Best Celery Substitutes - Complete Guide

Celery is a great food and it’s good for you too, but some people aren’t fans of it. Also, it can be difficult to keep celery on hand if you don’t eat much, because it spoils quickly when it’s in the fridge.

If you’ve been craving a recipe that calls for celery and you don’t have it, you don’t have to skip the recipe. For anything from chicken salad to soups and stews, there are plenty of swap options to choose from.

While celery can certainly be a healthy supplement, it’s not for everyone, and there may be a reason you might try to avoid it, too.

So what are the best celery substitutes? There are many options that can substitute for celery. The best substitutes for celery are green bell pepper, water nuts, jicama, cabbage, green apple, carrot, bok choy, and cucumber. Keep texture, crunch, and flavor in mind when selecting the right substitute in your recipe.

In this guide, we will share with you the best celery substitutes. We have some really great options, including substitutes for things like soup or perhaps something that should have a crunch to it, like chicken salad.

No matter why you need an alternative, we’ve got you covered!

Read on for the best celery substitutes and much more.

How to choose a celery substitute

Before you rush out and grab the first substitution option on the list, keep in mind that certain items may be better substitutes for certain recipes.

For example, if you rely on celery or its substitute to give your dish a nice crunch, you need an option that’s going to crunch like celery does.

The good news is that celery doesn’t have much flavor on its own, so you can usually choose from a variety of decent ingredients to make that substitute.

Sometimes you can even skip it entirely and your dish will be fine without it.

Crunchy

The first thing to consider is whether your substitute should offer the crunch that celery has.

There are some dishes, like tuna salad and chicken salad, that add celery specifically for that crunchiness.

If it’s crunch you’re after, you’ve got a pretty open list of substitutes. You can use another vegetable like cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, or even cauliflower if you like.

Of course, you can also switch it up and use something else like apple, radish, walnuts or even water chestnuts.

It really depends on your preferences, but the goal is to replace the crunch with something else that gives you a similar crunch.

color on your plate

If celery is used primarily to add some color to a dish, then you can omit it entirely.

Otherwise, you just need something that also adds some color without drastically taking away or changing the flavor.

If you think about what dishes could use celery for color, things like salads and stir-fries, or even soups, are probably the standouts.

There is some versatility here in terms of what you can use as a substitute.

flavor or texture

Another common use for celery is to add some flavor or add some texture to a dish. This category mostly refers to things like soups, stews, and even some sauces.

It can be more difficult to find a replacement, but there are options that work very well and we’ll share some of them here in a bit.

Seasoning

If the celery in your dish is used as a seasoning, this is the most difficult substitute to come by. Some people use things like celery seed or celery salt, but they don’t work for everyone.

Luckily, there are some reliable substitutes you can turn to. You may find that parsley or even lemon can do what you need.

Are there allergies to celery?

There could be any number of reasons why you can’t or don’t want to use celery. Sometimes it can come down to an allergy or maybe just an aversion to celery.

There are many people who have allergies or food sensitivities directly related to celery. 

Also, there are people who have found that their bodies just don’t tolerate celery well. Perhaps it is digestive problems or some other source of discomfort when celery is consumed.

There are some countries that require growers to clearly label when celery is part of the ingredient list, much like what you see when there are nuts.

In the US this labeling is not required, but in Europe it is.

The best celery substitution options

There are several things to keep in mind when looking for a suitable celery substitute. It is not just about finding something similar, but about substituting that ingredient in what you are preparing.

This guide will be slightly different than some of our guides. We’re going to break it down by category and explain some of our picks to give you different options.

Substitutes for Celery in Soup or Stew

If you’re making a nice soup or stew, you have options. You can resort to another similar vegetable or change it completely.

Here are a few that we think work well.

Bok Choi

Bok choy is sometimes harder to find, but if you do get it, it can be perfect for things like a soup or stew. Bok choy is a lot like cabbage, but it tends to be crunchier.

If you want to make a close comparison, they look and feel very similar to romaine lettuce.

Bok choy is part of the turnip family, which includes things like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.

It has a fresh flavor and an intense crunch. It’s not excessive in any way, so it can be a great addition to soups and stews instead of celery.

Plus, this crunchy substitute has great health benefits. It is rich in things like iron, potassium, calcium, and also vitamins A, C, and K.

Bok choy works well raw or cooked as a substitute. 

carrots

Carrots are great because they are crunchy and many people love them. In fact, if you make a soup or stew, you may already be using carrots in it.

You can add a little more or just omit the celery because you already have the crunch.

We love carrots because they have a light, refreshing flavor, add some color to your soup and stew dishes, and have that reliable crunch that celery also provides.

Carrots often have a hint of sweetness, especially if you add more to replace the celery, so you may need to season more to tone down that flavor.

Carrots soften when cooked, but are still crunchy and can be used as a substitute in both hot and cold dishes.

water chestnuts

If you’re looking for something that will keep that crunchy effect in your soup or stew, even when cooked, water chestnuts are perfect.

They can be found quite easily, but you may have to buy a canned variety if your local store doesn’t carry them fresh.

