35 Paleo Kebabs That Will Make You Beg For Seconds
Every day is barbecue day when there are so many amazing Paleo kebabs recipes available! You won’t settle for soup once you’ve seen these skewers – and your family is going to thank you for it.
Prepare yourself for a lip-smackin’ delicious trip around the world, because these recipes are going to take you to many exotic places.
I’m having a hard time choosing a favorite among all these flavors. We have Paleo kebab recipes from South America, Greece, India and Nigeria – just to name a few!
Kebabs are a great addition to your Paleo diet. They are quick to make, and don’t require too much prep work in the kitchen.
What you should watch out for are store-bought BBQ sauces and seasoning mixes. They often include ingredients that are not Paleo-friendly – you may not have even realized what’s in them until you take a look at the list of ingredients.
Choose Your Favorite Protein Source
- Try the Kefta kebabs made of ground beef, for an option that won’t wreck your budget
- Pork kebabs with chipotle-lime marinade will spice up your BBQ
- Chicken satay goes Paleo on this list!
- You won’t believe how amazing salmon turns out when combined with fruits!
Although you can combine both, meat and vegetables in these skewers for a tasty dinner, sometimes you want a bit of extra to make it a wholesome meal. Here are a few great, Paleo side dishes to go with your favorite kebabs recipe:
- Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Almonds – Even your picky eaters are going to fall in love with these!
- Roasted Cauliflower Dip – The easiest meal ever: Paleo kebabs with dip!
- 5-Minute Apple Raisin side salad – For those crazy busy days
- Microwaved Sweet Potatoes – While your kebabs are in the grill, throw these in the microwave for 10 minutes. Super simple!
Here are just a few of the Paleo Kebabs we’ve included:
- Grilled Chicken Skewers with Garlic Sauce
- Chicken Satay with Cilantro Almond Butter Sauce
- Balsamic & Fig Beef Kabobs
- Low-Carb Steak and Mushroom Kabobs
- Chimichurri Grilled Shrimp
- Grilled Salmon Skewers
- Chipotle-Lime Marinated Pork Kebabs
- AIP Lamb, Tarragon and Mint Koftas Guest Post by Jo Romero
If you click or tap any of the links above, it will instantly take you to the recipe below. Or download the entire list by clicking on the green button below.
Chicken Paleo Kebabs
Grilled Chicken Skewers with Garlic Sauce
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: chicken breast, onion, bell peppers, zucchini, garlic, salt, lemon juice, olive oil.
The garlic sauce in this Paleo recipe can also be used as a dip for veggie sticks and tastes amazing! If you want more color on these skewers you could thread on some red onion or for a slight difference, roll up strips of bacon instead of some of the chicken. It might be a good idea to use metal skewers for chicken as they help to make sure the meat is cooked thoroughly.
Chicken Satay with Cilantro Almond Butter Sauce
– Savory Lotus
Photo Credit: Katja from Savory Lotus
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or a mix of white and dark chicken meat), coconut oil, butter or ghee, Celtic sea salt, cilantro, ginger, garlic, almond butter, coconut aminos, lime juice, raw honey, water.
Although traditionally chicken satay is served with a peanut sauce, this might cause issues for some Paleo people, so this amazing recipe will really impress! The chicken is drizzled with a honey glaze and is teamed up with a citrus and cilantro sauce that tastes so good. The sauce has a bit of a kick from the ginger, but is fresh and zingy. This is best served with a fresh salad and enjoyed right away.
Easy Chicken Kabobs with Magic Cilantro Sauce
– Savory Lotus
Photo Credit: Katja from Savory Lotus
Ingredients: lime juice, avocado oil, coconut aminos, honey, garlic, cumin powder, unrefined salt, black pepper, cilantro, mayonnaise.
Kabobs can be a simple and easy dish to prepare and they don’t take long to cook, so these would be perfect for dinner on a busy day. The chicken stays juicy and tender and the sauce is so fresh and zesty that it is bound to be a crowd pleaser! Paleo people don’t have to be faced with bland food – just try this amazing sauce and you will want to serve it with everything!
Crazy-Good Kebabs
– Eat Heal Thrive
Ingredients: boneless meat (a combination of chicken breasts and thighs), fresh mint leaves, fresh rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, salt.
