Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs

Name: Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 2 pounds sirloin strip steak (or top sirloin), cut into 1.5-inch cubes; 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed; 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning; 1 tablespoon garlic, minced; 1 teaspoons salt (or to taste); 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1/2 red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1/2 zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces; tzatziki sauce (for serving)

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Easy Greek Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs are delicious and flavorful, marinated in a simple marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and dried herbs, and threaded with fresh bell peppers, zucchini and red onions. It’s the easiest meal to prepare and throw on the grill or in the oven. Serve it on its own or stuffed inside pita bread with some tzatziki sauce on top. So so good.

Easy Greek Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs are delicious and flavorful, made with a simple marinade and fresh vegetables. Cook on the grill or oven. | aheadofthyme.com

Summer vibes are in full swing over here as we are sharing grilled skewers recipes all week.

Why You'll Love These Beef Souvlaki Kebabs

Simple ingredients prepared well. This Greek beef souvlaki recipe is a great example of how simple ingredients can become something exceptional with minimal effort. Use high quality beef, the freshest summer veggies, and an easy Greek marinade, then marinate and grill for just a few minutes. It doesn't take much time or effort, but you'll be rewarded with incredible flavor!
Perfect summer meal. We love serving these skewers on those hot summer nights when we don't dare turn on the oven! They're made with our favorite summer veggies and are filling enough to tide you over without weighing you down.
Versatile protein option. One of the best parts about making these beef kebabs is serving them in different ways! For a low-mess meal, serve them on their wooden skewers with a light Greek salad or tuck them into warm pita bread with all the fixings. That smoky, freshly grilled flavor makes the meat taste incredible (even reheated the next day), and I love having leftovers on hand to add to salads, wraps, and more.

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

beef - use sirloin strip beef steak and cut it into 1 + ½ inch cubes. You can also use top sirloin.
souvlaki marinade - made in seconds with a combination of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dried herbs, salt and pepper.
vegetables - we cut a variety of veggies into 1 inch pieces and thread them onto the skewers as well.
olive oil - for grilling.

You will also need measuring spoons, skewers, tongs for grilling, and an indoor grill pan (if you are not using an outdoor grill).

How to Make the Best Greek Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs

Marinate the beef steak. Add cubed beef into a zip-loc bag Add olive oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the beef steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Skewer the beef. Thread the beef onto skewers, alternating with red bell peppers, red onion, and zucchini.
Cook the skewers. You can grill these skewers or cook in the oven.
- To grill: Preheat a grill pan over medium high heat for 4-5 minutes and lightly brush the grill with olive oil. You should notice the oil shimmer and sizzle when it's hot and ready. Grill the beef skewers for 8-10 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature for the beef reaches 155 F, as read on a meat thermometer. For well done beef, cook for another 1-2 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches above 160 F.
- To cook in the oven: Place the skewers on a baking tray and broil on high for 4-5 minutes per side.

Recipe Variations

Use other proteins. This method works wonderfully for other meats, as well, although you usually want to tweak the seasonings just a bit. Try my Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers or these tender Greek Lamb Souvlaki Skewers next time!
Add some heat. Prefer spicy flavors? Add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the beef souvlaki marinade. You can also use a store-bought container of Greek seasoning instead of Italian seasoning.
Ditch or change the veg. Here's the thing. You can make these beef kabobs however you'd like. If you already have a few veggies on the side, skip the veggies and grill just the meat instead. This is an especially nice option if you want extra grilled meat to serve on salads or in sandwiches for leftovers. Feel free to change up the veggies, too, but be sure to use quick-cooking veggies like eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and more.
Make them indoors. If you love souvlaki but can't grill outdoors, make them inside! It can get a little smoky, so crank up the kitchen fan to keep from setting off the fire alarms. I often like to make these skewers in the oven because you can make a bunch at once and all year round. Simply place the skewers on a baking tray and broil on high for 4-5 minutes per side or until done. You can also use an indoor grill pan or cook them in a hot cast iron skillet to get the perfect char and flavor.

How to Serve

These souvlaki beef skewers are delicious served on their own, but don't forget to slather lots of tzatziki sauce on top. You can make your own homemade sauce in less than 5 minutes using Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper.

But if you ask me, beef souvlaki is best served as part of a complete meal along with a variety of Greek sides. Some of our favorites to pair with souvlaki are:

You can also stuff these shish kebabs into Homemade Pitas with tzatziki sauce and/or Hummus. You can also stuff these skewers inside pita bread to make a Greek Gyro Wrap. So so delicious.

For more recipe ideas, see our 30 Best Greek Recipes.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Marinate the beef. It is crucial to let the beef marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse and for it to get juicier. The lemon juice in the marinade also tenderizes the beef steak. I prefer letting it marinate overnight for best results, if you have the time.
Italian seasoning substitute. I use Italian seasoning on almost all my marinade recipes because it’s so versatile and contains a great blend of dried herbs and spices, including oregano, parsley, basil and thyme. To use dried herbs instead, add ½ tablespoon each of dried oregano, dried parsley, dried basil, and dried thyme.
How to make the beef even more tender. Turn off the heat and remove the the grill from heat a couple minutes earlier, when the internal temperature reaches 150 F (5 degrees lower than the desired level). Let it rest for a few minutes in the pan as the residual heat will continue to cook the skewers. Resting after cooking helps the juices redistribute into the meat. Once the internal temperature reaches 155 F, remove from the pan and serve.
Use a digital thermometer. A digital meat thermometer is very useful when grilling meat skewers for checking doneness. Simply insert halfway inside the meat to get a quick measurement.
Double up the recipe. This is a smaller batch recipe that makes 5 skewers. You can easily double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Unthread the beef souvlaki and store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

How to Reheat

Reheat in the microwave until fully warmed through. You can also reheat in a preheated 325F oven for 10 minutes or air fryer for 5 minutes until warmed through.

How to Freeze

You can freeze the leftover beef (without the vegetables as their texture gets weird). Unthread the beef and place in an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before microwaving or popping into the oven to reheat.

FAQ

What is in beef souvlaki marinade?

The best beef souvlaki skewers are coated in a super simple marinade made from extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, fresh garlic cloves, dried herbs, salt, and black pepper. The lemon tenderizes the beef to give it a softer texture, and the garlic and seasonings infuse flavor into every bite. I promise - this is a case when simple is better!

What cut of meat is used for beef souvlaki?

To make your own Greek beef kabobs, you can choose from a few different cuts of meat. The goal is to select a cut that will develop a nice crust on the outside while staying tender on the inside, similar to a steak. I recommend using a piece of beef with some fat on it to keep the meat from drying out on the grill. For the best flavor and texture, choose your favorite steak (top sirloin, strip steak, ribeye, etc.), tenderloin, or even filet mignon. Choose whichever option makes the most sense for your budget.

What does the word "souvlaki" mean?

Souvlaki is a Greek word that means small skewer, which highlights how small pieces of meat are skewered and then grilled. It doesn't indicate a particular type of protein, and there are many different types of souvlaki served in Greece.

More Grilled Skewer Recipes

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