Bacon Ranch Stuffed Celery
With the crisp crunch of celery topped with a creamy mix of cheese, ranch, and bacon, these stuffed celery sticks are perfect for snacking or feeding a crowd.
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Table of Contents
- About Bacon Ranch Stuffed Celery
- Can you use precooked bacon?
- Can you use homemade ranch dressing mix?
- Can you use a different type of cheese?
- Should you grate your own cheese?
- Can you make stuffed celery in advance?
- How long is stuffed celery good for?
- Can you freeze stuffed celery?
- How long can you leave out an appetizer?
- Other delicious appetizers
- More recipes with bacon
- How to make bacon ranch stuffed celery
- Recipe Details
About Bacon Ranch Stuffed Celery
Whether you’re craving a crunchy snack or need a dish that’ll easily feed a crowd, these delicious bacon ranch stuffed celery sticks (with sharp cheddar and cream cheese, too!) are the can’t-eat-just-one finger food that you’re needing.
Because not only do they pack some of the best flavors out there with a delicious crunch, but they’re quick to make and can easily be stored in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
You can eat the whole batch in one sitting (no judging!) or slowly graze on them over a couple of days. They’ll be outstandingly tasty either way.
Can you use precooked bacon?
Yes, you can totally use precooked bacon. However, this recipe works best when the bacon is extra crispy, and sometimes precooked bacon can be a little soft. Check the package for microwaving instructions, as this should help zap some crispiness back into the bacon.
Can you use homemade ranch dressing mix?
Yes! In fact, I make my own ranch dressing mix that I like to use in recipes like this.
It takes two tablespoons of ranch seasoning to equal one standard ranch dressing package.
Can you use a different type of cheese?
This recipe calls for using sharp cheddar cheese, but if that’s not your favorite, feel free to experiment with different types like white cheddar, mozzarella, Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, or Colby Jack.
Should you grate your own cheese?
We all know how convenient buying a bag of shredded cheese is, but that convenience comes with a cost: the cheese is coated in some preservatives (such as potato starch) that help keep it separated in the bag. And while this is great for grabbing a quick pinch of what you need, it’s also what causes melted cheese to appear lumpy or harden as it cools much faster than it should. It will also give the cheese a “firmer” feel.
So if you’re a cheese lover like me and what the softest, most flavorful cheese in your recipes, I highly recommend grating a block of cheese. I know it’s more work, but the end result will more than make up for it.
Can you make stuffed celery in advance?
Yes! These little snacks are perfect for making in advance.
To keep a good presentation, you can make them up to 48 hours in advance.
How long is stuffed celery good for?
Once prepared, stuffed bacon ranch stuffed celery can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four to five days.
Can you freeze stuffed celery?
Bad news here, guys. Due to celery’s tendency to become soft during the freezing and thawing process, I can’t recommend freezing stuffed celery. The taste will be the same but the delicious crispness you’d normally expect from uncooked celery will no longer be there, and that change may be offputting to some.
For best results, try to enjoy the prepared stuffed celery while it’s still fresh.
How long can you leave out an appetizer?
This is one of my least asked questions but it’s also one of the things I see other party hosts not keeping a close enough eye on. Because whenever you serve a dip for your guests to enjoy, you should always keep track of how long it sits at room temperature.
For most foods, the general rule of thumb is that a perishable item should not be in the “danger zone” for more than two hours. And by “danger zone”, this is usually at or just above room temperature.
So if you were to make these stuffed celery sticks and immediately served them, you would have about two hours to leave them out for your guests. If you made them in advance and served them straight from the refrigerator, you could add about 30 minutes to that time.
As the party goes on, you can return the stuffed celery to the refrigerator once you get past the two-hour mark. If there are still more celery sticks for your guests to enjoy, let them chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before bringing them back out again.
Other delicious appetizers
More recipes with bacon
How to make bacon ranch stuffed celery
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – Using either a stand mixer, hand mixer, or just a bowl and a spatula, mix together the bacon, cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, dry ranch dressing mix, and scallions until ingredients are incorporated and creamy.
Step 2 – Using a butter knife, scoop up the bacon ranch filling and spread it into the natural groove of the celery sticks.
Step 3 – Serve and enjoy!
Bacon Ranch Stuffed Celery
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 7 slices)
- 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 8 large celery stalks, washed and dried, cut into fourths
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer + medium bowl), mix cream cheese, bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, dry ranch seasoning mix, and scallions until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.1/2 pound bacon, 8 ounce cream cheese, 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix, 2 scallions
- Using a butter knife, spread the bacon ranch filling in the natural groove of the celery pieces. Repeat this step until all filling is used.8 large celery stalks
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
