What to Serve with Kabobs: 25 Crowd Pleasing Kabob Side Dishes
What to serve with kabobs on the grill! Here are the best side dishes for chicken kabobs, steak skewers, or veggie shish kabobs for dinner.
The smoky, slightly charred nature of kabobs offers such great flavor!
Kabobs are also a healthier option than other BBQ foods, since they usually just contain lean protein and vegetables.
Honestly, they’re the perfect summer meal.
The easiest way to cook them is on the outdoor charcoal or gas grill, but you can also bake them on a baking sheet in the oven.
If you purchase metal skewers, you can re-use them over and over, or be sure to soak wooden skewers in water ahead of time so they don’t burn.
Whether you like chicken, veggie, shrimp, or steak kabobs, you can easily customize them with your favorite veggies and protein.
Mix and match your shish kabobs with these ingredients!
(Psst: Looking for new kabob ideas? Check out this mega list of unique kabob recipes on the grill!)
Best meat for kabobs
The best meat for kabobs are:
- Chicken breasts
- Chicken thighs
- Top sirloins
- Shrimp
- Smoked sausage
- Lamb
Best vegetables for kabobs
Veggies taste SO good on the grill, because it brings out their natural sweetness.
The best vegetables for kabobs are:
- Colorful bell peppers
- Red onions
- Cherry tomatoes
- Yellow squash
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Corn on the cob (cut into small pieces)
- Pineapple
Best marinades for kabobs
You can use a store-bought marinade, or use bottled teriyaki sauce, BBQ sauce, or Italian dressing.
Or make a simple and delicious homemade marinade from scratch!
Some easy marinades for kabobs can include:
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut milk
- Brown sugar
Okay, now you have the main dish in hand, but what goes with kabobs?
Here’s a list of the best kabob side dishes, to really complete the meal!
What to serve with kabobs
1. Potato salad
This herbed potato salad is a nice twist on traditional American mayo-based potato salad.
It’s a fresher tasting dish that uses red potatoes and a vinegar-based dressing.
2. Greek pasta salad
Greek pasta salad is an easy side dish that you can prep ahead of time for any summer party or barbecue.
It contains several fresh summer ingredients that’ll pair extremely well with kabobs.
Read Next: 27 Healthy Pasta Salad Recipes (you won’t regret eating!)
3. Spinach salad
Wondering what salad to serve with kabobs?
This apple spinach salad is phenomenal, and always a crowd favorite!
4. Corn on the cob
You can cook corn on the cob right on the grill, alongside your kabobs.
They’re super affordable and fresh in the summer!
5. Foil packet veggies
It never hurts to serve extra veggies, and you may find that your vegetables get more charred than you prefer when they’re on a skewer.
Instead, skewer just the meat and cook the vegetables them on the grill in a foil packet.
Yellow squash, zucchini, red onions, or your other favorite veggies make such a tasty and low carb sides for kabobs.
Read next: 25 Super Easy Foil Pack Dinners (that cook themselves)
6. Greek salad
An easy greek salad with cucumber, feta cheese, olives, red onion, and cherry tomatoes is so refreshing!
It’s the perfect make ahead side dish for any picnic or summer barbecue.
7. Coconut rice
Restaurant quality coconut rice is achievable at home!
It’s so fluffy, and has a tropical feel that’s hard to beat.
Other good rice side dishes for kabobs:
8. Curried tomatoes and chickpeas
The ingredients and flavor profile in these curried tomatoes and chickpeas makes a great choice for a kabob side dish.
A can of chickpeas and a few fresh ingredients come together to make something unexpectedly delicious!
9. Sweet potatoes
Whether you serve baked sweet potato wedges, roast them in the oven, or cook them right on the grill, sweet potatoes are a nutritious and inexpensive side dish.
They can take on many different flavors depending on which spices and herbs you use.
10. Orzo
Orzo looks like rice, but it’s actually pasta.
Since kabobs come from the Mediterranean region, this Mediterranean toasted orzo with parmesan and sundried tomatoesis the perfect companion.
It’s so flavorful, and only takes 15 minutes!