This classic combination of lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs comes together to create a crazy-good dish! You’ll have to plan ahead a bit to marinade the meat before grilling, but it’s worth the effort. Pair these kebabs with a side of cauli-rice or a salad, and you’ve got the perfect meal for the next barbecue.
Lemony Mediterranean Chicken Skewers with Artichoke Hummus, Cucumber & Olives
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: boneless and skinless chicken thighs, neutral-flavored avocado oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, dried cilantro leaves, turmeric, brined artichoke hearts or thawed frozen artichoke hearts, cucumber, green olives, lemon wedges, olive oil.
This dish is full of Mediterranean flavors because of the lemon, garlic and olives if you choose to use them. The skewers are loaded with flavorful chicken and the artichoke hummus can be used to dip the meat in, for a tasty and filling AIP-friendly meal. If you are using wooden skewers you will need to soak them first, but I prefer metal skewers as they help make sure the chicken is cooked right through.
5 Spice Chicken Skewers – Keto, Low Carb, Paleo
– I Breathe I’m Hungry
Photo Credit: Mellissa from I Breathe I’m Hungry
Ingredients: boneless chicken tenders, honey, five spice powder, unsweetened rice wine vinegar, avocado oil (or other light oil with a high smoke point), sesame oil, gluten-free soy sauce or fish sauce or coconut aminos, red bell pepper.
These skewers are so low in carbohydrates that they are perfect for the Paleo lifestyle. This recipe is also dairy and nut free, but is packed with flavor and would make a really impressive lunch for friends. If you like spice you can add some cayenne pepper for a bit of a kick, but these skewers taste just as good without it. For added color you could use different vegetables, or use a red and a yellow pepper.
Lemon Herb Chicken Kabob Recipe
– Healy Eats Real
Photo Credit: Hannah from Healy Eats Real
Ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dried oregano, dried rosemary, sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, boneless and skinless chicken breasts, bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, cherry tomatoes.
Chicken and citrus go really well together and this dish is no exception. The garlic, lemon and oregano give the meat a real Mediterranean flavor. This low carb dish would be ideal for a summer barbecue and the recipe is versatile – change the veggies for your favorites, or use pork or shrimp instead of the chicken. Just remember to soak wooden skewers before loading them or they can burn.
Achari Chicken Kebab
– My Heart Beets
Photo Credit: Ashley from My Heart Beets
Ingredients: chicken thighs, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, kalonji (onion seed), black peppercorns, cardamom pods, coriander powder, sea salt, Kashmiri chili powder, paprika, garlic, ginger, turmeric powder, mustard oil, coconut cream.
Kebabs can be a great idea for a barbecue as they are easy to make and the flavor can be so good if you marinate the meat first. These ones have the classic taste of fenugreek and cardamom, which are both common spices in Indian cuisine. This is another low-carb lunch idea that tastes just as good hot or cold, so these can be packed in a lunchbox for work, served with a side salad.
Pinchos de Pollo
– Ditch the Wheat
Photo Credit: Carol from Ditch The Wheat
Ingredients: garlic, fine Himalayan salt, black pepper, fresh or dried oregano, extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, boneless and skinless chicken breast.
This keto-friendly recipe comes originally from Puerto Rico and you will often find these tasty skewers being sold as street food. This is another example where thigh meat wins over breast meat, as it has a stronger flavor and holds together well on the skewers. The flavor of the chicken is spiced, and tangy because of the lime juice and tastes so good eaten straight away, but could also be allowed to cool and serve with a salad.
BBQ Chicken Livers and Hearts
– The Nourished Caveman
Photo Credit: Vivica from The Nourished Caveman
Ingredients: chicken hearts and livers, sea salt, black pepper.
We all know that offal should be included in our diet as it is rich in nutrients, but some of it just has too much of a ‘metal’ taste. That’s why using chicken livers and hearts makes a great introduction – the flavors are much more subtle and are a great way to encourage the whole family to try them. The only drawback is that the livers can easily stick to the grill and fall apart, so one suggestion would be to place them on a foil tray on the grill.
