How to Cook Kabobs in the Oven

Had grilling plans but got rained out? No worries, this recipe shows you how to cook kabobs in the oven that are delicious and easy to whip up for entertaining or a midweek dinner.

Whether you are craving chicken, steak, or vegetables, the tips and oven kabobs recipe below will help you make perfect skewers every time.

Baking Kabobs in the Oven

A grill isn’t necessary to make juicy, flavorful meat and vegetable kabobs. 

Making kabobs in the oven is just as convenient, and the only utensils required are skewers and a large baking sheet. 

Here’s what to do: 

1. Soak
   Drop the wooden skewers in a bowl of water and soak for 30 minutes. 
2. Marinate
   Choose your marinade and combine it with the protein. Marinate meat for 30 minutes and fish or seafood for no more than 10. 
3. Preheat
   Adjust the oven temperature to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment. 
4. Thread
   Add the veggies and marinated meat to the skewers, alternating throughout. 
5. Bake
6. Add the kabobs to the baking sheet and bake until the meat is cooked through and veggies tender. Remove and serve with your favorite grilling side dish. 

While oven kabobs may not have grill marks, they still achieve that delicious bronzed color with slightly charred edges.  Watch how these oven skewers are made in this recipe video.

What to Put on Oven Kabobs

Food on a stick always tastes better, and the combination of ingredients is endless. The three basic items you’ll need to make perfect oven kabobs are: 

Marinade 
I have a quick chicken marinade recipe that works for steak, seafood, and veggies too. 

Vegetables
There are so many options of vegetables to cook on a skewer. Be sure to cut them into similar sizes of whatever protein you are using, so everything will finish around the same time. Below are a few ideas for vegetables you can grill:

• Onions
• Peppers
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini 
• Cherry tomatoes
• Baby potatoes

Protein
Chicken and steak kabobs are always a hit, but here are more ideas to try in the oven:  

• Chicken
• Steak
• Meatballs
• Pork
• Sliced, smoked sausage
• Shrimp
• Fish- thick fillets such as Mahi Mahi, Cod, and Salmon 

Prepping the Meat & Skewers

Just like grilling, if you are using wooden skewers, make sure to submerge them in water and soak for 30 minutes before threading with the ingredients. Otherwise, you’ll risk a fire in the oven. 

As far as prepping the meat goes, follow the steps below, and you’ll be set: 

Prep the Meat
Make sure to cut the meat and veggies into uniform sizes, about 1 to 1 ½-inch cubes. 

Marinate
Don’t skip! Add the cubed meat to your marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This will give the kabobs extra flavor and helps tenderize the meat. 

What Temperature do you Cook Kabobs?

You should cook kabobs at a temperature of 375F and no higher than 400F. Remember to cook the meat by internal temperature and not time, so 165F for chicken and 145F for beef, pork, and fish. It may take the skewers a little longer to cook through in an oven, but the results are just as delicious.

How to Keep Skewers from Burning in the Oven

If you soak the bamboo or wooden skewers in water before threading and keep the oven temperature below 400F you should have no trouble with any food or wood catching fire.

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