Dinner on a stick—that’s skewers and kabobs.
They’re a time-honored tradition when summer hits.
Not only are skewers and kabobs delicious, allowing the flavors of chunks of meat and veggies to intermingle on the grill, but they’re also fun to prep. Kids can even get in on the fun.
The key to making the most of skewers and kabobs? It’s simple: Experiment with ingredients, try something new, and don’t forget to have fun.
Some quick tips for skewers and kabobs:
If using wood skewers, be sure to soak them for about half an hour before grilling. This prevents the skewer from catching fire on a hot grill.
Speaking of hot grills, skewers and kabobs are cooked over screaming-hot heat. Choose cuts and veggies that lend themselves to hot-and-fast cooking: Steak, chicken, smoked sausage, and shrimp are kabob-friendly meats, and onions, peppers, and cherry tomatoes are famously delicious on a stick.
Prep meat and veggie chunks to cook at the same rate. The best way to do this is to cube ingredients to equal size. For veggies like onions and peppers that might take a bit longer to cook through, pre-cook them on the grill before adding meat (especially shrimp, which cooks on a hot grill in the blink of an eye).
Our Most Popular Easy Kabob and Skewers Recipes
Seared Shrimp & Sausage Skewers
FULL RECIPE: Seared Shrimp & Sausage Skewers
Smoked Pork Belly & Pineapple Skewers
Need to pull together a dish for a party but don’t have a ton of time to spend in the kitchen? We nominate these skewers of pork belly and pineapple to come to your rescue. Not only do they look amazing served up family-style on the patio, but the flavors from hickory wood, slow-smoked pork belly, and the mellow sweetness of pineapple come together with very little hands-on time. The crisp glaze from your favorite flavor of our Bar-B-Q sauce takes these skewers from great to craveable.
FULL RECIPE: Smoked Pork Belly & Pineapple Skewers
Picanha Steak Skewers
Picanha, a favorite steak cut at most Brazilian steakhouses, is also known as top sirloin with the fat cap still attached. It’s also known as the Coulotte steak, without the fat cap—very lean, but flavorful. The name comes from a Picana, which is the pole used to herd cattle in Spain and Portugal. The picanha steak is tender, flavorful, and in danger of disappearing if left unattended in the company of hungry friends and family.
FULL RECIPE: Picanha Steak Skewers
Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Chimichurri
Barbecue shrimp is simple and perfectly summer. Perfect as a side dish to a masterfully grilled steak or tacos, or as a stand-alone alongside a grilled salad, this grilled shrimp skewers recipe is an essential summer dish—and one we can’t get enough of.
FULL RECIPE: Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Chimichurri
Sweet BBQ Bacon Wrapped Kabobs
FULL RECIPE: Sweet BBQ Bacon Wrapped Kabobs
Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabob
FULL RECIPE: Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Grilled BBQ Burger Kabobs
These burger kabobs are one of our favorite easy kabob recipes. They’re a playground for burger lovers, leaving the door wide open to experiment with different ingredients, toppings, and seasonings. Turn this recipe into a make-your-own-kabob party, setting out all the fixin’s so folks can take their pick, and see what mini-burger combos you can come up with.
FULL RECIPE: Grilled BBQ Burger Kabobs
