40 Skewer Recipes That Will Impress Every Guest at Your Cookout
Your grill called. It’s bored. Instead of cooking the same old burgers, hot dogs and chicken breasts at your next summer cookout, it’s time to try something new, like shrimp boil skewers or strawberry shortcake kebabs. The options are endless (and best of all, many are ready in less than an hour). Moral of the story: Everything is better on a stick. Read on for 40 skewer recipes that will impress all of your barbecue guests.
RELATED: The 67 Best Grilling Recipes to Cook and Eat All Summer
1. Rainbow Vegetable Skewers
Your kids will love to help you assemble them. They’re basically impossible to burn too, since there’s only one type of vegetable per skewer—as long as the pieces are roughly the same size, they should cook for the same time.
2. Grilled Caprese Skewers with Halloumi and Sourdough
Because no one wins friends with salad, we spiced up this crowd-pleaser by swapping mild mozz for tangy halloumi cheese and adding bread to the mix.
3. Shrimp Boil Skewers with Corn, Sausage and Potatoes
And you thought a mess-free seafood boil was impossible. This take is ridiculously low-maintenance and requires minimal cleanup. Just put some newspaper down on the picnic table and dig in.
4. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple
No chopsticks required, folks. Our favorite part about this recipe is hands-down the marinade, which is made up almost entirely of pantry staples.
5. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce
Close your eyes, take a bite and you’re basically in Santorini. All that’s missing is a toasted pita round and a glass of white wine.
6. Grilled Watermelon-Feta Skewers
Hellooooo, refreshment. Not only is tangy, salty feta just the match for juicy, sweet watermelon, but the skewers can also easily be transformed into a meal by being plated with a mound of dressed arugula.
7. Steak Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce
Scared to cook steak at home? Don’t worry, this recipe is totally foolproof. The cubed beef tenderloin only needs about five minutes of grilling per side to cook to perfection.
8. Chicken Satay Skewers with Coconut-Hummus Sauce
Nine vibrant ingredients unite for a beyond-flavorful marinade that’s bursting with warm spices and flavor. Think grated ginger, garlic, turmeric, curry powder and coconut milk.
9. Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard Peach Salad
Low lift enough to cook on a weeknight, impressive enough to serve at an alfresco dinner party. Feel free to pop the peaches on the grill before adding them to the salad.
10. Chicken Kebabs with Garlic Lemon Yogurt
The key to the poultry’s flavor is baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend that typically includes herbs and warm spices like dried mint, oregano, cinnamon, coriander, cumin and nutmeg.
11. Wild Alaska Salmon and Summer Squash Skewers
Proof that you don’t have to fire up the grill to make a batch of killer skewers. These come together indoors on a skillet instead (though you could totally use a grill pan if you’re all about char marks).
12. Strawberry Shortcake Skewers with Whipped Cream
Behold, the world’s most ingenious summer dessert. Here, burgers and dogs make way for charred slabs of cheater’s honey butter biscuits and sugared strawberries.
13. Shrimp Kebabs with Pineapple
Sweet, tangy and spicy in every bite, thanks to coconut milk, fresh citrus juices and Tabasco. Be sure to reserve an hour or two for the shrimp to marinate.
14. Fajita Chicken Kebabs
Who needs tortillas? Fajitas are only as epic as their fillings, and this lime-kissed chicken is bold enough to hold its own.
15. Simple Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Dipping Sauce
Salad just…tastes better in the form of finger food. Especially when it’s dunked in sweet balsamic-mustard sauce.
16. 30-Minute Sweet Thai Chili Salmon Skewers
Sophisticated, yet oh so simple. Serve this half-hour gem with a side of coconut rice and lime wedges.
17. Thai Pineapple Peanut Satay Chicken
Proof that lightning-fast chicken breast dishes don’t have to be boring. Chalk it up to the umami-rich marinade made with fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and a handful of pantry staples.
18. Lamb Kebabs with Mint Yogurt Sauce
Lamb tends to feel fancier than beef, but it’s just as simple to grill. Fair warning: You’ll want to drizzle the citrusy yogurt dip on everything.
19. Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Might we suggest going all-out on the island-inspired front and swapping in Spam for chicken?
20. Steak Kebabs with Garlic Butter
Sirloin beef skewers stacked with mushrooms, bell peppers and onions taste even better after a garlic butter bath. Plop it all on a sub roll and broil it with provolone cheese for the Cadillac of cheesesteaks.
21. Lemon Chicken Skewers with Creamy Feta Sauce
Not only does the chicken get charred on the grill, but so do asparagus spears and marinated artichokes.
22. Kofta Kebab
Make space on the grates for this Mediterranean staple, a grilled mix of ground beef and lamb bursting with garlic, herbs and spices. Serve it with cucumber and tomato salad, tabouli, hummus or roasted eggplant.
23. Easy Mediterranean Shrimp Kebabs
We’re betting you have just about every ingredient you need in your kitchen right now. These kebabs take about 45 minutes from start to finish, but most of that is marinating time.
24. Grilled Tuscan Pork Skewers
Here’s your excuse to overdo it on zucchini and yellow squash at the farmers market again. Make a big batch of Tuscan seasoning, so it’s always ready to sprinkle onto pizza, eggs and chicken.
25. Grilled Steak Skewers with Balsamic Marinade
Steak and potatoes have never been easier to whip up. Plate it with Caesar or caprese salad.
26. Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab
Typically made on a massive rotisserie, this DIY version of doner kebab calls for threading marinated chicken onto skewers, propping them atop the edges of a pan and baking until browned.
27. Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers
The way a shrimp can cradle a round of sausage just so…it’s almost like these two proteins were made for each other. Pass the sriracha cream sauce.
28. Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken and Peach Skewers
A couple hot chilis of your choice offer just the right amount of spice to the marinade. Feel free to trade peaches for pineapple, and try Scotch bonnets if you’re feeling brave.
29. Grilled Asian Garlic Steak Skewers
A flourish of sliced scallions and sesame seeds makes any dish look ten times more appetizing. Serve these with white rice.
30. Sausage and Pepper Skewers
The recipe calls for spicy Italian sausages, but you can use mild, chicken sausage or even bratwurst or kielbasa.
31. Chicken Souvlaki Bowls with Garlic Fries
This over-the-top lunch has it all: citrusy skewered chicken, cool tzatziki, crisp veggies and charred pita. But it obviously goes without saying that our favorite element is the fries.
32. Zesty Grilled Shrimp, Bread and Sweet Peach Salad
Grilled corn, cherry tomatoes and fresh peaches—it doesn’t get more seasonal than that. The blended avocado vinaigrette will give it all a dose of decadence.
33. Rosemary Sage Pork Skewers
If you’re using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least half an hour before using, so the wood doesn’t catch fire on the grill or in the oven.
34. Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata
Proof that Caesar salad can be far from boring with the right toppings. (P.S.: We have serious feelings about the Parmesan tahini dressing.)
35. Mediterranean Salmon Kebabs
Dunk them in tzatziki, hummus, tahini, lemony Greek yogurt—the condiment shelf is your oyster.
36. Spicy Beer BBQ Chicken Skewers with Avocado, Corn and Feta Salsa
Your favorite beer gets poured straight into the pot, where it’s reduced until thick with the rest of the sauce ingredients. A Pilsner, IPA or witbier would work great.
37. Bacon-Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
We have a feeling your kids will go gaga for these puppies at your next cookout.
38. Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Apricot Glaze
The trick to the sauce’s sticky sweetness? A generous amount (like, a whole jar) of apricot preserves.
39. Grilled Fruit Kebabs
A few minutes on the grill will caramelize the natural sugars in the pineapple, melon, berries and banana. Serve them with melted chocolate or sweetened yogurt dip.
40. Inside Out Peanut Butter and Nutella S’mores
Three words: Toasted. Marshmallow. Frosting. Set up a table with peanut butter, Nutella, chocolate and graham cracker crumbs, so your guests can coat their own bananas.
