Beef Shish Kabob (Super Tender)
Oct 23, 2020, Updated Dec 12, 2025
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This beef shish kabob recipe will be your go-to for summer. Tender chunks of beef are marinated with olive oil, lemon juice and spices to make a delicious meal that you can enjoy any day of the week!
Food on the stick is always fun and delicious. Whether it’s chicken shish kabobs, salmon kabobs or even koobideh, people get excited the moment those skewers come off the grill and land on a big platter with chopped salad or potato salad and all the condiments. After all, we cannot leave out toum or my favorite tahini sauce! Today we are making beef shish kabob, and let me tell you, these are melt-in-you-mouth delicious!!!
Table of Contents
What Cut of Beef to Use
When it comes to making shish kabob sticks, the first thing you should know about is the cut of meat you’re going to use. You want a cut that is economic (fillet mignon won’t work for a crowd) but also a bit tender and easy to work with.
I suggest using sirloin tip or top sirloin as shish kabob meat since they have enough fat to give flavor but are also not too expensive. These cuts are easy to work with and make delicious kabobs. Cut the beef into chunks that are not too big or too small. I usually cut the beef into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
The Marinade
Olive oil: Just a little bit of olive oil makes the meat absorb the flavors better.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes the beef tender and adds such bright flavor.
Spices: The spice mix we used for this recipe is made of warm spices such as cumin, cinnamon, paprika, turmeric and cardamom. This combination gives so much flavor to the beef.
Vegetables – If you like to grill some veggies alongside the beef, try onions and peppers. Once grilled, these vegetables turn sweet and tender.
How To Make Beef Shish Kabobs
Marinate the beef: Cut the beef into 1 1/2 inch pieces. In a large bowl, mix the spices with olive oil and lemon juice, add the beef and mix to combine. Marinate in the fridge for 4 to 8 hours.
Prepare the grill: Once you’re ready to grill, turn on the grill (charcoal or gas) and make sure it’s on high. As the grill is heating, take the marinated beef out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will help the beef chunks to cook evenly.
Start threading the meat on the skewers and reserve the marinade. Place all the skewers on a tray or baking sheet
Grill the shish kabobs: Grill the shish kabobs on the grill over high heat until cooked to your liking (medium rare or medium), this would take about 6-8 minutes. Turn the skewers a few times for the meat to cook evenly. It’s important not to over cook the shish kabobs as they’ll become chewy and tough. Brush them a few times with the reserved marinade as well.
Recipe Tips
- Beef shish kabob is best served right after cooking. However, you can store the leftovers in an airtight container and reheat on the stove or microwave for a short time.
- Make sure the grill is on high heat since the you want to cook the meat on high heat for a short time to get the best texture and flavor.
- You can use either metal or wooden skewers. If using wooden skewers, make sure to submerge them in water for 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
- Is it your first time making shish kabobs? Prepare and grill one skewer first, try it to make sure you like the flavor, tenderness and texture of the meat before grilling the rest.
What To Serve With Shish Kabob
You can serve beef shish kabobs with fresh salads such as fattoush, tabouli or Turkish tomato salad. If you’re looking for starchy sides, try my potato salad or bulgur pilaf as they go very well with grilled beef kabobs.
You can also make beef kabob wraps with homemade pita bread or lavash, creamy hummus, baba ganoush and some pickled turnips!
Frequently Asked Questions
This really depends on how large the beef pieces are, but usually for medium beef shish kabob, 8 minutes total (4 minutes on each side) is enough. If you would like them to be medium-well to well, then grill for about 5 minutes on each side. Make sure they’re not over cooked otherwise the kabobs will be tough.
Since beef is tougher compared to chicken and fish, it requires longer time to marinade. It’s best to marinate beef for shish kabob between 4 to 8 hours so the cuts absorb all the flavors and tenderize as well.
More Grilling Recipes
Beef and Lamb
Perfect Grilled Steak with Garlic Herb Sauce
Summer Recipes
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Summer Recipes
Grilled Kofta Kebab Recipe
Summer Recipes
Grilled Chicken Breast (Juicy and Delicious!)
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Best Ever Beef Shish Kabob
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, cinnamon, paprika and turmeric in a large bowl.
- Add in beef chunks and using tongs, mix them well so they’re covered with the marinade.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours up to 8 hours.
- Turn on the grill and set it to high heat. Take the marinated meat out of the fridge and place it on the counter to come to room temperature.
- Thread the beef chunks and vegetables on skewers, alternating between the meat and the vegetables. Sprinkle with a little salt.
- Grill the beef shish kabobs for 4 minutes on each side for medium and 5-6 minutes on each side for medium well or well.
- Serve warm with different side dishes (see the post for side suggestions)
Video
Notes
- Beef shish kabob is best served right after cooking. However, you can store the leftovers in an airtight container and reheat on the stove or microwave for a short time.
- If grilling steak kabobs, make sure the grill is on high heat since the you want to cook the meat on high heat for a short time to get the best texture and flavor.
- You can use either metal or wooden skewers. If using wooden skewers, make sure to submerge them in water for 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
- Is it your first time making shish kabobs? Prepare and grill one skewer first, try it to make sure you like the tenderness and texture of the meat before grilling the rest.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Best Ever Beef Shish Kabob recipe is a total winner! The marinade is packed with flavor and the meat comes out incredibly tender and juicy. Whether you grill or use the oven, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for any summer gathering.
Yum!! This was so delicious, flavorful and satisfying! I served it alongside rice and a salad for the perfect dinner!
Dang, this turned out soooooo tasty! Thanks!
Just tried this beef shish kabob recipe, and wow, it turned out amazing! The flavors were on point, and it was super easy to make—definitely a new favorite!
Mmmm I was craving middle eastern food and this Kabob recipe really hit the mark! I love the spice blend of the cumin and turmeric – it really brightens up the meat in the Kabob!
do you add any salt? and if so when?
You can add it at the very end
My kids loved your shish-kabob! I am so pleased when they eat their meals, thank you for this great recipe!
This is one of my favorite meals. The grilled veggies and meat together is so flavorful and delicious!
love shish kabob! have you tried it with lamb? its delicious (of course, only if you like lamb)
Yes! Our recipe for lamb shish kabob will come soon!