11. Pita bread or Naan
If you’re looking for a good bread to serve with kabobs, consider pita bread or Naan.
Your guests can make little wraps out of them once they remove the meat and veggies from the sekwer, or just eat the bread alongside it.
12. Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a fresh salad made from finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, bulgar, lemon juice and olive oil.
It’s a Middle Eastern staple, and is a nice twist on traditional kabob sides.
13. Corn salad
Basil and feta corn salad is a refreshing swap for creamy corn salad recipes.
It’s such a great use-up for sweet summer corn.
I recommend making it ahead of time to fully let the flavors meld together.
14. Couscous
Lemon couscous is a super quick and easy side dish. It’s bright flavor makes it a great side dish for kabobs.
Or Mediterranean couscous salad has a refreshing dressing, colorful veggies, and feta cheese.
15. Brussels sprouts salad
Flavorful, shaved brussels sprout salad has only 7 ingredients, and is a nice twist on traditional roasted brussels.
It’s perfect to make ahead of time, so there’s no scrambling at dinnertime.
16. Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a delicious cucumber yogurt dip that’s a must-have for kabob night.
It’s most often found in Greek restaurants, and goes super well with pita bread or chips and grilled meat and veggies.
You can even buy it pre-made in most grocery stores if you don’t want to make it from scratch.
17. Potato wedges
Another easy side dish for kabobs is potato wedges.
Simply slice a Russet potato into wedges, toss in a little olive oil and salt, pepper, and paprika, and bake or air fry.
You could even cook them on the grill with a grill mat if you don’t want to heat up the kitchen.
They’re always a crowd pleaser!
18. Fruit salad or fruit kabobs
A simple side dish idea for kabobs is fresh fruit.
You could mix a variety together in a fruit salad, or put fruit chunks on skewers as ‘fruit kabobs.’
19. Brown rice salad
Mediterranean brown rice salad is easy, filling, gluten-free, and delicious!
It contains really nutritious ingredients, such as brown rice, spinach, grape tomatoes, cucumber, and feta.
Plus, you can make it ahead of time and save yourself some work later.
If you’ve never tried it, I’d seriously consider serving it with kabobs for dinner.
20. Garlic bread
Did you know that you can actually make grilled garlic bread on the BBQ?
It gives a little extra smokiness and char that can’t be beat.
Garlic bread is a hearty side dish that’ll really complete the meal. And you won’t heat up your kitchen by turning on the oven.
You could even do bruschetta with grilled bread for a fancier version.
21. Caprese salad
Caprese salad is somehow both comforting and refreshing.
Ripe tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella, and basil somehow make something magical, especially when drizzled with balsamic!
22. Grilled pineapple
Brown sugar cinnamon grilled pineapple spears are an amazing way to make use of those ripe pineapples.
You make it on the grill with the kabobs, and can serve it either as a side dish or healthy dessert.
23. Watermelon salad
Watermelon salad with feta and cucumber is such a unique and refreshing side dish.
The flavor combination may sound odd, but it really works!
24. Caesar salad
Kabobs go really well with caesar salad, and your guests can put the grilled meat right on the salad if they like.
Whether you pick up a bagged caesar kit from the store, or make your own at home, it’s always a crowd pleaser!
25. Potato chips
If you want a REALLY simple side, set out a bowl of chips.
There are many gourmet flavors available these days, plus a variety of dip options.
It’s a great option if you’re serving kabobs at a party.
And you could make homemade potato chips if you’re feeling froggy!
Ready to make kabobs for dinner?
I hope this list has given you lots of good ideas for what goes with kabobs.
Skewers are such a versatile and easy dinner, and you can even prep them early in the day and keep them in a simple marinade in the fridge until ready to grill or bake.
What to serve with kabobs on the grill! Here are the best side dishes for chicken, steak, or veggie shish kabobs for dinner. 1. Choose 1-3 side dishes to serve with your kabobs
What to Serve with Kabobs - 25 Crowd Pleasing Sides
Ingredients
Instructions
2. Gather the ingredients to make the sides
3. Prepare the side dishes, serve, and enjoy!
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