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Celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese, bacon, herbs, and cheddar cheese are outrageously good! Served as an appetizer or snack, this is a recipe that’s sure to become a favorite at parties, cookouts, and family gatherings and a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
My easy-to-make appetizer recipes like stuffed celery, Million Dollar Dip, and Layered Shrimp Dip make entertaining family and friends fun and effortless.
It’s Friday, and that means one thing around here…it’s time to chill out. It’s become a tradition here in the Southern Soul house that on Friday afternoons, we kick back, enjoy a cold beverage, and munch on something yummy.
Over the years, I’ve built a list of easy-to-make appetizers that are ideal for making life easy in the kitchen and casual entertaining a breeze. Now, we fondly call these dishes:
Finger Food Friday Recipes
- Easy Stuffed Mushrooms
- Crescent Roll Pigs In A Blanket
- Lemon Garlic Baked Chicken Wings
- Dill Pickle Herb Dip
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Ingredients Needed For This Recipe
One of the most simple yet outrageously good snacks I make is this stuffed celery recipe. I always have the ingredients in my fridge, and the recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes.
- Celery
- Cream Cheese
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Cooked Crumbled Bacon
- Fresh Chopped Chives
- Fresh Chopped Parsley
- Salt And Pepper
- Hot Sauce
Scroll Down For Measurements
Can Stuffed Celery Be Made Ahead Of Time?
Yes, it sure can! You can make the cream cheese stuffing mixture, prep the celery, and store them separately. Store in individual containers, when you are ready to serve, fill the celery with the mixture.
Want to make and serve in just a few hours? No problem. Since celery is such a sturdy vegetable, you can completely make the celery with cream cheese a couple of hours prior to serving and store it in the refrigerator.
How To Make Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery
- Cut celery stalks in half and set aside.
- Using a food processor or hand-held mixer, whip the cream cheese until smooth. Add in bacon, cheese, parsley, chives, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Pulse or blend until all ingredients are combined.
- Using a small spoon, fill the celery “boat” with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with additional chives and bacon if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Substitutions For Stuffed Celery
Looking for more ideas on what to stuff celery with? The options are just about endless! From healthy celery snacks, keto celery snacks, and kid-friendly celery sticks, here are some of my favorite toppings:
- Fill with cream cheese and olives or homemade pimento cheese.
- Kids love celery stuffed with peanut butter and then dotted with raisins or craisins.
- For a festive twist, fill with cream cheese and top with cranberry sauce and chopped nuts.
- Add dried Italian dressing and mozzarella or feta cheese for Italian or Mediterranean flavors.
What To Serve With The Best Stuffed Celery
This simple, flavor-loaded appetizer is a staple any time I entertain. I love serving it with Strawberry Margaritas and Sweet Heat Pickles during the warm spring and summer months. For game day and tailgating, these cool celery sticks are a must with Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip.
Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery is a pretty addition to any holiday appetizer tray. When you serve these yummy cool sticks alongside Creamy Crab Dip and Bourbon Meatballs, you’ve got the beginnings of a fabulous party.
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut celery stalks in half and set aside. Using a food processor or hand held mixer, whip the cream cheese until smooth. Add in bacon, cheese, parsley, chives, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Pulse or blend until all ingredients are combined.
- Using a small spoon, fill the celery “boat” with cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with addition chives and bacon if desired. Serve immediately!
Video
Notes
- You can make the cream cheese stuffing mixture, prep the celery, and store them separately. Store in individual containers, when you are ready to serve, fill the celery with the mixture.
- Want to make and serve in just a few hours? No problem. Since celery is such a sturdy vegetable, you can completely make the celery with cream cheese a couple of hours prior to serving and store it in the refrigerator.
Excellent alternative for celery and other veggies. I won’t add any extra salt next time tho. Between all the cheese and bacon, there’s already enough. It was too salty so I tried to add another 8 oz of cream cheese to tame it.
This receipe sounds really tasty. My receipe is almost like yours, except I use 1 8 oz cream cheese, 1 can of tiny shrimp, n milk. Mix cream cheese, and milk ( a little at a time). Mix until you get the consistency to your liking. Then open the can of shrimp, drain all the water out and put shrimp in the mixture. Stir and fill into cut and cleaned celery.
Refrigerate until ready to serve
This is EXCELLENT! I,ll make it tomorow, can not wait! Thank you!
Thanks Miska! And I so appreciate the terrific rating.
~Donya
Wonderful addition to any meal…so good!
Re: “serve immediately” — If I make these the night before and cover with plastic wrap, will they keep freshly?
