15 Ways To Use Celery That Will Make You Actually Like It
I used to stare at celery in my fridge with absolute dread. To me, it was the poster child of boring diet food, stringy, watery, and barely worth chewing.
It felt like nature’s way of saying, “Here’s some crunchy water with strings attached!” But everything changed when I started exploring creative, flavorful ways to use this underrated vegetable.
From sautéing it into savory soups and stir-fries to blending it into refreshing green juices, celery has gone from afterthought to MVP in my kitchen. Now, it’s my secret weapon, adding crunch, depth, and surprising flavor to meals I genuinely enjoy.
1. Savory Cream Cheese Boats
Forget boring celery sticks! I transform these crunchy vessels into flavor-packed appetizers that disappear at parties faster than I can make them. The natural curve creates the perfect edible container.
My favorite combination mixes cream cheese with everything bagel seasoning and a drizzle of hot honey. The contrast between cool, creamy filling and the refreshing snap of celery creates a perfect bite.
Pro tip: prep these boats ahead and store them covered in the refrigerator for up to two days. The celery actually stays crisper when filled than when stored empty!
2. Braised Celery Side Dish
Would you believe celery could be the star of your dinner table? I certainly didn’t until I tried braising it. This cooking method transforms those crunchy stalks into tender, flavorful morsels that melt in your mouth.
Simply sauté celery pieces in butter until slightly golden, then add chicken broth, and herbs. Cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.
The celery absorbs all those savory flavors while maintaining just enough texture. Even my vegetable-avoiding nephew asks for seconds when I serve this unexpectedly delicious side dish!
3. Celery Leaf Pesto
Those feathery celery leaves gathering dust in your produce drawer? They’re flavor gold! I was tossing them away for years before discovering they make incredible pesto.
Blend the leaves with garlic, parmesan, pine nuts, and olive oil for a bright, herbaceous sauce that’s amazing on pasta or spread on crusty bread. The leaves have a more intense flavor than the stalks, slightly peppery with wonderful aromatic qualities.
My dinner guests always ask about the ‘mystery ingredient’ in my pesto. Their shocked faces when I reveal it’s celery leaves make this recipe even more satisfying!
4. Quick-Pickled Celery Sticks
Tangy, crunchy, and addictively good, quick-pickled celery completely transformed my sandwich game. The pickling process maintains celery’s signature crunch while infusing it with vibrant flavors that wake up your taste buds.
I combine rice vinegar, a touch of honey, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes in a jar with celery sticks. After just 30 minutes in the refrigerator, they’re ready to enjoy!
These pickled sticks add zip to tuna salad sandwiches and make unexpected garnishes for drinks. Once you try them, store-bought pickles will seem boring by comparison.
5. Celery Root Mash
Celery root, that gnarly, ugly vegetable hiding near the turnips, makes the silkiest, most aromatic mash you’ve ever tasted! I discovered this by accident when potato prices skyrocketed last winter.
Peel and cube the root, then boil until fork-tender. Drain well and mash with butter, cream, and a pinch of nutmeg. The result has a subtle celery flavor with a velvety texture that’s lighter than potatoes.
My husband now requests this instead of mashed potatoes with Sunday roasts. Who knew that homely root vegetable would become our favorite comfort food side dish?
6. Revitalizing Celery Juice
Morning headaches used to be my unwelcome alarm clock until I started juicing celery. The transformation was so dramatic that I now keep a dedicated juicer just for my daily celery ritual.
Fresh celery juice on an empty stomach delivers pure hydration with minerals that seem to reset my system. The taste is milder than you’d expect, slightly salty and refreshing rather than overwhelmingly ‘celery-ish.’
For beginners, try mixing celery with green apple and lemon. As you adjust to the flavor, gradually reduce the fruit until you’re enjoying pure celery juice. Your body will thank you!
7. Celery Soup with Crispy Toppings
Velvety, sophisticated, and surprisingly luxurious, celery soup changed my opinion about this vegetable forever. The transformation from stringy stalks to silky soup is nothing short of magical.
Sauté celery with onions until soft, add potato for body, then simmer in broth until tender. Blend until smooth, then finish with a touch of cream. The flavor is delicate yet complex, herbaceous with subtle earthy notes.
The real game-changer is the toppings: crispy bacon bits, celery leaf oil, or toasted hazelnuts add texture and make each spoonful an adventure. This elegant soup has become my go-to first course for dinner parties.
