Grilled Beef Kebabs with Hummus are a classic and irresistible dish that combines tender, spiced beef with the smooth, creamy goodness of hummus. Perfect for grilling season or a flavorful weeknight dinner, this meal brings together Middle Eastern flavors with a balance of savory, fresh, and tangy elements.
To prepare the beef kebabs, cubes of beef are marinated in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, and a touch of cinnamon or allspice. These spices infuse the meat with warmth and depth while the olive oil helps tenderize the beef. The kebabs are then threaded onto skewers along with vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or cherry tomatoes, which add a burst of sweetness and freshness when grilled.
The key to perfect kebabs is grilling them over medium-high heat, ensuring the beef becomes beautifully charred on the outside while remaining juicy and tender on the inside. The vegetables also take on a smoky, caramelized flavor that complements the savory beef perfectly.
Hummus serves as the ideal side dish, adding a creamy and slightly tangy element that pairs wonderfully with the grilled meat and vegetables. The rich texture of hummus, made from blended chickpeas, tahini sauce, garlic, and lemon, offers a cooling contrast to the spiced beef. You can make your own hummus at home or use store-bought versions for convenience.
To serve, arrange the grilled beef kebabs on a platter alongside a generous scoop of hummus. You can garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or cilantro and a drizzle of olive oil on top of the hummus. Warm pita bread or flatbreads are perfect for dipping into the hummus or wrapping around the kebabs for a complete bite.
Grilled Beef Kebabs with Hummus are ideal for outdoor gatherings, meal prep, or a quick weeknight dinner. They offer bold, smoky flavors from the grilled beef and vegetables, with the rich and creamy hummus providing a refreshing contrast that elevates the entire meal. This dish is simple to prepare, satisfying, and guaranteed to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef steak cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 red onion cut into small wedges
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup hummus
- pita bread for serving
- mixed greens for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, minced garlic, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Add the beef cubes to the marinade and toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread the marinated beef cubes onto skewers, alternating with the bell peppers and onion wedges.
- Grill the kebabs for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the beef is cooked to your desired doneness and the vegetables are tender.
- Serve the grilled beef kebabs with hummus, pita bread, and mixed greens.
Nutrition
Yum! Best meal ive made in a while. I added some hot sauce too, made it even better!
Easy and quick! I added some mushrooms too and it turned out great. Thumbs up from my kids!
Grilled beef kebab take long to cook, right? Or maybe my grill is just bad 🤷♂️.
I think they cook pretty quick if the grill is hot enough! Maybe try preheating it longer next time?
Kebabs? More like kebabs of disappointment. 🙁 The beef was tough even after marinating.
Where’s the recipe for the hummus? You just gave it a mention! Not cool man.
I didn’t really care for the marinade, too much lemon for my taste. Might try with less next time.
These kebabs were a hit at my BBQ! The marinade made them so flavorful. Definitely making them again!
I’m so glad to hear that! I love how the marinade adds so much flavor. What other sides did you serve?
Sounds good, but I think mine would be better. The marinade seems too simple for kebabs. I prefer more spices.
The peppers fell off while grilling, but the taste was still good. Next time, I’ll try to secure them better.
Loved the hummus! It brought everything together. 👌
This recipe is too complicated! Can’t I just throw some meat on the grill? Why do I need all those spices?
I don’t even like red meat but I tried this recipe for my friends and everyone loved it! What a surprise!
I tried these but forgot to get skewer sticks. I just cooked the beef and served it with hummus instead. It was okay but not the same!
These kebabs were a hit at my party! So juicy and flavorful. Definitely making again! ❤️
These were just alright, tasted better on the grill than in the oven. But I guess if you have a grill, it would be great!
These kebabs were a hit at our BBQ! So juicy and full of flavor, everyone loved them! 5 stars!
So easy to make. I really liked using hummus instead of sauce. Will make again! 😋
Could be just me, but 10-12 minutes felt a bit short for my grill temp. The beef was okay, but I’d watch doneness more than the clock. Also, I forgot to turn them once and oops.
Kebabs for life! 💪 Perfect summer meal 😍
Meat on a stick? Heck yes! Best way to eat. Who needs fancy plating?
Is there a reason for the soy sauce? Isn’t it supposed to be Mediterranean?? 🤔
I dunno, mine didn’t turn out so good. The beef was kinda tough and the veggies burned. Maybe I messed something up? 🤷♂️
Not a fan of the cumin. It was too strong for me. Next time I’ll skip it.
