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Enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean without leaving your backyard with this easy Beef Souvlaki recipe. These marinated and grilled steak kabobs are bursting with mouthwatering savory Greek flavors. Thread the meat onto skewers with veggies and grill it for a simple and flavorful meal that doesn’t get any better!
Beef Souvlaki – the Best Greek Steak Kabobs!
Kabobs, kebabs, skewers – whatever you want to call them, they are so flavorful and so fun! And one of my favorites is Beef Souvlaki. Tender steak, caramelized veggies, and a spectacular marinade bursting with bright and fresh Greek flavors – what’s not to love?
Grilling season is a great reason to make a delicious Mediterranean feast. And this recipe is a super easy centerpiece to that meal. While it does have to marinate for a few hours, you can prepare it ahead, then grill the steak kabobs in no time.
Are souvlaki and beef kabobs the same thing?
These two dishes are essentially the same, with one small exception. They both feature skewers of grilled beef and vegetables, but beef kabobs are typically served on the skewers while vouvlaki is often served in pita bread.
With this basic recipe, you can customize your meal to be gluten free, low carb, or paleo based on how you serve the kabobs and your choice of side dishes.
What You’ll Need
This recipe starts with the beef that you are using for the steak kabobs. Let’s go through a quick summary of the ingredients, and then you can check out the recipe card for the full amounts.
What is the best beef for kabobs?
Some people would say that filet mignon is the best choice for beef kabobs. When cut into small pieces and grilled, it stays tender. However, filet, along with similar options like porterhouse and ribeye, can be quite pricy.
But since these skewers are marinated for several hours, the lemon juice will break down the meat and tenderize it quite nicely. That allows you to go with a more affordable option and leaner option like beef top round.
Marinade Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice – I recommend fresh lemon juice as the bottled variety can impart a bitter flavor.
- Garlic
- Fresh oregano – you can use dried if that is what you have, but you’ll only use a teaspoon or two.
- Salt and pepper
Vegetables for the Kabobs
I like to use a combination of red and green peppers, onion, and grape tomatoes. But you can really use any mixture of veggies you like! You’ll want to cut them about the same size as the beef cubes.
How to Make Beef Souvlaki
Here is a quick overview. The step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Prepare the beef: Cut the beef into 1 1/4-inch cubes and place them in a shallow pan or plastic storage bag.
Make the marinade: Whisk together the marinade ingredients and pour over the meat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Chop the vegetables: While the meat marinates, cut your vegetables into pieces about the same size as the steak cubes.
Assemble the kabobs: After the beef has marinated, thread it onto the skewers, alternating with onions and peppers. Place the tomatoes on the ends.
Grill the skewers: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the skewers over direct heat and reduce to medium. Grill for 4-5 minutes, then flip and grill for another 4-5 minutes. Remove from the grill and serve as desired.
What to serve with Greek Beef Kabobs
You’ll often find steak kabobs served over white rice alongside a Greek Salad and drizzled with Tzatziki Sauce. But you can truly customize this meal to your preferences for a Greek feast the entire family will enjoy.
- Go for a classic Beef Souvlaki by serving it in gluten free pita with hummus.
- Keep it low carb with cauliflower rice and Greek Zucchini Noodles Salad.
- If you have vegetarians at the meal, try Feta Tomato Cucumber Salad and add some falafel too.
Tips For Success
- Soak the Kabob Sticks. Don’t forget, if you are using wooden or bamboo skewers, you’ll need to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to keep them from burning. Better yet, plan ahead and soak them overnight.
- Or Buy Metal Skewers. If you don’t want to worry about soaking, you can always invest in metal skewers. I actually like these flexible skewers because you can twist them into a circle and connect the ends so that nothing falls off into the grill.
- Don’t Skimp on the Marinating Time. It really helps tenderize the meat and infuse all of the deliciousness.
- Don’t Overcook The Kabobs. The small pieces of meat do cook quickly, and letting them get too well-done will make it tough and chewy.
- Switch it Up. You can also use the marinade to make Chicken Souvlaki, or even try shrimp or fish. Feel free to substitute your favorite veggies too.
Storing Leftovers
If you have any extra, slide the meat and vegetables off of the skewers and place them in an airtight container They can be refrigerated for up to three to four days. Then you can make pita pockets for lunch or serve them over a salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette. You can enjoy it cold or gently reheat it in the microwave or wrapped in foil in the oven.
Beef Souvlaki – Greek Steak Kabobs
Ingredients
For the kabobs:
- 2-2.5 lbs. beef top round cut into 1 ¼ inch cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh oregano, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- A mixture of peppers, onions, tomatoes, or whatever vegetable you prefer cut into chunks (I used one red pepper, one green pepper, 2 peppers, half large red onion, about 8 grape tomatoes)
- Tzatziki for dipping if desired (use the recipe below or your favorite)
- Pita, hummus, rice, Greek salad (like this Zucchini Noodles Greek Salad) etc. for serving
For the tzatziki:
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled and finely shredded
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
For the kabobs:
- Place the beef cubes in a large plastic storage bag or shallow pan.
- Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and pour it into a shallow pan or zip-top plastic storage bag. Or add the marinade ingredients right to the plastic bag.
- Add the beef cubed to the pan or plastic bag. Seal the bag, pressing out any extra air, or cover the dish and marinate the beef for 2-4 hours, turning once or twice.
- If you are using wood/bamboo skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to keep them from burning. Thread the beef cubes and vegetables onto skewers.
- Preheat your grill to medium high heat.
- Place the skewers on the grill, reduce to medium, and grill over direct medium heat for 8-10 minutes, turning once.
- Serve with tzatziki, hummus, pitas, rice, etc., as desired.
For the tzatziki:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and stir until thoroughly combined.
- If possible, let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
Fantastic! Very easy to make, and my family (including picky eaters) loved it. Take the time to let it marinate- I let it marinate for about 3 hours.
OMG these look soooo damn good! I could got for some RIGHT NOW! I love me some Greek!
Thank you, Jack!