8. Buffalo Celery Sticks
Buffalo wings need celery on the side, but what if celery became the star? That’s exactly what happened when I created these addictive buffalo celery sticks during a late-night snack emergency.
Trim celery into 3-inch pieces, then slather with a mixture of cream cheese, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce. Top with more buffalo sauce and blue cheese crumbles. The cool, crunchy celery perfectly balances the spicy, tangy buffalo flavors.
These have become my guilt-free game day snack, all the flavor of buffalo wings with a fraction of the calories! Even my wing-obsessed brother-in-law reaches for these first at family gatherings.
9. Celery Salt for Seasoning
Making homemade celery salt revolutionized my cooking. Those leftover celery leaves and stalks transform into a flavor-packed seasoning that makes everything taste better!
Dry celery leaves and stalks in a low oven until completely crisp, then grind to a powder. Mix with equal parts sea salt for an aromatic seasoning that elevates eggs, roasted vegetables, and popcorn to new heights.
My signature batch includes a hint of lemon zest and black pepper. This homemade version contains more natural celery flavor than store-bought versions and costs practically nothing to make. I’ll never throw away celery scraps again!
10. Grilled Celery Spears
Grilling completely transforms celery’s flavor profile! The high heat caramelizes the natural sugars, creating smoky, sweet notes you’d never expect from this humble vegetable.
Brush whole celery spears with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then grill for 3-4 minutes per side until marked and slightly tender. The stalks maintain their crunch while developing complex, roasted flavors.
I serve these as unexpected side dishes with steaks or as part of an antipasto platter. The charred edges and smoky aroma make guests do a double-take, ‘Is that celery?’ Yes, and it’s absolutely delicious!
11. Celery Risotto
Celery risotto sounds bizarre until you taste it, then it becomes a revelation! The vegetable’s natural salinity and herbaceous notes create a sophisticated dish that feels like it came from a high-end Italian restaurant.
Finely dice celery and sauté until translucent before adding arborio rice. The slow addition of warm broth brings out celery’s subtle flavors while creating that perfect creamy rice texture.
Finish with butter, parmesan, and celery leaves for garnish. This unexpected risotto has become my signature dish for impressing dinner guests. The subtle flavor allows the creamy, comforting qualities of risotto to shine while adding a fresh dimension.
12. Celery Waldorf Wraps
Reimagining the classic Waldorf salad as a wrap completely changed my lunch routine! The combination of crunchy celery, sweet grapes, tart apples, and walnuts creates perfect flavor harmony.
Dice celery, apples, and grapes, then toss with chicken, walnuts, and a light yogurt dressing. Wrap in lettuce leaves for a refreshing, protein-packed meal that won’t weigh you down.
These wraps stay crisp for hours, making them perfect for meal prep. I make a batch on Sunday for grab-and-go lunches throughout the week. The celery provides essential crunch that keeps the texture interesting even after refrigeration.
13. Celery Root Fries
Move over, potatoes, celery root makes incredible fries that might just be better than the original! With a fraction of the carbs but all the satisfaction, these crispy treats changed my snack game forever.
Cut peeled celery root into fry shapes, toss with olive oil and seasonings, then bake until golden and crisp. The flavor is nutty and complex, like a sophisticated version of a french fry with subtle celery undertones.
My favorite seasoning blend includes smoked paprika, garlic powder, and rosemary. Serve with aioli for dipping, and watch even dedicated french fry fans convert to team celery root!
14. Celery Slaw
Coleslaw got a vibrant makeover when I swapped cabbage for thinly sliced celery! This refreshing side dish brings crunch, color, and zippy flavor to everything from pulled pork sandwiches to fish tacos.
Slice celery on a mandoline for paper-thin pieces, then toss with julienned apples, shredded carrots, and a light vinaigrette. The celery maintains its crispness even after dressing, unlike cabbage that can quickly become soggy.
The bright, clean flavors cut through rich dishes perfectly. My summer barbecues weren’t complete until I started serving this alongside smoked meats, the contrast makes both elements shine!
15. Celery Compound Butter
Compound butter sounds fancy, but it’s just butter with delicious things mixed in, and celery creates a version that will revolutionize your bread basket! The subtle herbaceous notes infuse the butter with unexpected depth.
Finely mince celery and its leaves, then mix with softened butter, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Roll into a log using parchment paper and refrigerate until firm.
Sliced onto hot corn on the cob, melted over grilled fish, or simply spread on crusty bread, this butter elevates everything it touches. Guests always ask for the recipe, amazed when they learn the secret ingredient is humble celery!