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With my tips below, you’ll make healthy salmon kabobs the easy way: marinate for 15 minutes, skewer, and grill them to perfection!
Easy Salmon Kabobs
When the weather warms up I start thinking about how I can cook more meals on the grill since I spend a lot of time indoors at the office; and food on a skewer is always at the top of the list. These easy salmon kabobs are requested by my family when I tell them that “I’m grilling salmon tonight.”
The quick 15-minute marinade is what will transform your salmon from “fishy” to delicious. It’s made with lemon, garlic, and herbs… easy peasy.
But this is not just a tasty salmon kabob recipe. Keep reading to find all my hacks for grilling these skewers quickly and easily, so all you have to worry about is what to serve with them. No. Wait. I have some epic side ideas below, too!
Ingredients
With simple ingredients and summer grilling essentials, you can infuse salmon with tons of delicious flavors and grill it to perfection! The measurements are in the recipe card, but first, check your pantry and fridge for these items:
- Salmon: skin removed and cubed.
- Lemon: for the marinade and to assemble the skewers.
- Olive oil: adds flavor while helping coat the salmon with the seasonings.
- Garlic cloves: add them grated for an extra tasty marinade.
- Dried oregano: pairs great with salmon!
- Salt and black pepper: the marinade needs these two!
How to Grill Salmon Kabobs
Infuse the salmon with flavor with a quick marinade; then all you have to do is grill and enjoy! Check out the step-by-step with all my grilling tips for epic skewers:
- Prep
Pat dry the salmon fillets with paper towels and cube the salmon into 1-inch cubes. Slice the lemon into thin slices for the skewers. - Marinate
Make the marinade directly in a zip bag and soak up the salmon in there for 15 minutes in the fridge. - Soak the skewers
While the salmon takes on the marinade flavors, if you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water. - Assemble the skewers
Alternate poking the salmon cubes and the lemon slices through the middle so they stay in place. Place them on a baking sheet or platter as you go. - Heat up the grill
Preheat the grill and brush it with oil. Place the skewers on top of the grill in the opposite direction of the grates to prevent them from falling through. If your grill grates are wide, you can use a grilling pan on top of the grill and cook the salmon skewers on it. Make sure to grease it too. Alternatively, you can use heavy-duty aluminum foil on top of the grill. - Grill the salmon kabobs
First, grill them with the lid closed, then carefully flip them over using tongs, and grill the second side with the lid open. - Enjoy!
Remove your salmon kabobs from the grill and enjoy them with your favorite kabob sides!
Best Skewers for Grilling
All skewers will work for sliding food for grilling, so choosing wooden or metal depends on what works best for you and if you plan on reusing them or not.
Wooden skewers are for one single use and you have to soak them in water to keep them from burning in the grill. Metal skewers are reusable, easy to clean, and don’t require any soaking. Whether you prefer one type or the other, check out my favorite skewers for grilling here -all tested!
How Long to Grill Salmon Kabobs
Fish grills faster than other proteins like chicken and beef, so 10 minutes is good enough for grilling perfect salmon kabobs. Place the skewers for 5 minutes on each side at medium-high heat (375 to 400F), and the salmon cubes will get a pinkish-white color, meaning they are cooked.
How to Keep Salmon From Falling Apart on the Grill
Preventing the skewers from falling through the grill is easy when you place them in the opposite direction of the grates or use a grilling pan or seafood cage for grilling.
To keep salmon cubes from falling off skewers, make sure the salmon pieces are 1″ thick and the skewer is poked right through the middle of the cube.
When to Flip Salmon Kabobs
You’ll want to flip the salmon kabobs halfway through -after 5 minutes of cooking. Raw food will stick to the grill, so don’t try to flip the skewers before or you may end up with a kabob that falls apart accidentally.
How to Know when Salmon Skewers are Done
I love how fast grilled salmon kabobs are to cook since they only take a total of 10 minutes on the grill. You’ll know the salmon is ready when it has turned a nice pinkish-white color, and when poking with a meat thermometer, the internal temperature reaches 145F.
What to Serve with Grilled Salmon Kabobs
When it comes to sides for these grilled salmon kabobs, you just can’t go wrong! They pair amazingly well with all kinds of salads and veggies, but I would lie if I didn’t tell you I have my favorites! Grilled Veggie Kabobs are my go-to side for salmon skewers, while this Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice recipe is out-of-this-world!
Other favorite sides at my place are this Fresh Bruschetta Salad and this Southwest Quinoa Salad. And when I crave a roasted side, this Parmesan Asparagus makes everyone drool. SO good!
Lemon Herb Salmon Kabobs (Grilled)
Ingredients
For the skewers:
- 2 lbs salmon, skin removed and cubed
- 2 lemons
- Wooden skewers
For the Lemon Herb Marinade:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large lemon, juiced & zested
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Prep:
- Pat dry the salmon fillets with paper towels on a cutting board. Cube the salmon into 1-inch cubes.
- Slice the lemons into thin slices, about ¼-inch thin, so you can fold them in half and poke them through a skewer.
- Place the wooden skewers on a baking sheet and fill with water. Soak them while the salmon is marinating.
Marinate:
- In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil with lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Add the cubed salmon to the bowl and toss to coat it all with the marinade. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Assemble the skewers:
- Slide the marinated salmon cubes through the skewers, alternating with the lemon slices. Place them on a baking sheet or platter as you go.
Grill:
- Preheat the grill to high heat. Once hot, reduce the heat to medium-high (between 375 to 400F). Brush the grill with oil.
- Place the skewers on top of the grill, in the opposite direction of the grates. Grill with the lid, closed for 5 minutes, open the lid, carefully flip them over, and finish grilling them with the lid open for another 5 minutes until the salmon has turned a nice pinkish-white color. Remove from the grill.
Sara says
These lemon herb salmon kabobs were so tasty and a great healthy option for the fam!