Yep! They will be great.
Happy Easter!
~Donya
Grew up with celery sticks but with cream cheese only. Cannot wait to make them and share with my family.
Omgosh! This looks so delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks! Love this.
These look so delicious! Gonna have to try them soon.
Can you make this with goat cheese?
Sure
~Donya
This would put plain cream cheese out of business!! Fabulous! Thank you
I have dietary restrictions due to health issues. I had to use dairy free cheese, and the cream cheese was only 7.1 oz. I didn’t have the herbs, and I used a little dried cilantro. Anyway, they were delicious, and there was enough filling for more celery sticks than it lists. Very easy to make. This one’s going to become a regular for me.
Looks great! Leave bacon on the side to be added if guests want it.
Great combinations of flavors, easy to make ahead and something different. I highly recommend!
Thanks!
So flavorful! Loved these. They were a huge hit at my Christmas party. Will definitely make again.
Quick and soooooo good!
How do you prepare and store your celery ahead of time. I want to get some ready for Christmas!
Wash, cut, and store in a zip-top or airtight container
Merry Christmas!
~Donya
And maybe use a peeler to get the celery ribs off…
Making these for our family Christmas party on Sat. I know they will be delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe
Can you make ahead
Yep – turns out great.
~Donya
I haven’t made these yet but they sound so good.
Thanks and I appreciate the great rating!
~Donya
Outrageously good, all right!! Thought that even before I got it on the celery!! Thank you for another keeper, Donya. Blessings 🌿
Hey there Jackie!
I am so happy to hear that the recipe lived up to it’s name, I completely agree with you, it’s an outrageously good appetizer! Thank you so much for your kind words and this phenomenal rating, I hope you have a wonderful Easter!
~Donya
I’ve made this just as a dip for celery and carrots, so good!
Hey there Jackie!
I like the way you think! While this recipe is terrific for stuffing celery, it would definitely make a delicious dip! Thank you so much for your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to reach out!
~Donya
Good gosh………people ask if the bacon should be cooked?????
isn’t that incredible that people are asking that????
Makes you wonder if they should be in the kitchen.
No, let’s all eat raw bacon !!!!!!!!!!!
As a matter of fact I happen to love raw bacon .
I added 1 large chopped Jalapeno. I cleaned and soaked the pepper in 7-Up ( not diet) for 15 min to take a little heat out. If you want to remove all the heat soak for about 40 min. Please don’t drink the 7-Up afterwards. haha
Hey there!
Wow! That sounds like such a fun twist to put on this recipe, I bet the jalapeños added a nice spicy kick. I’ve never heard of that trick with jalapeños, soaking them in soda to remove the heat, but I need to try it that sounds like a great idea! Thank you so much for your phenomenal rating and your support, I hope you have a great day!
~Donya
the reicpe sounds great i haven’t made it yet.
Look and sound delicious, but it doesn’t say to cook the bacon.
Hey Cindy.
Yep, cook the bacon. You should be good to go!
~Donya
I have finally found a website that I can relate to! You make recipes that remind me of Mom………DELICIOUS !! Can’t wait for the next one. Thank you so very much for these.
Thank you Susan! I’m honored.
Thank you too, for the great rating.
Have a wonderful day,
~Donya
Do you fry the chopped bacon before adding it to the mix?
Yes, fry the bacon.
Enjoy,
~Donya
This sounds great! I always loved the pineapple cheese stuff my grandparents got in a jar and they put in celery. Can’t find that anymore.
I remember that “stuff” too! You are going to love this recipe. Enjoy, Catherine!
Have a great day,
~Donya
Celery stuffed with pimiento cheese always graced my mother’s relish tray on special occasions. We enjoyed its crisp, refreshing crunch. Thanks for bringing that memory into focus, Donya!
I love that too, Karen! Look for that recipe on A Southern Soul this summer.
Have a great day!
Donya, Thanks so much for your recipes. I lived in Tennessee for years and miss the Southern Soul-love. Living a low-carb life, this cream cheese concoction is perfect for filling celery, peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber boats and even lettuce or sliced ham roll-ups! Mexican spices like cumin could add
another dimension. Also, for baked potato, steamed / boiled cauliflower or broccoli toppings!
Ruthie, you have made my day.
Thank you for your sweet words. I’m so glad you found A Southern Soul.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Can these be stored in a containtin the fridge for the next day as some may not be eaten?
Hey Wendy! Yes, you can store them in the fridge. I’d only let 24 hours go by though. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Happy Easter!