Keto Buffalo Chicken Celery Boats

My sister texted me mid-afternoon asking if I could bring something to her game night, and I had maybe thirty minutes before heading over. I opened the fridge, saw a container of shredded rotisserie chicken and a bunch of celery, and suddenly remembered this brilliant hack: stuff them like tiny boats and no one would know I threw it together in my kitchen. The whole thing came together so fast, and honestly, those buffalo chicken celery boats became the thing people asked about all night.

I brought a batch to a work potluck a few weeks later, and one of my coworkers who's been strict keto for a year said it was the first time she'd felt like she was eating something fun and forbidden instead of just... keto food. She came back three times. That reaction made me realize this isn't just a diet-friendly recipe, it's genuinely delicious.

Ingredients

• Cooked chicken breast, shredded (1 1/2 cups): Use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store if you're in a hurry, or poach your own if you want to control the seasoning and sodium content.
• Buffalo wing sauce, sugar-free (1/4 cup): Read the label carefully because some brands sneak in carbs, and this is where your heat level starts, so pick one you actually like drinking straight.
• Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt (2 tablespoons): Mayo gives you richness and helps the sauce cling to the chicken, while yogurt makes it tangier and slightly lighter if that's your preference.
• Unsalted butter, melted (1 tablespoon): This adds a luxurious mouthfeel and helps emulsify everything together into a cohesive filling.
• Garlic powder and onion powder (1/4 teaspoon each): These dried seasonings dissolve into the sauce and add depth without adding any moisture that would make the celery soggy.
• Salt and pepper: Taste as you go because the buffalo sauce and blue cheese already bring saltiness, so you might need less than you'd normally use.
• Large celery stalks (8 pieces): Choose the straightest, crispest stalks you can find because they hold more filling and snap satisfyingly when you bite into them.
• Blue cheese, crumbled (1/3 cup): The tanginess of blue cheese is what makes this whole thing sing, so don't skip it or substitute with anything mild.
• Fresh chives, finely chopped (2 tablespoons, optional): They add a mild onion flavor and a fresh green note that cuts through the richness, making it feel restaurant-quality.

Instructions

Mix Your Buffalo Chicken Base:

Combine shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, mayo, melted butter, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl and stir until the chicken is completely coated and glistening. Taste it and adjust salt and pepper, remembering that blue cheese adds saltiness too.

Prep Your Celery Canvas:

Wash and cut your celery into 3 to 4 inch pieces, then arrange them on whatever you're serving from so they look intentional and delicious. Use a small sharp knife to gently clean out the stringy bits from the hollow if they bother you.

Fill Each Boat Generously:

Spoon or pipe the buffalo chicken mixture into the celery hollow, pressing gently so it fills the space without spilling everywhere. A small spoon works just fine, or if you have a piping bag handy and want to feel fancy, go for it.

Crown With Blue Cheese and Chives:

Sprinkle each boat with a generous pinch of crumbled blue cheese and a scatter of fresh chives if you have them. The blue cheese should be visible and generous enough that people can taste it right away.

Serve or Chill:

These are best eaten within an hour of assembly while the celery stays crisp, but you can refrigerate them for up to two hours if you're prepping ahead. Pull them out just before serving to keep that satisfying crunch intact.

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My mom watched me make these one afternoon and asked why I never made her the fancy appetizers I used to stress over at dinner parties. I pointed at the celery boats and said, "This is fancy now, it just doesn't pretend to be complicated." She laughed and immediately asked if she could bring them to her book club.

Playing With Heat and Flavor

Buffalo sauce is the star here, so if you like things spicier, add a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper to the chicken mixture and taste as you go. I've also experimented with hot sauce mixed into the mayo before combining it with everything else, which gives you heat in a different way that builds as you eat. The beauty of this recipe is that it tolerates playing around, so trust your instincts about what level of spice makes you happy.

Blue Cheese Variations That Still Work

If blue cheese isn't your thing, crumbled feta adds tang without the pungent funk, and it looks equally elegant sprinkled on top. Some people swear by ranch powder mixed with a little mayo and used as a topping instead, which is milder and appeals to people who find blue cheese intimidating. The key is picking something with enough personality to stand up to the spicy chicken, because if your topping is bland, the whole thing flattens.

Make-Ahead and Storage Wisdom

I've learned the hard way that the chicken mixture keeps perfectly in the fridge for three days, so you can make that part ahead and just assemble when you're ready to serve. The celery pieces can be cut and kept in water for a day, which keeps them crisp and ready to fill. Just remember that once assembled, these are best within a couple hours, so think of this as a last-minute assembly situation rather than a true make-ahead dish.

• Store the chicken mixture separately from the celery and toppings so nothing gets soggy.
• If you're transporting these to a party, pack the pieces and filling in separate containers and assemble at the destination for maximum crunch.
• These are excellent for meal prep on a keto plan because you can prepare and eat them throughout the week without worrying about carbs creeping up.

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These little boats have quietly become my go-to when I need something fast that actually tastes like I tried. They prove that keto food doesn't have to be boring or complicated.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I prepare these celery boats ahead of time?

Yes, the chicken mixture can be made in advance and refrigerated. Assemble the celery boats just before serving to keep the celery crisp.

→ What can I use instead of blue cheese?

Feta cheese or a ranch dressing drizzle work well as alternatives, maintaining the tangy contrast.

→ How can I add more heat to this dish?

Adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the chicken mixture enhances the spiciness without overpowering the flavors.

→ Is this suitable for a gluten-free diet?

Yes, all ingredients used are gluten-free, making it a safe option for those avoiding gluten.

→ What tools are needed for preparation?

A mixing bowl, spoon or piping bag, cutting board, and knife are sufficient for easy assembly.