Summer grilling season doesn’t have to stop at burgers and hot dogs.

Kebabs and skewers are one of the easiest ways to add bold flavor, colorful ingredients, and global inspiration to your backyard BBQ menu.

From steak and shrimp to lamb, chicken, pork, and even grilled vegetables, kebabs are quick to prep, easy to customize, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Whether you call them kebabs, kabobs, or skewers, these grilled recipes are a simple way to shake up your summer cookout routine.

Below, we’re sharing our favorite grilling tips, marinade ideas, and summer skewer recipes inspired by flavors from around the world.

Tips for Grilling Better Kebabs and Skewers

To make the best kebabs you can, here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks:

Cut Ingredients to Similar Sizes

Try to keep proteins and vegetables in similar-sized pieces so everything cooks evenly. Dense vegetables like potatoes may need to be parboiled before grilling.

Always Pair Kebabs With a Sauce or Dip

A flavorful dip, glaze, or sauce can completely change the final dish.

• Lemon Pepper Dip & Dressing pairs perfectly with grilled chicken skewers
• Maple Mustard Glaze works beautifully brushed onto pork kebabs
• Curried Fruit Dip adds a fun twist for fruit skewers and summer platters

Meat Isn't Always Required

Vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and fruit all work beautifully on skewers.

Extra-firm tofu, eggplant, pineapple, mushrooms, peaches, and zucchini can all hold up well over high heat. Just remember that fruits and softer vegetables cook much faster than meat.

Brush grilled fruit skewers with a citrus-honey glaze for an easy summer dessert.

Wooden vs. Metal Skewers

Soak Wooden Skewers Before Grilling

Bamboo or wooden skewers are widely available and work great for most home grilling setups. The key is preparation: they must always be soaked in warm water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This helps prevent them from burning or charring too quickly over high heat, and keeps the ingredients from sticking to the skewer.

Wooden skewers also can work great for:

• casual grilling
• smaller kebabs
• one-time use convenience
• oven or broiler cooking

Just keep in mind they can still darken or char slightly at the ends, especially over open flame or high-heat grills.

Pro tip: Marinate proteins separately before skewering for more even flavor coverage.

Metal Skewers Conduct Heat Faster

Metal skewers are reusable and built for heat. Because they conduct heat, they help cook food from the inside out slightly more evenly, especially useful for thicker cuts of meat.

They’re ideal for:

• frequent grillers
• heavier proteins like steak or lamb
• longer cook times
• consistent heat exposure

The biggest thing to remember: metal skewers get extremely hot. Always use tongs or heat-safe gloves when handling them off the grill.

If you’re grilling occasionally or want convenience, wooden skewers work perfectly fine. If you grill kebabs often or want more control and durability, metal skewers are worth having on hand.

Can You Cook Kebabs Without a Grill? Absolutely.

No grill? No problem. Kebabs are one of the most flexible grilling-style meals you can make, and they adapt easily to indoor cooking methods.

Grill Pan or Pan-Fried Kebabs

A stovetop grill pan is another great option when outdoor grilling isn’t possible. Preheat the pan until it’s very hot before adding skewers. This helps you get those signature grill marks and better caramelization.

Cook in batches if needed so you don’t overcrowd the pan, and turn skewers every few minutes for even browning.

Oven-Baked Kebabs

To bake kebabs in the oven, preheat to 425°F and arrange skewers on a foil-lined baking sheet or a wire rack set over a sheet pan. This allows heat to circulate and helps develop better browning.

Bake for about 15–25 minutes depending on protein, turning halfway through. Chicken, steak, shrimp, and vegetable kebabs all work well using this method.

For extra color and char, you can finish them under the broiler for 1–2 minutes at the end—just keep a close eye so they don’t burn.

Oven Shawarma-Style Skewers

If you want to get creative, you can even cook vertically skewered meats in the oven for shawarma-style results. This method works especially well with marinated chicken and is a great way to layer bold flavor.

Best Proteins for Grilled Kebabs

Kebabs are one of the most versatile ways to grill, but the real magic comes from pairing the right protein with the right seasoning, marinade, and cooking method. From pork and lamb to steak, chicken, and shrimp, here are some of our favorite skewer combinations inspired by global flavors and backyard BBQ traditions.

Pork Kebab Recipes

 Pork works beautifully on skewers, especially when you use slightly fattier cuts like pork shoulder or pork loin. It absorbs marinades well and develops great caramelization on the grill. Pork kebabs are especially great for grilling because they hold seasoning well and stay juicy when cooked over medium-high heat.

Pork kebabs shine with:

• smoky spice blends like Longs Peak Pork Chop Spice
• sweet-and-savory glazes like Sweet Jerk Barbecue Sauce
• citrus-based seasonings like Nantucket Herb & Citrus Rub

Middle Eastern Kebab Seasoning was made specifically for kebabs. Try it with our recipe for Grilled Pinchitos, which are Spanish-style kebabs commonly made with pork and paired with mushroom, peppers, zucchini, onion and a citrusy yogurt dipping sauce that balances the smoky, spiced pork.

Lamb Kebab Recipes

Lamb kebabs bring a deeper, richer flavor that pairs naturally with warm spice blends. Cuts like lamb shoulder or leg work best when cut into uniform cubes and marinated to help tenderize the meat.

