These Marinated Beef Kabobs are flavorful, tender, and easy to customize! Also, learn the best type of beef for your kabobs, how long to grill your kabobs, and (what I think is) the best damn beef marinade recipe on the internet!
“Great marinade. Picky teenager ate without any A1 or other sauce. Definitely marinade for 24 hours. Meat becomes very tender and flavorful. Make sure your meat is around the same sizes and skewer vegetables separate from the meat. We cooked this on a charcoal grill. Amazing.”- Michelle, Pinterest User
We’ve loved grilling these beef kabobs this summer, so I’m excited to share with you how I get perfect beef kabobs on the grill every time; including my favorite beef kabob marinade, the best beef for kabobs, and how long to grill your beef kabobs.
Why do I love kabobs so much? After a long day of work and school, my husband and son are SO hungry! I try hard to make sure my son gets a high protein dinner every night.
You can really make kabobs customizable and fun for the family. My mushroom-loving husband can load his skewers up with mushrooms, while my son and I typically stick with sweet bell peppers.
It’s a ton of fun to get your family in on the action, and my son loves watching the kabobs that he made sizzle on the grill!
Choose the Best Beef Cut for Kabobs Relatively tender, without a need for extensive marinating, Sirloin (from top to tip) is lean and fits into a balanced diet — plus, it’s budget-friendly . Other good beef choices for kabobs are Flat Iron or Strip Steak and even Tenderloin.
Tips for Perfect Steak Kabobs
Regardless of the cut of beef that you choose for your kabobs, there are a few more tips to make sure your beef kabobs turn out perfect each time:
- Be sure to cut the beef into even pieces to ensure they cook through consistently. I like to cut my beef into about a 1 to 1.25-inch piece.
- Use wooden skewers to be sure the beef stays a bit rare in the middle. Metal skewers conduct heat, so I only use them for chicken and vegetables.
- Beef kabobs can be grilled to rare, medium or even well done, it’s your choice! I grill the steak kabobs over high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes, which typically results in medium doneness.
- Allow the grilled beef kabobs to rest for about 5 minutes after removing from the grill. This allows the juices in the beef to re-settle, keeping it nice and juicy, with flavor in every bite!
- Consider threading the beef and vegetables onto separate skewers so you can better manage their cook times, especially if you are a first-time kabob griller!
- When choosing a leaner cut of meat, make sure you use a marinade, like the awesome beef marinade in this recipe!
What is the best beef for kabobs?
Personally, I recommend using sirloin steak for kabobs. It’s economical, has excellent flavor and is lean and heart healthy!
I marinate my sirloin for about 24 hours to be sure that meat has time to tenderize. Flat iron and strip steak are also great cuts for beef kabobs.
But, if you want this recipe tonight for dinner and are unable to marinate, I would then recommend working with beef tenderloin. Beef tenderloin is a higher end, but naturally tender cut that does not need to be tenderized.
When I use beef tenderloin for kabobs, I still marinate the beef prior to placing it on the skewers, but only to add flavor. A quick, 30-minute marinade is all you need!
BEEF SHISH KABOBS (with the best marinade) for the ultimate summer grilling recipe!
FAQ
Which kebab meat is best?
What is the best meat for BBQ kebabs?
What are beef kabobs made of?
What kind of meat should I use for kabobs?
Beef tenderloin and ribeye are good options. You should avoid using beef chuck or beef stew meat, as these need to be cooked for longer and may prove chewy and fibrous when added to the skewer. Don’t skimp too much on the meat, as the kabobs won’t be enjoyable if they are tough.
What type of meat is good for bones?
However, the type of meat that is best for the bones depends on the cooking method and cut of the meat. Lean meats such as chicken and fish are good options for bone health. Additionally, lean red meats such as beef and pork can also be beneficial for bones if cooked using healthy methods such as grilling or roasting.
Are kabobs made of beef?
Most kabobs in America use beef, and if you buy something labeled kabob meat, it will almost always be cuts of beef. This meat is often taken from the cow’s primal cuts, such as the sirloin, but this isn’t a fixed definition so you may find other cuts. Usually, the trimmings that are left when companies manufacture steaks are used as kabob meat.
What is a good beef kabob?
Good beef cuts are key to a nice kabob. Sirloin is tender, doesn’t need too much marinating to be soft, and is a lean, inexpensive meat. Other tender beef cuts will work as well, so don’t worry if you can’t get sirloin. Beef tenderloin and ribeye are good options.