Beef Paleo Kebabs
Paleo Spicy Beef Skewers
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: beef steak, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, ground ginger, Chinese 5-spice powder, olive oil, gluten-free tamari sauce or coconut aminos, salt, fresh cilantro
The spice mix on these skewers is just right, not too spicy, not too bland. Unlike some recipes for grilled meat, which rely on BBQ sauce for flavor, these beef skewers are all about the meat!
Low-Carb Steak and Mushroom Kabobs
– Kalyn’s Kitchen
Ingredients: beef (top sirloin or new york steak or trip-tip steak or petite sirloin), mushrooms (such as cremini or white mushrooms), olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, Vege-Sal or salt, black pepper.
In this delicious Paleo, low carb recipe you are marinating the steak with Worcestershire sauce, which brings out the flavor of the steak and gives it a touch of decadent richness. You are only marinating the meat for an hour, so this meal would be great for midweek. You can serve these kabobs with roasted vegetables or a lovely fresh salad for a satisfying dinner the whole family will love.
Green Balsamic Beef Kabobs
– Do You Even Paleo?
Ingredients: fresh parsley, extra virgin olive oil, coconut aminos, balsamic vinegar, sirloin or chuck beef, red onions, mushrooms.
Balsamic vinegar is one of those seasonings that go well with just about everything, including beef, chicken and even strawberries! With any balsamic recipe, try to use the best you can afford as the good quality vinegar taste much better. In these kabobs, the balsamic adds a rich flavor to the meat and sets off the taste of the vegetables too. You can also swap the veggies for your favorites – try zucchini as an AIP alternative!
Kefta Kebabs – Middle Eastern Meatloaf
– Honest and Truly
Ingredients: ground beef (or lamb or both), onion, paprika, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, parsley.
Most of us love grilling, especially in the summer, but sometimes you can get fed up with the old faithful – burgers and steak. So why not try something a bit different? These kefta kebabs are meaty and beautifully spiced with cumin and cinnamon, giving them a taste of the Middle East. This is a dairy and gluten free recipe that is suitable for the Paleo diet and could be the remedy for boring barbecues!
Persian Beef Kabobs
– That Paleo Couple
Ingredients: yellow onions, salt, ground beef, garlic, eggs, black pepper, turmeric, paprika.
In this great recipe, you are given instructions for both the low carb kabobs and a wonderfully rich and creamy dairy-free dip. The kabobs are gently spiced and so tasty, and the dip has cooling cucumber and mint, but with a zesty hit from the lemon juice. Enjoy these together for a real taste of summer! These kabobs taste so good just with the dip, so you really don’t need any sides with them.
Fish & Seafood Paleo Kebabs
Chimichurri Grilled Shrimp
– Cook Eat Paleo
Photo Credit: Lisa from Cook Eat Paleo
Ingredients: uncooked shrimp, olive oil, Italian parsley, lemon, white wine vinegar, garlic, sea salt, ground pepper.
Chimichurri sauce originates from South America and the outstanding flavors come from parsley and garlic. It is ideal for low carb dishes and can add a lovely fresh flavor to shrimp or chicken. It is great as a marinade but can also be served as a dipping sauce. Because shrimp cook in just a few minutes, this would make a great main for a busy day served with a salsa or salad.
Grilled Salmon Skewers
– What’s Gaby Cooking
Ingredients: sockeye salmon (or another fresh salmon of your choice), lemon, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper, shallot, fresh basil leaves, garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, red wine vinegar.
If you are looking for something different to serve at your next family barbecue, you might want to give this amazing Paleo recipe a try! Salmon grills really well, especially when it is paired with lemon, and then we come to the star of the show – the basil vinaigrette! It is garlicky, fresh and aromatic and I love to serve it as a dip or dressing with just about anything!
Rosemary-Lime Salmon Skewers with Zucchini and Bell Peppers
– Go Dairy Free
Ingredients: boneless and skinless salmon fillet, zucchini, yellow bell pepper, red onion, fine sea salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, fresh rosemary, garlic.
Salmon is an amazing ingredient for Paleo eating plans as it is really tasty, packed with Omega 3 fish oils and very low in carbohydrates. It also grills really well and takes on the flavors of the marinade so well. Making skewered meat and vegetables is a great way to encourage kids to eat healthy food, especially if you get the lovely grill marks on the surface. This recipe is also grain and nut free.