They offer a similar crunch and don’t have much flavor, making them one of the best substitutes for celery in a soup or stew.

jicama

Jicama is another really great option for a soup or stew. This vegetable looks a lot like a potato when it’s whole, but it tastes very different.

Jicama is known for having a light, refreshing flavor that will never overpower any dish you use it in.

It can be slightly sweet, or even a little on the nutty side, so you may need to adjust the seasoning slightly.

However, that slightly sweet and nutty flavor can really complement your soup or stew.

If you’re looking for crunch and light flavor, don’t overlook the jicama.

Green apple

Green apple is one option you’ll see for salads as well, but you may be surprised to find that it also makes a good substitute in soups and stews.

You wouldn’t necessarily associate it with something you would cook, but it might surprise you.

You have to be careful how much green apple you add to a soup or stew, because it tends to taste sour.

However, its flavor is light and in the end it can add something else to your stew.

celery seeds

If you want to mimic the flavor more and aren’t as concerned with crunch, you can use a substitute like celery seed in your soup or stew.

These seeds give you all the flavor of celery, but none of the texture or crunch sometimes used for celery.

You can even decide to use a substitute with a crunch but then add celery seed to help accommodate flavor preferences as well.

Other substitutes for soup or stew

Lastly, here is a pretty good list that you can use as a reference that has plenty of soup or stew substitute options to consider.

• White or yellow onion
• chives
• fennel stalks
• shallots
• carrots
• Garlic
• Chive
• leeks
• Green peppers (usually bell peppers)

Substitute for celery in chicken salad, tuna salad, and other salads

When you’re making something cold and hoping to substitute the crunch for your salad addition, there are a number of suitable celery substitutes you can choose from.

You’ll see some substitutes fall into multiple categories, but we want to make sure you know where they may or may not work as well.

Green apples

We said before that you would see this one again. You can use a green apple as a substitute for celery and it’s great for any type of salad, from chicken salad to garden salads.

Its tangy flavor adds a kick to any of these dishes plus it has a nice crunch to it.

Just remove the stem and seeds and cut it into bite-sized pieces into your salad.

Green apple is a popular addition, especially to things like chicken salad, and you’ll love the taste!

Cucumber

In things like salad, another cool vegetable that offers crunch and a good texture or flavor to the mix is cucumber.

They have a light flavor and are totally refreshing. They’re great for cold dishes, so you can dice them and use them for your chicken or tuna salad, or you can just slice them and toss them in your garden salad.

Although the cucumber doesn’t taste like celery, it does give you that crunch and doesn’t have an overpowering flavor to put you off.

Green peppers

Green bell peppers are the perfect substitute for celery in salads. They are more flavorful and sometimes even a bit spicy, but the flavor really sharpens the dish in the end.

You can use diced or chopped bell peppers in any type of salad, from chicken salad to garden salad.

You’ll get a flavor that blends perfectly into your dish and possibly even enhances it, and you’ll also get that satisfying crunch and texture that celery often adds.

Additional Substitutes for Salads

Although these are our favorites, there are some crossovers and some additional options that can be a great substitute for celery in any type of salad.

Try one or all of these options.

1. carrots
2. jicama
3. Chopped nuts
4. Cauliflower
5. Kale
6. Cabbage
7. Lettuce
8. water chestnuts
9. sunflower seeds
10. Brussels sprouts
11. Broccoli

Now, the following sections break down the suitable substitutes for the different uses of celery.

Celery substitutes when you need a touch of crunch

What you’ll find is that you can usually substitute almost any other vegetable that offers crunch and works quite well for celery.

Here are some of our top picks for dishes that need a little crunch.

1. 1. Cauliflower
   2. carrots

1. jicama
2. water chestnuts
3. radishes
4. cucumbers
5. apples
6. Kale
7. Kale
8. cabbage or lettuce

Celery Substitutes When You Need Flavor or Texture

If you’re looking for something other than celery that gives you a good flavor but also has a celery-like texture, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some of our top picks.

1. leeks
2. Onions
3. fennel stalks
4. Peppers
5. other green peppers
6. shallots
7. Garlic
8. carrots
9. chives
10. chives

Celery Substitutes When You Need Color

Sometimes celery is added simply for the color of the dish, as we’ve discussed earlier in this guide.

Here are some great options to try if you need green on your plate.

1. bok choi
2. Asparagus
3. Broccoli
4. Lettuce
5. Cabbage
6. Spinach
7. Okra
8. Brussels sprouts
9. Kale
10. Green beans (fresh)
11. arugula

Celery Substitutes When You Need Flavor

While celery isn’t typically known for its tremendous flavor boost, it does pack flavor, especially when cooked on a plate.

If you need to flavor your dish but need something other than celery, you may want to consider one of these options.

1. celery salt
2. celery seeds
3. Garlic
4. Cilantro
5. Parsley
6. Peppers
7. Cayenne pepper
8. Lemon
9. dill seeds
10. caraway seeds

Conclution

If you can’t or don’t want to eat celery for whatever reason, your plate doesn’t have to suffer.

Regardless of what you need celery for in a recipe, you can easily find a substitute that replaces the color, texture, flavor, or even crunch that celery is often used for. 

We hope this guide provides you with a valuable resource in doing so.