the boats are complete without them.

Instructions

Make the Buffalo Chicken Filling:

Combine your shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce, mayo, melted butter, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium bowl, stirring until everything turns a beautiful peachy-orange and clings to each piece of chicken. Taste it and adjust salt and pepper—remember that the blue cheese topping will add more saltiness, so hold back slightly.

Prepare Your Celery Canvas:

Lay your celery pieces on a serving platter in whatever arrangement feels natural—you're about to fill these like edible boats, so make sure they're arranged so they won't roll. The hollow running down the center of each piece is perfect for holding the filling, so position them concave-side up.

Fill Each Boat:

Spoon or pipe the buffalo chicken mixture into the center of each celery piece, mounding it generously so people get a real bite of flavor with each piece. You want the filling visible and inviting, not timidly pressed into the celery.

Top and Finish:

Sprinkle each filled celery boat with crumbled blue cheese while the filling is still warm so it softens slightly into the chicken. Add chopped chives if you're using them, which happens right before serving so they stay bright and fresh.

Serve or Chill:

These are best served immediately while the celery is at its crispest and the filling is still slightly warm, creating a temperature contrast that feels luxurious. If you're prepping ahead, fill the boats no more than 2 hours before serving, or keep the filling and celery separate and assemble just before your guests arrive.

Save

My mom tried one at a family gathering and immediately asked if she could take the recipe home, which meant everything coming from someone who usually prefers traditional appetizers. These boats became the thing people remembered, not the fancier dishes that took twice as long.

The Buffalo Sauce Question

Not all buffalo sauces are created equal, especially if you're watching your macros. I tested five different keto-friendly brands before settling on one that actually tastes like spicy wing sauce instead of disappointment in a bottle. The difference between a good sauce and a mediocre one becomes obvious the moment you taste the filled celery—the right sauce brings brightness and heat, while the wrong one tastes oddly flat. Read ingredient lists carefully because some brands use erythritol or stevia in ways that create an aftertaste, while others nail the balance completely.

Why Blue Cheese Belongs Here

Blue cheese seems like it shouldn't work with buffalo chicken, but it's actually the perfect foil—the tangy funk cuts through the heat and richness in a way that makes you want another bite immediately. The creaminess of the chicken filling and the pungent crumbles of blue cheese create this push-and-pull of flavors that feel genuinely sophisticated. If you're not a blue cheese person, feta adds a salty tang without the intensity, or a drizzle of full-fat ranch dressing creates creamy comfort instead.

Storage and Make-Ahead Strategy

The secret to these boats is keeping components separate until the last possible moment, which sounds fussy but actually makes your life easier. Shred and mix the chicken filling the morning of, store it covered in the fridge, and keep your celery pieces wrapped so they stay crisp and don't absorb moisture from the air. Then 15 minutes before guests arrive, do a quick assembly and watch people's faces light up when they realize how good something so simple actually tastes.

• The buffalo chicken filling keeps for three days refrigerated, so you can make it whenever fits your schedule.
• Pre-cut celery can sit in the crisper for up to two days if you keep it unwrapped so air circulates and it stays firm.
• Blue cheese crumbles right before serving so they stay distinct and don't get crushed into the filling.

Save

These boats turned into my go-to when I need something that looks impressive but doesn't demand hours in the kitchen. They're the appetizer that people actually eat instead of politely ignoring, which is honestly the highest compliment any snack can receive.

Recipe FAQs

→ What type of chicken is best to use?

Cooked chicken breast, shredded finely, works best for even coating and easy filling.

→ Can I adjust the spice level?

Yes, add cayenne pepper or extra buffalo sauce to increase heat, or reduce sauce for milder flavor.

→ Are there suitable alternatives to blue cheese?

Feta cheese or ranch dressing can substitute blue cheese to maintain creamy tanginess.

→ How should I store leftovers?

Keep chicken mixture refrigerated and assemble celery boats just before serving to preserve crunch.

→ Is this dish suitable for keto and low-carb diets?

Yes, it’s designed with low-carb ingredients and keto-friendly sauces for diet compatibility.

→ Can Greek yogurt replace mayonnaise?

Greek yogurt is a lighter option that works well to bind flavors and add creaminess.