How to Cook Kabobs in the Oven | Laura Fuentes (2024)

By Laura Fuentes on Jul 21, 2021 Updated Jun 6, 2024

Had grilling plans but got rained out? No worries. Whether you are craving chicken, steak, or vegetables, I’ll show you how to cook kabobs in the oven and all the tips to 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 the skewers
   If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes.
2. Marinate the meat
   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 the oven
   Adjust the oven temperature to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
4. Assemble the kabobs
   Add the veggies and marinated meat to the skewers, alternating throughout.
5. Cook in the oven
   Place the kabobs on the baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven, making sure to flip the kabobs halfway through.
6. Enjoy
   Remove the kabobs from the oven and serve with baked corn on the cob or one of these tasty kabob side dishes.

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
Use thisquick chicken marinade recipethat works for all types of protein, or my epic steak kabob marinade recipe.

Vegetables
Just about any veggie can be put on a skewer, cut into squares, cubed, or left whole. Here are a few ideas forvegetables you can grill:

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

Protein
Chicken andsteak kabobsare 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 use wooden skewers, submerge them in water and soak them for 30 minutes before threading them with the ingredients. Otherwise, you’ll risk them catching on 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.

The second variable determining the total cooking time is the size (thickness) and type of protein you’re cooking. For best results, cook your protein according to temperature.

How to Know When Baked Kabobs Are Done

Using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is the best way to know when meat kabobs are done and reduce the chances of overcooking and drying out your meal.

Use one of the time charts below for reference, and then check the temperature and color of the meat for doneness.

White meat chicken should be cooked to 165F, while dark meat chicken tastes better at 175F. Beef, pork, fish, and shellfish are done once they reach 145F. In the case of vegetables, they should be fork-tender and slightly charred on the edges.

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 long to cook kabobs at 375F

Setting your oven temperature to 375F will yield great kabobs. Place the kabobs on a sheet pan and then begin cooking the kabobs once the oven finishes preheating.

Here are approximate cooking times for your oven kabobs at 375F:

How long to cook kabobs at 400F

This oven temperature will shorten the cooking times of your kabobs. After preheating your oven to 400F, place the kabobs on a sheet pan and then begin cooking them.

At 400F the approximate cooking times for oven kabobs are:

Is It Safe to Put Skewers in the Oven

All skewers are safe to go in the oven, but if you’re using wooden ones, you’ll need to soak them for at least 30 minutes to avoid burning them. At higher temperatures, such as 425F-450F, skewers tend to burn faster.This is a good reason to usereusable skewersor lower your oven temperature.