Spicy Grilled Shrimp Skewers
– Do You Even Paleo?
Ingredients: raw shrimp, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, basil, salt, chili powder, ghee, Franks Red Hot Sauce (aged cayenne red peppers, distilled vinegar, water, salt, and garlic powder), honey, lemon juice.
If you like spicy food, you are going to love these delicious golden shrimp! And you don’t even need to cook them outside – just pop them under the broiler if the weather isn’t too good. This is a grain and gluten free recipe that would impress any of your friends and family at your next barbecue. The shrimp are garlicky and have a real kick of heat from the cayenne and hot sauce, and are great served with a fresh salad.
Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Avocado Puree from The Paleo Cupboard Cookbook
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: avocado, coconut cream, lime juice, fine sea salt, black pepper, cilantro, ground cumin, garlic powder, extra virgin olive oil, shrimp.
If you are using your grill and are looking for a new Paleo-friendly idea, try out these amazing shrimp with the creamy avocado dip! The shrimp are spiced and seasoned and taste great, yet they only take a few minutes to cook. I find with fish and chicken on a grill that metal skewers can be really useful as they help to make sure the meat cooks all the way through.
Grilled Salmon, Strawberries and Nectarine Kebabs
– Heather Cristo
Ingredients: fillet of salmon, nectarines, strawberries, olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper.
When I first saw this recipe, I wondered how salmon and fruit would work together, but I was amazed by the result! The tart and sweet fruit just bring the flavor of the salmon to life, and my kids absolutely loved this. If you don’t want to grill the fruit, you could always turn it into a low carb salsa and serve it over the grilled fish once it is cooked.
Grilled Salmon Kebabs
– Skinny Taste
Ingredients: fresh oregano, sesame seeds, ground cumin, red pepper flakes, skinless salmon fillet, lemons, olive oil cooking spray, kosher salt.
This is a really healthy Paleo-friendly recipe for grilled salmon that is flavored with herbs and spices and paired up with thin lemon slices to add that citrus zing to the taste of the fish. If you are using wooden skewers, it is a good idea to use two to avoid the salmon spinning round when you turn it, ensuring that the fish cooks evenly and takes on that lovely grilled coloring.
Shrimp Satay
– The Domestic Man
Ingredients: shrimp, coconut milk, fish sauce, garlic, turmeric, cumin, sea salt.
Here is a great Paleo-compliant shrimp recipe that gives you golden, tasty shrimp to serve for lunch or as part of your next family barbecue. This is a gluten free recipe that is also low in carbohydrates and does not involve using the traditional peanut sauce associated with satay. You can serve this with a simple salad, slaw or dip of your choice, or just on cocktail sticks as party food.
Other Paleo Kebabs
Chipotle-Lime Marinated Pork Kebabs
– She Cooks…He Cleans
Ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, chipotle chile (from canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce), lime juice, honey, water, garlic, kosher salt, ground cumin, cilantro, pork tenderloin, zucchini, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, pepper.
Here is another example of how rainbow colors can liven up a plain kebab really well, making it look as good as it tastes! The pork in this gluten and dairy-free recipe is spiced with chile and the lime in the marinade helps keep the meat moist and tender as it cooks. There is no need for sides, just squeeze some extra lime juice over the kebabs and enjoy!
AIP Lamb, Tarragon and Mint Koftas Guest Post by Jo Romero
– The Paleo Mom
Photo Credit: Sarah from The Paleo Mom
Ingredients: lamb mince, garlic, tarragon, mint leaves, parsley, salt.
When my children were small, I found it almost impossible to get them to eat healthy meat dishes, but when I found koftas, they were the answer! I think it was because they were served on a stick that made them so appealing! The ones in this AIP compliant recipe are a great combination of lamb and mint which can be served quite simply with a green salad or a homemade coleslaw.
Rostelle (Grilled Lamb Skewers)
– The Nourished Caveman
Photo Credit: Vivica from The Nourished Caveman
Ingredients: hogget shoulder meat (or lamb), salt, pepper.
