5 Skewer Recipes for Campfire Cooking

Kebabs, kabobs, tomayto, tomahto. Whatever you want to call them, these grillable meals-on-a-stick are ideal for camping trips or backyard BBQing. The ingredients can be marinated ahead of time, minimal cookware is required, and portions can easily be scaled up or down if you’re cooking for a crowd. 

The only piece of equipment you need in order to make kabobs are the actual skewers themselves. While you can make do with the disposal wooden ones in a pinch, we would highly recommend picking up a set of flat metal skewers. The flat metal does a better job of holding the ingredients in place while rotating the skewer. Food on circular skewers tend to just spin when you try to rotate. 

While alternating ingredients is by far the prettiest way to arrange your skewers, the most practical way is to group ingredients with similar cook times together on the same skewer (as for the deconstructed Grilled Gyro Kabobs above). This way once something is done cooking, it can be removed from the heat. When everything is mixed in together you risk undercooking some ingredients while overcooking others. To avoid over- or under-cooking critical ingredients like meat, you may want to utilize an instant-read thermometer, which will help take the guesswork out.

Now that you’re up to speed on how to use your skewers, it’s time for a little campfire inspiration. Here are five great recipes to get you started.

1. Pineapple Chicken Kabobs 

You may be cooking over a campfire in the woods, or BBQing in your backyard, but these tropical-inspired Pineapple Chicken Kabobs will transport you straight to the land of palm trees and sea breeze.

2. Grilled Gyro Kebabs

Combining lamb marinated in lemon, oregano, and garlic with bright tomatoes, salty halloumi cheese, and a creamy yogurt sauce, these Grilled Gyro Kebabs evoke the flavors of the classic Greek dish.

3. Summer Veggie & Chicken Skewers

Chicken, tomatoes, crimini mushrooms, and green onions marinated in lemon juice and fresh herbs make these simple but flavorful Veggie & Chicken Skewers. Most of the ingredients can be prepped ahead so that dinner comes together quickly at the campsite.

4. Grilled Ratatouille Kebabs

Yellow squash, zucchini, and eggplant create a colorful, plant-based meal in this recipe for Ratatouille Kabobs. Topped off with a simple tomato sauce, this is a fun take on the French classic that’s perfect for cooking over the campfire.

5.  Tzatziki Chicken Skewers 

These chicken skewers pick up flavor from a quick lemon, garlic, and oregano marinade and are paired with grilled summer vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, and red onion. Serve with tzatziki sauce over a bed of rice pilaf to make it a complete meal.

Find more easy grilled kabob recipes on Fresh Off The Grid and check out our skewer recipes at williams-sonoma.com.