diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
index 2ce697677..9e16919ed 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
@@ -274,6 +274,10 @@ if CELERY_BROKER_URL == 'django://':
     CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND = 'redis://'
 else:
     CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND = CELERY_BROKER_URL
+# default to json serialization only
+CELERY_ACCEPT_CONTENT = ['json']
+CELERY_TASK_SERIALIZER = 'json'
+CELERY_RESULT_SERIALIZER = 'json'
 ########## END CELERY
 {% endif %}