Lamb pairs especially well with:

• Warm spice blends like Shawarma Seasoning
• garlic and citrus seasonings like Mt. Olympus Greek Seasoning
• yogurt-based sauces for balance like Harissa Yogurt Sauce

Lamb kebabs are common across Middle Eastern and Mediterranean grilling cuisines, and are ideal when you want something more bold and aromatic.

The slight richness of lamb goes especially well with Baharat seasoning, a traditional all-purpose mix blended with warm spice likes paprika, pepper, cloves, and cayenne. It creates a warm, aromatic crust that works perfectly over an open flame.

Try our recipe for Lamb Kebabs with Baharat Glaze for a bold, spice-forward skewer that leans into classic Middle Eastern grilling traditions.

Steak Skewer Recipes

Steak kebabs are all about quick, high-heat cooking and bold seasoning. Choose well-marbled cuts like sirloin, ribeye, or strip steak, and cut them into evenly sized cubes.

For best results:

• keep seasonings simple or boldly spiced (salt-forward rubs work great)
• avoid over-marinating lean cuts (30 minutes to a few hours is good enough)
• cook quickly over medium-high heat for a good sear

Steak kebabs are excellent served with chimichurri-style sauces like both our Chimichurri Churrasco and Chimichurri Rojo Dry Rub. And really, any simple herb blend and olive oil dip with a touch of citrus will do.

Want an easy recipe to grill? Santa Maria Butcher's Rub is a California classic that's traditionally used on tri-tip, making it the perfect seasoning for steak skewers.

Throw some Santa Maria Steak & Potato Skewers on the grill for a skewer version of the classic American steak and potatoes plate. Serve skewers hot or at room temperature. Delicious with a dip on the side, or remove pieces from skewer and toss with a dressing for a new twist on a potato salad.

Chicken Kebab Recipes

Chicken is one of the most popular kebab proteins, but it benefits from a little attention to prevent dryness. Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts and stay juicier over high heat.

For best results:

• cut chicken pieces into 1-1.5 inch chunks
• marinate for at least 30 minutes (or longer, if possible)
• use a yogurt, citrus, or spice-forward marinade for tenderness and flavor

Chicken skewers pair especially well with bright, herb-forward seasonings like Caribbean Green Jerk Seasoning, or bold global blends like Tandoori Masala Seasoning.

Speaking of layers of flavor, our recipe for Herbed Chicken Skewers with Kale Caper Sauce have both an herby spiced marinade and a tangy earthy dipping sauce.

Lemon and other citrus also provides acidity and sweetness to Tandoori Marinated Grilled Chicken & Sauce, which utilizes the marinade to make a tangy yogurt sauce to serve with the chicken after it has been grilled.

Shrimp Skewer Recipes

Shrimp kebabs are fast, flavorful, and perfect for quick grilling. Because shrimp are easy to thread onto skewers and cook only in just a few minutes, they’re ideal for weeknight grilling or last-minute summer meals.

For best results:

• use large or jumbo shrimp
• marinate briefly (15–30 minutes max)
• cook over high heat for just 2–3 minutes per side

Shrimp absorb flavor quickly, so citrus, garlic, chili, and spice blends all work especially well. They soak up marinades even faster, so recipes like Sweet & Spicy Chile Glazed Shrimp with Pineapple Ginger Salsa can be on your table within 20 minutes, from start to finish.

Think outside the box too–even though we call the seasoning Honey Sriracha Lime Fish Tacos, it doubles as a surprisingly delicious shrimp skewer.

Best Vegetables for Kebabs (and How to Grill Them)

Vegetable kebabs are just as exciting as meat-based ones when done right—and they’re a great way to add color, texture, and balance to your grill spread.

Best Vegetables for Skewers

Some of the best vegetables for grilling kebabs include:

• bell peppers
• red onions
• zucchini
• mushrooms (especially cremini or button)
• cherry tomatoes
• pineapple (yes it's a fruit – but delicious if on the grill if you're looking for a sweet-savory contrast)

Grilling Tips for Veggie Kebabs

Vegetables cook at different speeds, so try to group similar textures together on the same skewer. Dense vegetables like onions and peppers hold up well, while softer vegetables like mushrooms and tomatoes cook faster.

For more even cooking:

• cut vegetables into similar sizes
• lightly oil before grilling
• season generously to help build flavor

Flavor Ideas

Veggie kebabs are a great place to experiment with seasoning styles:

• smoky BBQ rubs for classic grilled flavor like Red Rocks Hickory Smoke Seasoning
• Mediterranean herbs and citrus for brightness like Mediterranean Sea Salt
• sweet-spicy glazes for caramelization
• global spice blends for depth and variety like Mexican Street Corn Seasoning

Vegetable skewers can easily stand on their own or serve as a colorful side to grilled meats and seafood.

Fire Up the Grill and Make It Your Own

Kebabs are one of the easiest and most flexible ways to bring bold flavor to the grill. Whether you’re working with steak, chicken, shrimp, pork, lamb, or vegetables, the combination possibilities are endless.

Once you’ve got the basics down, don’t be afraid to experiment with different marinades, spice blends, and global flavor profiles. Mix proteins and vegetables, try new sauces, and adjust heat levels to match your own summer skewer grilling style.

There’s no single “right” way to make a kebab—just great ingredients, high heat, and a little creativity.