This must be one of the simplest recipes around, but this method lets the flavor of the meat shine through! All you are adding to the lamb is salt, omitting the pepper for AIP, so there are no complicated seasonings to challenge you, and this is real food at its best. The meat gives you a source of protein that you can serve with vegetables, or simplify things and use a low carb yogurt and mint dipping sauce.
Bacon Wrapped Apple Pork Meatball Kebabs
– The Healthy Foodie
Photo Credit: Sonia from The Healthy Foodie
Ingredients: ground pork, onion, red cooking apple, salt, black pepper, chai spice, parsley, mint leaves, raisins, egg, coconut flour, bacon.
Why have I never thought of putting meatballs on kebabs before!! What a great idea this is, and pairing the meatballs with chunks of apple makes such a great flavor and texture combination. The pork meatballs have raisins in, so when you bite into these you get little pockets of fruitiness among the meat. And they are wrapped in bacon – what’s not to like about these Paleo wonders!
Greek Pork Souvlaki
– The Healthy Foodie
Photo Credit: Sonia from The Healthy Foodie
Ingredients: pork tenderloin, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, dried oregano, thyme, lemon zest, Himalayan salt, black pepper.
Souvlaki is a Greek fast food that can often be found sold by street vendors. It consists of chunks of marinated meat and vegetables threaded onto skewers, and in this recipe, the marinade is made from lemon, garlic and olive oil, which give the souvlaki that authentic taste of Greece. This is a low carb Paleo recipe and to keep things AIP-friendly, omit the black pepper.
Curried Venison and Pork Kebabs with Avocado Dipping Sauce
– Cavegirl Cuisine
Photo Credit: Michelle from Cavegirl Cuisine
Ingredients: ground venison or bison or beef, ground pork, egg, red curry paste, sea salt, garlic, shallot, Dijon mustard, cinnamon, curry powder, avocado, parsley, raw honey, sriracha or preferred hot sauce, coconut milk.
Venison is one of those meats that can really carry strong flavors well, so it is perfect in this curry recipe, but if you find it hard to get you can use ground beef instead. This is a dairy free, low carb meal that will impress even the pickiest guests! The avocado sauce is rich and creamy, but if you want it as a cooling dip, just omit the hot sauce and add in a couple of fresh mint leaves.
Lamb Kebabs with Mint Pesto
– Cavegirl Cuisine
Photo Credit: Michelle from Cavegirl Cuisine
Ingredients: mint leaves, parsley, onion, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, sea salt, ground lamb, egg, lemon juice, raw honey, black pepper, ground coriander, paprika, ground celery seed.
This Paleo recipe is another example of a kofta-style kebab using fresh lamb partnered with mint, which is a classic combination. The lamb is spiced with coriander and paprika, which brings out the flavor of the meat, then you have a creamy and garlicky pesto to dip the lamb in. This is a dairy and gluten-free recipe that you can cook quite quickly, so it would be ideal for a speedy dinner midweek.
Shami Kebab
– My Heart Beets
Photo Credit: Ashley from My Heart Beets
Ingredients: white onion, garlic, ginger, serrano pepper, water, ghee, meat masala (green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon or cassia, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, nutmeg), salt, ground meat (beef, lamb or goat), almond flour, cilantro, egg.
If you like Indian food you will love these delicious little meaty packets, stuffed with spices and with a lovely garlic hit. This is an adaptable recipe as you can use any ground meat you have to give you perfect Paleo snacks or you can serve these with salad or cauliflower rice for a full meal. These grain and gluten-free kebabs can be frozen then thawed and cooked when you need them and they make great party food served with a creamy cucumber dip.
Seekh Kebab
– My Heart Beets
Photo Credit: Ashley from My Heart Beets
Ingredients: yellow onion, ground meat, garlic, ginger, Thai bird chili, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, fine sea salt, mint leaves, cilantro, ghee.
These Indian kebabs are packed with flavor and would make a wonderful appetizer for an Indian meal, or served with roasted vegetables for a hearty meal. This keto recipe works just as well with ground beef or lamb, and these are really easy to eat so would be a good idea for a family barbecue. If you prefer, you could remove the sticks and serve these chopped, or turn the mixture into patties.
