Whether it’s raining or you don’t have a grill, you can cook beef, chicken, or veggie kabobs in the oven without burning them. Here’s how.
Baking Kabobs in the Oven
Just like you can make frozen burgers in the oven instead of grilling, kabobs turn out perfectly when baked, too. Watch the quick video and follow these steps:
- Soak the wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes. - Marinate the meat or veggies 30 minutes and seafood for no more than 10 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Assemble the kabobs by threading the marinated meat, veggies, or seafood through the skewers. Then, place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the kabobs for 20-25 minutes, depending on the recipe, making sure to flip them over halfway.
- Remove them from the oven and serve them with baked corn on the cob or one of these tasty kabob side dishes.
What to Put on Oven Kabobs
Food on a stick always tastes better, especially when marinated to add flavor. Use this quick chicken marinade recipe, a veggie marinade, or this steak kabob marinade.
Vegetables can be sliced or cubed. The most popular vegetables you can grill are:
- Onions
- Peppers
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Cherry tomatoes
- Baby potatoes
Protein should be cut into even-sized pieces, about 1 to 1 ½″ thick for even cooking. Try:
- Chicken
- Beef (steak)
- Pork
- Shrimp
- Salmon or thick fish such as Mahi Mahi or Cod
- Meatballs
- Sausage (thick cut slices)
How Long to Cook Kabobs in the Oven
Kabobs will take between 12 and 30 minutes to cook in the oven, depending on the type and the size (thickness) of what you’re cooking.
How to Know When Baked Kabobs Are Done
Chicken should reach 165F for white meat (breasts) and 175F for dark meat (thighs), beef/pork/fish/shellfish are done at 145F, and vegetables should be fork-tender with lightly charred edges. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness as shown in the chart below.
What Temperature do you Cook Kabobs?
Bake kabobs between 375F and 400F in the oven, cooking them until they’re done by checking their internal temperature. See above.
How long to cook kabobs at 375F
Cooking kabobs at 375F in the oven is most popular because it yields great results, and you’ll avoid burning them. Place them on a sheet pan after the oven preheats, then use this chart for approximate baking times:
| Kabob | Oven Temp | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 375F | 20-25 min |
| Beef | 375F | 25-30min |
| Shrimp | 375F | 15 min |
| Fish | 375F | 15 min |
| Veggies | 375F | 20 in |
How long to cook kabobs at 400F
Cooking kabobs at 400F shortens the baking time while still keeping the meat juicy and tender. After preheating the oven, bake them on a sheet pan and use this chart for approximate cooking times:
| Kabob | Oven temp | Total time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 400F | 15-20 min |
| Beef | 400F | 20-25 min |
| Shrimp | 400F | 10 min |
| Fish | 400F | 12 min |
| Veggies | 400F | 15 min |
Is It Safe to Put Skewers in the Oven
Yes, all skewers are safe to go in the oven. Metal ones need careful handling (they get hot!), and wooden ones need to soak in water to prevent them from burning. At higher temperatures, like 425-450F, wooden skewers burn faster.
Oven Kabobs (Beef, Chicken, Shrimp or Veggie!)
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
Kabobs:
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts (about 2), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 zucchini, sliced into ½-inch rounds
Marinade:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Prep:
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl or in a zip bag. Add the cubed chicken, toss to coat, and cover with plastic wrap or zip the bag closed.
- Soak the wooden skewers in water for 20 to 30 minutes. Once soaked, they're ready to be poked with kabob ingredients.
Marinade:
- Marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to 2 hours. If you have a marinade tray, you can assemble the skewers and marinate them assembled. While the chicken marinates, cut the veggies. This step can also be done ahead of time.
Assemble:
- Thread the cubed chicken and diced veggies onto the soaked skewers, alternating them. Place the kabobs on the baking sheet as you go.
Cook:
- Place the oven rack in the top third of the oven, about 6 to 8 inches from the top, and preheat the oven to 375F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Bake the kabobs in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping them over halfway through with kitchen tongs, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Remove the kabobs from the oven and serve with your favorite sides.
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Susan says
Supper basic recipe where the recipe only gives bell peppers and onion, but the picture shows zucchini as well. Was this missed in the recipe? Cause the picture is what brought me here to this recipe. Is there anything else missing in these steps?
Laura Fuentes says
No, you didn’t miss anything. The “recipe” is a guide since this post is about how to cook them in the oven. They can be customized with your favorite veggies as written in the post.
Jacqueline says
I was wondering if I should set my oven on Roast instead of Bake. I’m hoping to make them more like grilled. I don’t know if the baking time needs to be adjusted.
Laura Fuentes says
If your oven has a “roast” setting, you can do that. It will circulate the hot air inside the oven for more all-around cooking. The time and temperature should not need to be adjusted, most ovens adjust this internally to match the bake setting. That said, keep an eye on the kabobs and check for doneness about 5 min sooner than the recipe time.