Spicy buffalo chicken, crisp celery crunch.

I have to admit, even I’ve been one to turn up my nose at the celery sticks on a plateful of Buffalo Chicken Wings or Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.

Aren’t they just there for… color?!

But a few years ago I had the idea to turn that once-thought “garnish” into a vessel of spicy buffalo chicken goodness.

And y’all… these Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks disappeared before my eyes!!

The crunch and mild coolness of the celery paired with the spicy heat of the buffalo sauce-coated chicken was a match made in heaven!

Now there’s not a single Super Bowl that goes by that I don’t make an enormous platter of these! They’re great for those on a low-carb diet or for the few still sticking to their New Year’s resolutions.

If you want even more easy game day appetizer ideas, check out these Super Bowl Recipes next!

Amazing! My whole family just ate this during the Super Bowl and it was a huge hit! My daughter and I don’t like celery, so we put the dip on tortilla chips. I highly recommend this recipe!

– Dawn
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A piece of celery is dipped into a bowl of buffalo chicken dip.
A plate is full of buffalo chicken-filled celery.

Ingredients and Substitutions

For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.

Buffalo sauce, chicken, cream cheese, seasonings, and celery are the main ingredients for this buffalo chicken and celery dish.
  • Celery. One bunch of celery stalks is cut into short strips to hold the delicious chicken filling.
  • Hot sauce. Grab a bottle of Frank’s Hot Sauce, or another buffalo variety at the grocery store. Or, whip up your own Buffalo Wing Sauce.
  • Honey. You only need a little to balance out the spice of the sauce. Get some local honey if possible. You can also substitute with regular sugar or leave it out completely if on a low-carb or keto diet.
  • Cream cheese. Full-fat cream cheese is best. Feel free to grab a dairy-free variety if needed.
  • Chicken. A rotisserie chicken is quick and easy. You can make your own Instant Pot Shredded Chicken with chicken breasts or use leftover chicken, as well.
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Step-by-step Instructions

Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.

Make the sauce.

Combine the hot sauce, butter, honey, garlic, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.

Turn off the heat, then carefully whisk in the cream cheese. It’s ok if a few chunks remain, they’ll mix into the chicken.

The buffalo sauce is made in a saucepan.
The buffalo sauce is made in a saucepan.
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Sauce the chicken.

Place the cooked chicken in a large bowl, then pour the sauce on top. Use a wooden spoon to toss until the chicken is completely coated.

The buffalo sauce is poured over the shredded chicken.

Fill and serve.

After slicing the crunchy celery sticks into 2- to 3-inch long pieces, it’s time to fill them! Use a spoon to add some of the buffalo chicken mixture to each of the celery boats. Be careful not to overfill them.

Sprinkle some chopped green onions and add a drizzle of ranch dressing. Alternatively, serve the ranch on the side.

You can also serve this as a dip with sliced celery on the side.

A hand holds a piece of celery filled with buffalo chicken dip.

FAQs

What kind of hot sauce should I use? 

After doing a bit of research I found that people often use Frank’s Hot Sauce when they make buffalo chicken.  Since I was a novice to this whole buffalo chicken thing, I went with what the majority suggested.

Why do people eat celery with buffalo chicken? 

Celery provides the perfect crisp and cool balance to spicy, saucy buffalo chicken. You can get the best of both worlds with these buffalo chicken celery sticks!

More Gameday Appetizers

If you’re planning snacks for the big game, be sure to check out these awesome appetizer recipes next.

Tap stars to rate!

4.32 from 54 votes

Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

By: London Brazil
Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks are a low-carb favorite for Super Bowl and game day parties! Celery sticks are loaded up with spicy chicken that's coated in buffalo sauce and then drizzled with ranch dressing.
Celery sticks are loaded up with buffalo chicken dip and drizzled with ranch dressing and green onions.
Yield 32 celery sticks
Prep 50 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 55 minutes
Print Pin Comment
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Ingredients 

  • ½ cup hot sauce such as Frank’s
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste
  • 4 tablespoons cream cheese cut into 4-6 pieces
  • 4 cups chicken cooked, shredded
  • 1 bunch celery cut into 2-3 inch long pieces
  • Ranch optional
  • Green onions optional

Instructions 

  • Make the Sauce: In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat combine hot sauce, butter, honey, garlic and salt. Bring ingredients to a boil while whisking constantly. Once sauce is boiling, turn off the heat and add cream cheese. Whisk until combined. (It’s ok if some small clumps remain.)
    ½ cup hot sauce such as Frank’s, 6 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 clove garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, 4 tablespoons cream cheese
  • Sauce the Chicken: Pour sauce over shredded chicken in a large bowl and toss until chicken is coated.
    4 cups chicken
  • Fill and Serve: Fill each celery stick with 1-2 tablespoons of buffalo chicken. Top sticks with green onions and drizzle each with ranch dressing or serve on the side for dipping. Serve them immediately, while the chicken is still warm, or serve them chilled. If serving these chilled, wait until 1-2 hours before serving to assemble so the celery does not get soggy.
    1 bunch celery cut into 2-3 inch long pieces, Ranch, Green onions
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

4.32 from 54 votes

Video

Notes

  • Nutrition information: Totals are calculated without any ranch dressing on top.
  • Celery: Try your best to cut the celery sticks into similar lengths.
  • Buffalo sauce: You can buy a bottle of hot sauce or easily make your own.
  • Serving: This appetizer can be served either warm or cold.
  • Garnish: Don’t forget the chopped green onions and the ranch dressing.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 49kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 60mg, Potassium: 73mg, Fiber: 0.003g, Sugar: 0.5g, Vitamin A: 100IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.1mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!

    More Buffalo Chicken Recipes

    I’m a fan of anything buffalo-flavored, and these recipes are the perfect way to enjoy all its tangy, spicy goodness!

    4.32 from 54 votes (54 ratings without comment)

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    Comments

    1. 5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe many times! The first time was because numerous people at the get together were doing keto, including myself, and this recipe checked that box. Huge hit…..not a morsel left! I usually double the recipe as well as the cream cheese. I’ve made this using a rotisserie chicken to cut down on the time. Have also made it with canned chicken. We love the hot Buffalo Chicken Dip but this is a different twist on that. And since it’s summer having a cool snack that’s filled with lots of protein is always good! 😉

      Reply

      1. Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! I’m so happy you found a way to make a big batch to serve your family. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!

        Reply