15-Minute Spicy Beef Kabob Marinade

Name: Spicy Beef Kabob Marinade
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup soy sauce; 1/3 cup olive oil; 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice; 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce; 6 garlic cloves (grated); 3 tablespoons dried basil (grated); 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper; 1 teaspoon red chili paste (Sriracha); 2 lbs of beef sirloin, tenderloin, or tips (cubed)

Recipe

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This spicy beef kabob marinade will transform every bite of your perfectly grilled beef skewers!

15 minutes is all it takes to infuse beef with this spicy marinade, and with the tips below, you’ll achieve juicy and tender kabobs on the grill.

a bowl of spicy marinade for beef kabobs

Should You Marinate Steak Kabobs Before Grilling?

You don’t have to marinate kabobs, but if you crave tender, juicy, flavorful grilled beef skewers, you’ll definitely want to! Marinades help tenderize the meat while infusing it with flavor, transforming plain beef into mouthwatering bites. If 15 minutes, the meat will absorb pure flavor goodness -it’s that fast.

Ingredients

My go-to beef for kabobs is sirloin (flat iron, strip steak, or tenderloin are other great choices). To make it even more tender, this spicy marinade includes soy sauce, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce, plus olive oil, garlic cloves, dried basil (or Italian seasoning), and ground white or black pepper for flavor. The heat comes from the red chili paste (Sriracha). For extra spiciness, you can also add red pepper flakes.

How to Make Spicy Beef Kabob Marinade

To make this spicy marinade, simply combine the ingredients in a bowl or zip bag and let the beef marinate for at least 15 minutes. While the beef marinates, soak the skewers. Finally, assemble the skewers and cook them on the grill or in the oven.

On the left, cubed steak over a board; on the right, a zip bag with marinade and beef cubes.

How Long to Marinate Steak Kabobs

The steak pieces can be marinated for as little as 15 minutes. For more flavor, let the marinade do its magic for 45 minutes and as long as overnight if you like to prep ahead. Do not let beef for skewers sit in an acid-containing marinade for longer than 24 hours, or the beef will begin to cook.

two grilled beef kabobs on a plate next to a corn on the cob

Laura’s Tips for Grilled Beef Kabobs

What cut of beef is best for skewers?

When making skewers, you want cuts of beef that are naturally tender when cooked for a short period. Sirloin is most often used, but you can also make kabobs with flat iron, strip steak, or tenderloin.

Do you need to tenderize the beef?

Marinades that contain acids from citrus or vinegar will tenderize the beef by breaking down the meat fibers, so you don’t need to tenderize the meat manually. The Worcestershire sauce is highly concentrated in vinegar and does the job perfectly in this recipe!

Do you cut the steak before or after marinating?

Since you’ll want all of your meat pieces to absorb the flavors of your marinade, you’ll want to cut the beef into even pieces before marinating. This will ensure that every piece of beef in the kabobs is flavorful, tender, and juicy!

Do you marinate the vegetables too?

Marinades make everything tastier, including veggies! You can use this marinade recipe to soak the vegetables in a separate bag or make this simple vegetable marinade. Veggies should not soak in any marinade for longer than 4 hours.

More Grilling & Kabob Tips

Want to add chicken and veggies to the party? Check how to grill chicken kabobs like a pro and all my tips to grill perfect veggie kebabs. To enjoy delicious kabobs all year round, learn how to cook kabobs in the oven.

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Spicy Beef Kabob Marinade

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 5

Marinate: 30

Total Time: 35

This spicy beef kabob marinade will transform every bite of your perfectly grilled beef skewers!

5 from 23 votes

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Ingredients

⅓ cup soy sauce
⅓ cup olive oil
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
6 garlic cloves, grated
3 tablespoons dried basil, grated
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper
1 teaspoon red chili paste, Sriracha
2 lbs of beef sirloin, tenderloin, or tips, cubed

Instructions

In a large bowl or directly in a zip bag, combine the marinade ingredients.
Add the cubed beef pieces and let them marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight. Tip: while the beef marinades, this is a great time to soak your skewers.
Thread the cubes of meat onto the skewers, alternating with vegetables if using.