Easy High-Protein Mediterranean Ground Beef Kabob

This Mediterranean ground beef kabob recipe couldn’t be more straightforward, or any more delicious! Ground beef is seasoned with onion, garlic, and herbs, then shaped, skewered, and cooked to perfection on the barbecue. I love pairing these healthy ground beef kabobs with all the fresh Mediterranean flavors!

Mediterranean ground beef kabob recipe

I was first introduced to lamb koftas (a Mediterranean ground lamb kabob) years back, and while I LOVE that option, I know lamb isn’t always accessible or enjoyed by everyone.

Enter: the easy beef kofta recipe!

Perfect for your next summer BBQ – easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

This is an easy recipe to make in advance to have flavorful protein prepped and ready to be enjoyed throughout the week.

In fact, it’s perfect for meal prep if that’s your thing! You can enjoy them as kabobs with all the Mediterranean fixings on the first night, and then turn them into something new the next!

What’s the best way to cook this ground beef kabob recipe?

These healthy beef kabobs cook really well on the barbecue or smoker (like a Traeger electric grill – my favorite way). You can also cook them in the oven!

They are prepped and ready to go on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, so if oven cooking is your preferred option, go ahead and bake them in a 400-degree F oven for 8-12 minutes.

Choose an option that cooks at a hot temperature for best results. They wouldn’t turn out the best on a low and slow type of option (like a slow cooker).

What you need for ground beef kabobs

• ground beef
• yellow onion
• garlic
• dried rosemary
• dried oregano
• sea salt
• black pepper

How to make ground beef kebabs

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

Step 1: To make ground meat kabobs, add ground beef, grated onion, minced garlic, dried herbs, sea salt, and pepper in a large bowl, and mix fully.

Step 2: Using clean hands shape the meat mixture into oblong patties that are round enough to fit on skewers. You can also make the beef mixture easily in a food processor. Using metal skewers or wooden skewers, take the formed ground beef mixture and thread it onto the skewers. Lay on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan.

Step 3: Heat a barbeque to medium-high heat and add the kebabs to the hot grill when hot. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, rotating 3-4 times to evenly cook the meat kebabs. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness – looking for an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.

What to serve with beef kofta kebabs

Beef kofta kebabs go well with all Mediterranean flavors and middle eastern warm spices. The flavorful meat should definitely be paired with fresh veggies and flavors to enhance the herbs in it.

You can turn them into healthy bowls by adding a base of orzo or rice, or wrap them in lettuce wraps or pitas.

Serve all the options and let everyone at your dinner table turn these healthy kabobs into the type of meal they are looking for!

For sauces, try these:

• creamy hummus
• yogurt sauce
• tahini sauce
• tzatziki sauce

For fresh vegetables, try these:

• cucumber
• tomatoes
• crunchy lettuce
• red onions
• olives
• fresh herbs like fresh parsley and fresh mint
• roasted garlic cloves
• roasted red peppers
• marinated artichokes

Extras that should definitely be included for your flavorful meal:

• store-bought or homemade pita bread
• pita chips
• lavash bread (large rectangular wraps)
• feta cheese is always a great addition!

How to store leftovers

This recipe is fantastic as leftovers! Once your leftover kabobs are cooled, store them in an airtight container for 5 days in the fridge.

You can also easily freeze them. Place them in a freezer bag, label and date, and store for up to 6 months.

To use leftovers and reheat them, place them in a 300-degree oven until warmed through.

Another way I like to use these leftover kabobs is diced, sauteed, and in a salad or a Mediterranean ground beef stir fry!

Dicing the kabobs will help them to warm through more easily, and then as you saute them in a medium heat large skillet, more edges will crisp.

It’s quite delicious and the perfect use in burger salads or heated with red bell pepper, chopped onion, and spinach over cauliflower rice or jasmine rice.

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this ground beef kebab recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Ground beef – Use lean ground beef or a combination of ground beef and ground lamb here. You can also swap in ground turkey. ground pork, or ground chicken, too. Since the recipe calls for 2 lbs of ground beef, it’s easy to mix and match and use 2 kinds of meat together. Pair lean ground meat (like ground turkey or ground chicken) with less lean ground meat (like ground beef, ground lamb, or ground pork) for a perfectly balanced and tasty option.

Yellow onion – Use grated red onion, white onion, or shallot in place of the yellow onion. If you’d like to use green onion, you’ll want to finely mince the green onion so that it mixes really well into the meat mixture.

Fresh garlic – Opt for granulated garlic or garlic powder in place of the fresh minced garlic. Use 1 tablespoon dried as a substitute.

Dried herbs – Good substitutes for the dried rosemary and dried oregano include dried mint and dried basil.

More mediterranean recipes you’ll love

• Greek lamb meatloaf
• Mini beef sliders with sweet potato buns
• Healthy Mediterranean hummus wrap recipe
• Roasted red pepper pesto

If you try this Mediterranean ground beef kabob recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published August 2022. Updated May 2025.