Skewers: A cooking tradition since the Early Stone Age. That’s right, stabbing food with a stick and cooking it over a flame is a prehistoric throwback. And if something has endured for 300,000 years, it can’t be that bad.
The best part about skewering is that the choices are endless. Red meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, cheese, even bread are all worthy of a spot on the spear. It’s a particularly great option when cooking for a group with different palate preferences. Each individual can mix and match ingredients and control portion size.
Plus they’re easy to manage. Getting an even-on-all-sides sear can be achieved with a simple spin.
BearMoo Stainless Steel Flat Kabob Skewers, 10 for $19.99 from Amazon
The flat design of these skewers keeps your food stable on the grill.
Below you’ll find recipes for our favorite skewers to toss on the grill.
Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Skewers with Blue Cheese
Ray Kachatorian
Add these fiery skewers to your tailgate menu for a healthier, honey-er take on the almighty buffalo wing. Top with a crumble of blue cheese to bring some funk to your chicken. Get the Grilled Honey Sriracha Chicken Skewers with Blue Cheese recipe.
Related Reading: 50 Things to Do with Sriracha, Just for Starters
Lemongrass Pork and Red Onion Kebabs
Chowhound
You’ll be saying “satay, you stay” after savoring these Thai-style skewers. The pork shoulder should spend a good amount of time soaking up the dynamic marinade of soy sauce, fish sauce, and fragrant lemongrass before tossing on the grill. Get our Lemongrass Pork and Red Onion Kebabs recipe.
Related Reading: A Three-Ingredient Thai Secret to the Best Meat You’ll Ever Eat
Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers with Mango Salsa
Ayesha Curry
Bring some added fire to your grill with Ayesha Curry’s stab at Jamaican jerk chicken. The spicy skewers get some sweet relief from the side of tropical mango salsa. Get the Grilled Jerk Chicken Skewers with Fresh Mango Salsa recipe.
Related Reading: 21 Tropical Touches to Turn Your Place into Paradise
Korean Short Rib Kebabs
Chowhound
Beef up your next grill session with a taste of Korean BBQ. Make sure to thinly slice the short rib to take full advantage of the kalbi-inspired marinade and ensure maximum exposure to the heat. Get our Korean Short Rib Kebabs recipe.
Related Reading: A Guide to Barbecuing Internationally: From Kansas to Korean BBQ
Middle Eastern Lamb Kebabs
Chowhound
José Andrés and his team at popular D.C. restaurant Zaytinya offer their traditional take on this Middle Eastern all-timer. A simple yogurt-based marinade yields plenty of flavor and exceptionally tender cubes of lamb. Get the Middle Eastern Lamb Kebab recipe.
Related Reading: This Easy Flatbread Is Perfect to Eat with Basically Anything
Turkish Köfte
Chowhound
If you want a change of pace from your standard burger bash, consider köfte, one of Turkey’s most popular street foods. Head to your local hardware store and grab a few bricks to prop up the ground lamb skewers on the grill (and keep them around for making brick chicken later in the week). Get our Turkish Köfte recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Boil Skewers
Chowhound
Two summer culinary pastimes converge with this easy-to-prepare spin on a Southern classic. Shrimp and kielbasa do the heavy lifting but a squeeze of citrus and a heavy hand of Old Bay Seasoning are essential. Get our Grilled Shrimp Boil Skewers recipe.
Related Reading: 9 Summer Seafood Feasts to Have Delivered to Your Door
Salmon and Asparagus Kebabs
Chowhound
Salmon fillets can be unwieldy when barbecued but cut into bite-sized pieces and placed on a stick, the task becomes effortless. The classic combo of soy sauce and brown sugar offers a perfect sweet and savory balance and a beautiful caramelization on the fish. Alternate with slivers of fresh asparagus spears for a nice crunch and a vibrant visual touch. Get our Salmon and Asparagus Kebabs recipe.
Related Reading: How to Make Perfect Salmon Burgers, Plus 5 Tasty Ways to Top Them
Grilled Potato Bacon Kebabs
Chowhound
Skip the oven when the weather is warm and instead load up your grill with these baked potato-inspired kebabs which are drizzled with a bacon and Dijon vinaigrette. Be sure to boil your spuds first to ensure a soft interior. Get our Grilled Potato Bacon Kebabs recipe.
Related Reading: Picnic-Perfect Potato Salad Recipes That Don’t Use Mayonnaise
Grilled Halloumi and Vegetable Kebabs
Chowhound
These vegetarian skewers will help expand your grilled cheese horizons. Sturdy and salty Greek halloumi doesn’t melt over a flame, it just gets soft, chewy, and irresistible. Pair it with your favorite veggies and you won’t be missing the meat. Get our Grilled Halloumi and Vegetable Kebabs recipe.
Bruschetta Kebabs
Chowhound
When it comes to cookouts, bread is usually relegated to bun duty but here it takes center stage along with juicy, blistered cherry tomatoes. If you haven’t already, here’s an opportunity to try baking your own fresh loaf of sourdough. Get our Bruschetta Kebabs recipe.
