Best BBQ Skewers Recipes

On a long summer evening or warm weekend with friends, nothing beats a backyard barbeque. With our summer skewer recipes, preparing food for any number of guests has never been easier. From sweet, charred peppers to smoky strips of chicken, BBQ skewers can be easily adjusted to suit every individual craving and dietary need.

Whether you’re a seasoned alfresco chef or are heating up your outdoor BBQ grill for the very first time, our summer BBQ ideas will keep you inspired. Get ready for these beautifully balanced skewer recipes to become a new summer staple.

Can You Use Wooden Skewers on a BBQ?

Wooden skewers are a popular choice for kebabs and skewered BBQ foods, but don’t throw them straight onto the grill. First, soak the sticks in water for at least 10 minutes. This helps prevent them from catching or burning. You might also want to use the double-skewer technique if you’re loading your skewers with particularly generous portions!

Otherwise, check out our outdoor cooking range and pick up something sturdier. The Lakeland BBQ tool set comes with four metal skewers that can be used again and again.

BBQ Chicken Skewers

Serve these skewers hot off the grill and you’ll have an instant crowd-pleaser! Tender chunks of marinated chicken, vibrant bell peppers and sweet pineapple form the perfect summer kebab stick. Serve with a fresh summer salad and soft rolls, or a cool rice dish that’ll compliment that tangy BBQ sauce.

bbq skewers for bbq ideas in the summer

Ingredients:

  • 350g chicken breast, cut into chunks
  • 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks
  • 200ml BBQ sauce
  • 2 minced cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Preheat your BBQ to medium-high heat.
  2. In a bowl, mix together BBQ sauce, minced garlic, honey, salt and pepper.
  3. Add the chicken to the marinade, ensuring that each piece is well coated. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Thread marinated chicken, peppers, onion and pineapple onto your sticks.
  5. Brush the assembled BBQ chicken skewers lightly with oil.
  6. Cook the chicken on the grill and, for maximum flavour, let the pieces catch for a lightly charred finish. Or, if you’re using a Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill, try using the smoker setting to give the meat a subtle wood-fired flavour.

How Long to Cook Chicken Skewers?

We recommend grilling these small bites of chicken for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally. You’ll know your chicken skewers are cooked through when the centre of the meat is no longer pink, or you can use a food thermometer to check.

BBQ Prawn Skewers

Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your garden party with these succulent BBQ prawn skewers. Perfect for anyone who loves delicate flavours and a healthy alternative to the usual BBQ bangers. Serve as a mouthwatering appetiser or as a juicy main with a citrusy mocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 400g large prawns, peeled and deveined
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried herbs (such as oregano or thyme)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Courgettes, cut into chunks

Method:

  1. Preheat your BBQ to medium-high heat.
  2. In a bowl combined your lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, dried herbs, salt and pepper.
  3. Add the prawns, cherry tomatoes and courgettes to the mix. Let this all marinate for 15-20 minutes, tossing the contents occasionally to ensure all the pieces get an even coating.
  4. Thread the marinated ingredients onto your skewers and drizzle over the remaining mixture from the bowl.
  5. Grill the assembled BBQ prawn skewers for 5-7 minutes, turning once to ensure that the prawns are pink and opaque on both sides.
  6. Serve hot with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a splash of chilli and garlic sauce.

Halloumi BBQ Skewers

Vegetarians and squeaky-cheese lovers alike will go mad for these halloumi BBQ skewers. We’ve made this recipe fruity and fresh with cooling bites of grilled watermelon. This delicious combo is the perfect balance of sweet and salty, perfect for alfresco parties and summer lunches. Pair with a mint yoghurt dressing and enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 250g halloumi cheese, cut into cubes
  • Watermelon, cut into cubes
  • Red onion, cut into wedges
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, or try our smoky chilli and basil oil for an extra kick!
  • A bunch of small basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Preheat your BBQ to medium-high heat.
  2. Thread the prepared ingredients onto the skewers, adding the basil leaves every three chunks.
  3. Brush the assembled BBQ halloumi skewers with olive oil, season with the salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Grill skewers for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the halloumi is golden brown and slightly crispy.
  5. Serve them up with warmed flatbread and hearty salad.

Vegetarian BBQ Skewers

Vibrant vegetables, aromatic herbs and a rich, deep balsamic dressing – these vegetarian BBQ skewers are stealing the spotlight. Vegan guests will be back for more too, as the Cottage Delight Oak-Aged Balsamic Dressing is suitable for everyone. We’ve got loads of delicious barbeque recipes for vegans to keep you cooking all summer long!

Lakeland barbecue tools and veggie bbq skewers

Ingredients:

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Button mushrooms
  • Courgette, cut into discs
  • Red and yellow bell peppers, cut into chunks
  • Red onion, cut into wedges
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoons Cottage Delight Oak-Aged Balsamic Dressing
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Preheat your BBQ to medium heat.
  2. In a bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, dried herbs, salt and pepper.
  3. Thread cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, courgette, peppers, and onion onto your kebab sticks.
  4. Brush the assembled vegetarian BBQ skewers with the olive oil mixture.
  5. Grill the skewers for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until vegetables are tender and slightly charred.
  6. During the final minutes, brush on the balsamic dressing. It’ll cook slightly to form a delicious sticky glaze.
  7. You can serve these up with soft bread or alongside tasty vegan burgers.

As well as gathering your friends and family, you’ll need to get together all the right tools for the job. Make the most of the barbeque season – don’t put your trust in a disposable barbeque tray! Get something dependable and long-lasting. Cobb Premier Gas BBQ System and Everdure Cube 360 Charcoal Portable BBQ, with their super portability and flavour-focused design, are perfect for all kinds of outings and adventures.

Having the right barbeque accessories, too, can be the difference between a successful outdoor feast and an alfresco flop! Arm yourself with our top 10 must-have BBQ items and the season’s hottest BBQ recipes. Then all you need to do is line up your condiments of choice in our BBQ caddy and get your summer off to a sizzling start!