If summer had a flavor, it would be Grilled Beef Kebabs with chilled tzatziki. This is backyard cooking at its absolute best, packed with bold flavor and a little char. It's hot from the grill, chilled from the Tzatziki and absolutely finger licking perfection!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
These Grilled Beef Kebabs are my go-to for effortless summer entertaining, but they also bring back memories of our recent trip to Turkey. We had the most incredible grilled beef döner and kebabs all over the country, especially along the coast where they’d serve it beachside with a creamy yogurt dip, fresh veggies, and warm flatbread. It was simple and perfect, smoky, savory, cool, and refreshing all at once.
These Grilled Beef Kebabs are my way of bringing a little bit of that magic back home. The marinade infuses the beef with bold flavor, the veggies get beautifully charred on the grill, and the chilled tzatziki on the side ties it all together. It’s the kind of meal that looks impressive but comes together with minimal effort, which you guys know is always a win in my book.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Beef sirloin tips
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Granulated garlic
- Ground cumin
- Sweet paprika
- Dried oregano
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Sweet onion
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper
- Orange bell pepper
- Tzatziki
How to Make
- In a large bowl or zip-top bag, combine the beef, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, ideally 6 to 8.
- Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated beef onto skewers, alternating with onion and bell pepper pieces.
- Grill the kebabs over direct heat, turning every 3 to 4 minutes, until the beef is charred and cooked to medium or your desired doneness, about 10 to 12 minutes total.
- Transfer the Grilled Beef Kebabs to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with chilled tzatziki.
Tips & Tricks
- Marinate ahead: Give the beef at least 4 hours in the fridge to soak up all that flavor, but overnight is even better.
- Uniform size: Cut your veggies and meat into similar-sized pieces so everything cooks evenly.
- Soak those skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 30 minutes before grilling to avoid burning. 1-2 hours even better!
- Rest the meat: Let the kebabs sit for 5 minutes after grilling so the juices redistribute.
- Serve family-style: Load these onto a big platter with a bowl of tzatziki and some warm pita for serving.
FAQ's
Can I use a different cut of beef for these Grilled Beef Kebabs?
Yes, flank steak, hanger or ribeye would work well too, just make sure it’s tender and cut into even pieces.
Can I make Grilled Beef Kebabs ahead of time?
You can marinate the beef and chop the veggies up to a day in advance. Assemble and grill just before serving for max flavor.
What if I don’t have a grill?
Cast iron skillet on the stovetop is a great alternative.
Is there a dairy-free dip alternative to tzatziki?
Try a dairy-free tzatziki or serve with a lemony tahini sauce.
Similar Recipes
Grilled Beef Kebabs with Tzatziki
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs beef sirloin tips cut into 1 ½-inch cubes
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 sweet onion cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
- 1 yellow bell pepper cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
- 1 orange bell pepper cut into 1 ½-inch pieces
- Tzatziki
Instructions
- In a large bowl or zip-top bag, combine the beef, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, ideally 6 to 8.
- Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated beef onto skewers, alternating with onion and bell pepper pieces.
- Grill the kebabs over direct heat, turning every 3 to 4 minutes, until the beef is charred and cooked to medium or your desired doneness, about 10 to 12 minutes total.
- Transfer to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with chilled tzatziki.
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
Thank you Gaby! I had bought the ingredients to make the kebabs and tzatziki for myself and my husband and at the last moment invited family over. Both were so delicious and a big hit.
You have made grilling so approachable. I can't wait to go through your newest book and make all the things!!!
If I don't have a grill, can I just put these in the oven?!
yes - or do it on a indoor grill pan
We had these for dinner last night...DELISH! With weekend prep to chop veg, the kebabs came together in less than 20 minutes, which is perfect for a work night. We paired with a bit of brown rice, and will definitely make again
Love everything about this! Summer grilling is the best and kebabs are a favorite. Great entertaining video also!
These look incredible, Gabby! Nothing beats food on sticks! Love the video, too!
you have some pretty awesome friends! Takes one to know one, right? 😉
Kebobs --> HEAVENLY! I love me some grilled beef with a good marinade!
Makes me want to get out and grill right now!
These look great! Definitely going on my must-cook list this summer.
These are awesome! Perfect summer grilling- I just love how easy this is!
I can't get over how delicious the scallion sauce sounds! I need to try this!!
Gimme all of the kebabs, so easy to make and everyone loves them 🙂
I love grilling season! Perfection!