Delectable 15-Min Buffalo chicken celery sticks

If you’re looking for a snack that packs a serious flavor punch without derailing your diet, stop right there! My **Buffalo chicken celery sticks** are about to become your go-to appetizer. Seriously, these things disappear fast at any gathering. I’m Anna, and I live for sharing simple, flavorful chicken recipes that make everyday cooking feel easier and way more joyful.

We all need those low-carb wins, right? This recipe delivers that classic, tangy heat you crave, but instead of heavy breading, we use crisp, cool celery to carry all that spicy goodness. It’s fast—we’re talking under 15 minutes total—and trust me, once you try this creamy, zesty filling, you’ll be making these spicy celery boats every week!

Gathering Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

Okay, the best part about these Buffalo chicken celery sticks is how fast they come together. We aren’t cooking anything new here, which is why the prep time is only about 15 minutes! That’s lightning speed for such a satisfying, low-carb appetizer. We are aiming to fill 16 lovely celery sticks, which usually serves about four people if they aren’t super hungry, or about eight if they are just snacking.

Getting the measurements right is key to that perfect creamy, spicy filling. You want enough sauce to coat everything beautifully without making it runny. I always lay out my ingredients before I start because once you get that chicken chopped, things move fast! Don’t substitute the Greek yogurt unless you have a very specific reason; it keeps the filling light yet rich.

Precise Measurements for Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

Here is exactly what you need to gather. I keep this list taped to my pantry door because I make these so often. Remember, we need about 2 cups of cooked chicken breast ready to go—that’s usually about 12 ounces if you’re buying pre-cooked or cooking fresh.

Component	Amount	Preparation Detail
Cooked Chicken Breast	2 cups	Finely chopped
Buffalo-Style Hot Sauce	1/4 cup	Your preferred heat level
Unsalted Butter	2 tablespoons	Melted gently
Plain Greek Yogurt	1/3 cup	Full fat works best for creaminess
Garlic Powder	1/4 teaspoon	For depth of flavor
Kosher Salt	1/4 teaspoon	Or salt to taste later
Large Celery Stalks	8 stalks	Cut into 4-inch pieces

Essential Equipment for Making Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

You don’t need a ton of fancy gadgets for these tasty Buffalo chicken celery sticks, which is another reason I love them! Since this is mostly assembly, just grab your mixing bowls and get ready. Having two bowls handy—one for the sauce and one for the final mix—keeps things tidy, though you can certainly manage with just one if you’re short on space.

Make sure you have a good sharp knife for prepping the celery and a sturdy spatula or spoon for mixing the filling until it’s perfectly creamy and ready to go into those crisp boats.

Preparing Your Chicken Base

Before we even think about the hot sauce, we need to talk about that chicken. The recipe calls for two cups of cooked chicken breast, and the texture is crucial here. You don’t want big chunks; you want it finely chopped. Think small, uniform pieces so that every single bite of your buffalo chicken celery sticks has that perfect ratio of creamy sauce to meaty texture.

I usually use a couple of forks to shred it finely, or if I’m feeling lazy, I pulse it a few times in a food processor. Just be careful not to turn it into paste! We want texture, not baby food. This finely chopped base holds the sauce much better than large chunks.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

This is where the magic happens, and trust me, it moves fast! Since this recipe involves zero baking or cooking time, you can have these Buffalo chicken celery sticks ready to serve before the first guest even rings the doorbell. The goal here is simple: combine the hot, spicy elements with the cool, creamy ones, and then load up that crisp celery.

Take your time mixing the sauce components first. This ensures you don’t end up with pockets of pure butter or pure hot sauce floating around. Once the chicken is in, it’s all about gentle stirring until everything looks unified and ready to be spooned into those waiting celery canoes!

Creating the Spicy Buffalo Chicken Mixture

First things first, grab a medium bowl. We are making the flavor base. Pour in your 1/4 cup of buffalo-style hot sauce. Next, melt those 2 tablespoons of butter—I usually do this in the microwave for about 15 seconds—and whisk it right into the hot sauce. Whisk until it looks totally emulsified and glossy. This step is important because the fat from the butter helps carry the heat and stops the sauce from separating later.

Now, add the rest of your filling ingredients to that saucy mixture: the 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt, the 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, and that 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt. Whisk this until it’s smooth and creamy. It should look pale orange and thick. If it seems too thick, don’t panic; the chicken will loosen it up.

Finally, fold in your 2 cups of finely chopped, cooked chicken. Use a spatula for this, not the whisk! Gently stir everything together until every single piece of chicken is completely coated in that creamy, spicy mixture. You’re looking for a texture that holds its shape nicely on a spoon—that’s the sign you nailed the creaminess! If it looks too dry, add a tiny splash more hot sauce, but be careful; we don’t want runny Buffalo chicken celery sticks.

Assembling the Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

While you were mixing the filling, you should have already washed and dried your 8 large celery stalks. Drying them well is critical, or the filling won’t stick! Next, use a sharp knife to cut those stalks into neat, uniform 4-inch pieces. This gives you 16 perfect little vessels for our filling.

Now for the fun part: filling them up! Using a small spoon or a butter knife, carefully scoop the buffalo chicken mixture into the groove of each celery stick. I try to aim for about 2 tablespoons of filling per stick, but you can eyeball it. You want a nice, generous mound of filling sitting right there in the center, making a beautiful, spicy, low-carb appetizer boat.

