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Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery

Crisp celery filled with cream cheese, bacon, and herbs makes an easy, make-ahead appetizer that’s perfect for holidays, parties, or snacking.
4.90 from 55 reviews

5-Star Reader Comment

Outrageously good, all right!! Thought that even before I got it on the celery!! Thank you for another keeper, Donya. Blessings!

Jackie B,
Overhead view of celery sticks stuffed with a creamy cheese mixture, topped with crumbled bacon and chives, arranged on a wooden serving board with bowls of extra toppings nearby.
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Donya’s #1 Tip: Make Them Ahead!

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.

Two-step collage showing how to make stuffed celery. Left image: mixing bowl with cream cheese, shredded cheddar, chopped bacon, and herbs. Right image: fresh celery sticks laid out on a wooden board with small bowls of toppings on the side.

Ingredients Needed For This Recipe

  • Celery – Crisp, sturdy, and perfect for holding the creamy filling.
  • Cream Cheese – Softened for easy mixing; it’s the base of the filling.
  • Cheddar Cheese – Shredded sharp cheddar adds flavor and a little tang.
  • Bacon – Cooked and crumbled for smoky, salty crunch.
  • Fresh Herbs – Chives and parsley bring color and brightness.
  • Seasoning – A touch of salt, black pepper, and a few dashes of hot sauce for just the right kick.

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:

  • Classic Southern Twist: Swap in homemade pimento cheese.
  • Kid-Friendly: Fill celery with peanut butter and dot with raisins.
  • Holiday Version: Add cranberry sauce and Southern candied pecans.
  • Mediterranean Style: Mix cream cheese with feta, olives, and a sprinkle of Italian herbs.
Overhead view of stuffed celery ingredients: fresh celery stalks, cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, fresh chives, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, and a bottle of hot sauce arranged on a marble surface.

How To Make Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery

  • Wash and dry your celery, then cut it into sticks.
  • In a bowl or food processor, whip the cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add in bacon, cheddar, parsley, chives, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Blend until everything’s well combined.
  • Spoon the mixture into celery sticks, sprinkle with a little extra bacon or herbs, and serve.
Overhead view of celery sticks stuffed with a creamy cheese mixture, topped with crumbled bacon and chives, arranged on a wooden serving board with bowls of extra toppings nearby.

Craving More? Try These Appetizer Recipes

Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery

4.90 from 55 reviews
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 98kcal
Print Pin Rate
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.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 – 5 stalks celery – washed and dried
  • 1 8 oz cream cheese – softened
  • ¼ cup bacon – cooked and chopped
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese – grated
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley – chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives – chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
  • 3 dashes hot sauce

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

To Make Ahead: Mix the filling and prep the celery up to 2 days ahead, storing separately. For short-term, fill celery a few hours before serving and refrigerate.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal · Carbohydrates: 2g · Protein: 6g · Fat: 7g · Saturated Fat: 4g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2g · Trans Fat: 0.01g · Cholesterol: 21mg · Sodium: 392mg · Potassium: 160mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 1g · Vitamin A: 445IU · Vitamin C: 3mg · Calcium: 120mg · Iron: 0.3mg

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.


If you tried this Stuffed Celery Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!

Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon and her stuffed celery sticks.
Celery 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, BBQs and family gatherings.
Gravy being poured on turkey

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Recipe Rating




66 Comments

    1. That makes me so happy to hear! I’ve always got more coming, so stay tuned for your next favorite dish.
      ~Donya

  1. 5 stars
    Just like what we made in the early 1950s 😎 We added a sliced permento olive to the top for color and taste. Thanks Jerry

    1. Jerry, I love this! What a wonderful memory — and the pimento olive on top sounds like the perfect touch of color and flavor. Thank you for sharing that special detail from the 1950s version… now I’m tempted to try it your way next time! ~Donya

  2. 5 stars
    Love these, My Mom made these back in the 60’s for holidays. She made hers with pimento cheese and/or pineapple cream cheese and added to veggie tray. Sooo Good!
    I print out a lot of your recipes and you alsohave a lot of great ideas and substitution. Could you add them to the bottom of your printed base recipe? It would be great. Your added ideas for the stuffed celery would be so yummy and refreshing to add.
    Thank for all the DELICIOUS Marvelous recipes.
    Cookee

  3. 5 stars
    Just made this for Super Bowl today…it’s not going to make it to game time! It’s so yummy! It has a nice combination of flavors. It’ll be good in celery but also on crackers or spread on tortillas to make little sliced rolls. Yummy!!

  4. 5 stars
    I made the chili and I must say it is better than any I’ve made. I get plenty of compliments from my old family one. But this is now my favorite. 😋

  5. I made this a week or so ago and loved it, but had quite a lot left over. Last night I had a few boneless chicken breasts I wanted to do something with so I placed the chicken in a baking pan and crumbled what was left of the filling over the chicken and baked them for about 40-50 minutes at 350. They were delicious and full of flavor.

  6. 4 stars
    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.

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