Ground Beef Kebab Recipe - Made with juicy ground beef seasoned with onion, garlic, coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper and paprika to give it a Middle Eastern flavor profile that you’ll love. All you need to do is form the meat around the stick and grill it to perfection!
I’m always up for a new kebab recipe to add to my growing collection! I have a great recipe for Mediterranean beef kabob as well as a great chicken shashlik recipe I make often.
There’s something special about each one, whether it’s the kind of meat that is skewered, the seasonings used, or the dipping sauces on the side, you can’t go wrong with any type of food on a stick!
This Georgian recipe is my latest obsession. It’s made with ground beef and plenty of seasonings, it’s the perfect quick and easy skewer for the grill!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s an easy recipe that can be made for the grill or the oven.
- You can customize some of the ingredients to your liking!
- Great for BBQs during the summer or indoors the rest of the year.
- The earthy spices and slight heat go great with many side dishes.
Tips & Variations
- Don’t forget to clean the grill before you cook! You don’t want any leftover flavors to interfere with the deliciousness of these Georgian kebabs.
- Adjust the spice level to your liking by using more or less cayenne. If you want them completely mild, omit the cayenne pepper altogether.
- Feel free to substitute half of the ground beef for ground lamb. You can also make it entirely with ground lamb, or use ground pork, chicken, or turkey instead.
- You can wet your hands to prevent the meat from sticking when you’re adding it to the sticks.
- If using wooden skewers, it’s a good idea to soak them in plain water for 30 minutes before skewering the meat. This way, they won’t burn or catch fire on the grill.
Ingredients for this Georgian Recipe
- Ground beef: For this recipe, you can use anything from lean ground beef to medium or regular.
- Aromatics: Finely grated onion and garlic. You can also mince the garlic if you prefer.
- Seasonings: Ground coriander, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.
- For garnish: Thinly sliced onion and chopped cilantro.
How to Make Ground Beef Kebab
Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix the meat mixture until everything is well combined.
Step 2: Take a portion of the meat and form it around the kebab skewer, leaving space at the bottom to hold the skewer. Shape it into a tasty, elongated kebab. Repeat with the remaining skewers until the meat mixture is gone.
Step 3: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place the kebabs on the grill for 10-15 minutes, turning them occasionally. You want beautiful char marks on all sides.
Step 4: Once the ground beef kebabs are done, transfer them to a serving platter and sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro and onion. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Beef Kebabs
We love it with mashed potatoes and Greek salad, but the options are plenty! You could enjoy it with white rice, brown rice, or quinoa. You could take it off the skewers and wrap it in pita bread.
Serve them drizzled with tahini, tzatziki sauce, or a creamy garlic yogurt sauce.
Storage Suggestions
Fridge: Keep leftover kebabs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: You can also freeze them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. It’s a good idea to flash freeze them on a pan until they’re solid before putting them away, so they don’t freeze in one large clump.
Recipe FAQs
Arrange the kebabs on a lined (or greased) baking sheet. Cook in a preheated 400-degree oven for about 20-25 minutes until they are cooked through, turning them once halfway through.
This will always depend on how much meat you’ve added to your skewer and what temperature your oven is at. If you are following this recipe exactly as written, 15-20 minutes in the oven should be enough.
If you are using higher heat or lower heat, you’ll need to adjust the time. As long as the meat is cooked throughout, that’s what's important.
We’re using medium-high heat on the grill, so 10-15 minutes is the amount of time that works for me. You don’t want it underdone, of course, but you also don’t want it overcooked and dry.
More Ground Beef Recipes
- Sausage Wonton Cups
- Ground Beef Stuffed Zucchini
- Best Crunch Wrap Supreme
- Quick & Easy Instant Pot Chili
- Pizza Casserole
When YOU make this kebab recipe tag us @munchkintimeblog on Instagram, we would LOVE to see your creation!
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A Taste of Georgia: Ground Beef Kebab Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion finely grated
- 3 cloves garlic minced or finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
For Garnish
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
Instructions
Let's start by preparing the yummy meat mixture:
- In a big bowl, mix together the ground meat, grated onion, minced garlic, ground coriander, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and ground peppers until everything is nicely combined.
Shaping the Kebabs
- Divide the meat into 4 equal portions. Take one portion of the meat mixture and shape them onto a skewer, creating a long kebab. You can wet your hands with water to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.
Time to Fire Up the Grill and Cook the Kebabs
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the kebabs for about 10-15 minutes, making sure to turn them occasionally, until they are perfectly cooked through and have a lovely char on the outside.
- Once the kebabs are ready, take them off the grill and sprinkle some chopped fresh cilantro and sliced red onion on top for that final touch. Enjoy with mashed potatoes and greek salad!
Ground Beef Kebab in Oven
- You can also cook the kebabs in the oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the kebabs on a lightly greased or lined baking sheet and cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are cooked through, turning them once halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. Enjoy your delicious kebabs!
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the spiciness to your taste by using more or less cayenne. If you prefer mild, simply leave out the cayenne pepper entirely.
- You can mix things up by replacing half of the ground beef with ground lamb.
- Don't worry about the meat sticking to the sticks - just wet your hands before adding it.
- If you're using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in plain water for 30 minutes before putting the meat on. This way, they won't burn or catch fire on the grill.
Hi I’m wondering why my meat mixture is falling off my metal skewers before I’m even able to bring it to the grill ? Is there a trick to help prevent this?
Hi Sarah, I am so sorry you are experiencing this, try chilling the meat mixture in the refrigerator for a short time before skewering it can make it easier to work with, and less likely to fall off.
I always double this recipe so we can have leftovers for next day with eggs! It is the Best!