Once they are all filled, arrange your Buffalo chicken celery sticks nicely on a serving platter. They are ready to eat immediately if you’re in a rush, but honestly, they taste even better after chilling for about 30 minutes. The celery gets extra crisp, and the flavors meld together beautifully.

Tips for Success with Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

When making these Buffalo chicken celery sticks, the main pitfalls are usually texture and heat level. I learned years ago that if your filling is too thin, it just slides right out of the celery. The secret to that perfect mound is using full-fat Greek yogurt—it’s thicker than the non-fat version and gives you a richer mouthfeel. If you find your sauce is just too spicy for your crew, don’t throw it out! Just stir in an extra teaspoon of plain yogurt or even a tiny dollop of cream cheese to mellow that heat right down without losing the flavor.

These spicy celery boats are so simple, but these small adjustments make the difference between good and amazing!

Handling Chicken Safety and Temperature

Even though you aren’t cooking anything right now, if you are using leftover chicken you cooked yourself, safety is number one! Always make sure that chicken reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when you cooked it initially. I keep a little instant-read thermometer handy just for checking leftovers before I chop them up. It only takes a second, and it gives you peace of mind knowing those Buffalo chicken celery sticks are perfectly safe to eat.

Achieving the Ideal Chill Factor

While you can eat these immediately, I really, really urge you to chill them. Pop the finished platter in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the celery to firm up and absorb some of the spicy flavor. However, remember food safety rules! If these are sitting out at a party, don’t let them linger unrefrigerated for more than two hours total. After that, it’s best to toss any leftovers, especially since they contain that creamy yogurt base.

Common Questions About Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

I get asked about these speedy snacks all the time, especially when people are planning parties or need quick keto snacks. Since they are so simple, people often wonder about making them in advance or swapping out ingredients. Don’t worry, I have answers for all your Buffalo chicken celery sticks quandaries!

Can I Prepare Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks Ahead of Time

Yes, you absolutely can get a jump start on these! I usually prep the chicken filling mixture a day ahead of time and keep it tightly sealed in the fridge. It actually tastes better the next day! However, I strongly advise against filling the celery sticks until maybe an hour or two before serving. If you fill them too early, the moisture from the creamy mixture starts to seep into the celery, and they lose that fantastic crispness that makes these low-carb appetizers so good.

What Substitutions Work for Greek Yogurt in Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

The Greek yogurt is important because it keeps the filling light and adds that necessary tang without adding a ton of fat, but if you can’t use it, I have a great swap. For a similar texture and protein boost, you can substitute the Greek yogurt with an equal amount of cottage cheese that has been blended until completely smooth. If you need to stay strictly dairy-free, this gets trickier while keeping it low-carb, but you could try a thick, plain cashew cream, though the flavor profile will change slightly!

Storing and Serving Your Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

Presentation matters, even for something as easy as Buffalo chicken celery sticks! When you serve them, try arranging them neatly on a platter with a little sprinkle of fresh herbs for color—a dash of chopped parsley or maybe some finely snipped chives really makes them pop against the green celery. They look great served right out of the fridge, nice and cold.

But what about leftovers? That’s the big question, since these are so addictive! If you have any filling left over, store it separately from the celery. The celery tends to get a little soggy if it sits too long, especially if it’s been out of the fridge.

Storage Item	Container Type	Max Storage Time
Unfilled Buffalo Chicken Mixture	Airtight container	Up to 3 days
Filled Celery Sticks	Shallow container, lightly covered	Up to 12 hours

Reheating Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

Okay, this is important: Do not try to reheat these! These spicy celery boats are designed to be eaten cold or chilled. If you try to warm up the celery, it will become limp and watery, and the creamy yogurt filling will likely separate on you. It just won’t work out well.

If you made extra filling, keep it chilled, and the next day, just grab some fresh celery stalks and refill them. That’s the secret to keeping these as a fantastic, crisp, low-carb appetizer day after day!

Understanding the Nutrition of Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

When you’re making quick, flavorful snacks like these Buffalo chicken celery sticks, sometimes the exact nutritional breakdown can be a little fuzzy, especially since we all use different brands of hot sauce or yogurt. But I can tell you that this recipe is a fantastic choice if you are watching your carbs! At around 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving (four sticks), this is a true low-carb appetizer winner.

You get a huge punch of protein, too, thanks to all that chicken and the Greek yogurt base. It’s a satisfying snack that keeps you full until the next meal. It’s amazing how much flavor we can pack into something so light!

Nutritional Disclaimer for Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks

Because I want everyone to enjoy these spicy celery boats safely, I have to give you a quick heads-up on the numbers. The nutrition information provided here is an estimate based on standard ingredient assumptions. The actual calories, fat, and sodium content will change depending on the specific brand of hot sauce you choose—some are much saltier than others!—and whether you use full-fat or low-fat yogurt. Always use your own judgment and check labels if you are tracking macros precisely.

Share Your Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks Experience

I truly hope these quick, zesty Buffalo chicken celery sticks make your weeknights easier and more flavorful! Did you try adding a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles on top, or maybe a dash of smoked paprika to the mix? I want to hear all about it! Please leave me a rating below and tell me your favorite way to serve these spicy celery boats! Check out more ideas here!

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