Delicious!! I added some extra garlic because I love it. Super good with pita too!
Also I used chicken instead of beef and it was sooooo good! 😋
The hummus pairing is smart. I used store-bought hummus and it still tasted like a restaurant meal. My kids actually asked for seconds—rare!
They just need more seasoning, felt kinda bland to me. 🤷♂️
I think the seasoning is just fine! Maybe you should try it again with a bit more spice if you’re looking for more flavor. 🌶️
Honestly thought the marinade would be too strong with soy sauce and garlic, but it balanced out. Family asked for seconds.
I’m not usually into soy + lemon combos but wow, it works. Could eat these every week. Next time I’ll add a pinch of chili flakes for some heat.
Soy sauce + lemon juice always feels a little weird to me (like sweet-and-sour vibes), but you saying it works makes me wanna try. Maybe I’d use less soy next time though.
Yes!! The lemon + soy combo always tastes more “bright” than you’d expect. Chili flakes would be perfect—kinda like a little fast fusion vibe.
I don’t think soy sauce belongs in kebabs. It tasted weird to me. Going back to the classic recipe.
I get what you mean! Soy sauce in kebabs sounds a bit off to me too. I prefer them without any weird flavors. Classic all the way!
Not bad, but my kebabs stuck a little to the grill and I had to fight them off. Next time I’ll oil the grates and maybe add a touch more oil to the marinade.
wow so good! kebabs were juicy lol. 10/10
I messed up the garlic and used garlic powder… it was kinda bland. Also I forgot to let it marinate and the texture wasn’t great. Recipe seems solid if you follow it.
I think the blandness might be from not salting enough… like you only have 1/2 tsp salt for a whole pound of beef? I’d bump it and maybe add more lemon. The texture part tho—marinating is the whole point, so yeah.
Ahh yep—garlic powder is totally different from fresh minced garlic. Also the 15 min marinate really helps with flavor + tenderness. Next time, mince a couple cloves and don’t skip the soak 👍
These kebabs were seriously juicy—marinating made all the difference. I grilled a bit longer than 12 min and they were perfect medium. The hummus + lemon combo is legit.
Yes!! That marinade sounds exactly right—juicy beef without drying out. I always worry about grilling time but 12 min-ish on medium-high seems spot on. The lemon + hummus combo really does brighten everything.
Hummus with lemon is good, but I’m not convinced about the soy sauce + cumin/paprika combo… feels like it’ll taste kinda “fusion” in a way. Still, if you grilled longer than 12 and got medium, maybe my heat runs cooler. Gonna try and see though.
PERFECT for BBQ! Everyone loved them! Can’t wait to impress my friends next weekend.
These kebabs were a hit! The marinade was spot on. Will definitely make again.
So glad to hear that! The marinade really is the magic part. I can’t wait to try it out myself!
Good flavor, but mine stuck a bit to the grill. I think the skewers were too dry even though I marinated. Maybe need oil on the grates or use thicker skewers.
Five stars. No question.
Kinda weird and not what I expected. This ain’t a kebab if there’s no sauce!
Pretty tasty overall, though 10-12 minutes felt a bit short for the beef cubes I had (maybe bigger than 1 inch). I had to extend it, but it still turned out okay.
Good catch! I usually make sure the cubes are pretty consistent—bigger than ~1 inch definitely needs more than 10-12 mins. Glad it still worked out for you.
Got busy and forgotten to marinate! Just seasoned them and they still turned out yummy!
I guess that just shows how good the recipe is! Can’t wait to try it myself. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Really? No marinating? I’m surprised it still tasted good. I thought marinating was super important for flavor!
Can’t tell if I did it wrong, but mine came out kinda bland. Maybe I didn’t marinate long enough—only 10 minutes. Will try again.
I think 10 minutes is probably it—this marinade has a lot of flavor but it needs more time to soak in. At least 15 min (and even 30–60 if you can). Also make sure you’re salting/peppering the beef cubes evenly and not overcrowding the bowl so everything actually coats.
Why do I have to thread the veggies? That seems like too much work. Never mind! Just grilled meat for me.
Come on, threading the veggies is part of the fun! It adds flavor and makes it pretty. Give it a try!
Followed the recipe exactly and it came out flavorful but a touch salty for my taste (probably the soy sauce). Next time I’ll reduce salt or use low-sodium.
These were a hit! The soy + lemon combo makes the marinade super flavorful, and grilling actually caramelized the edges of the beef cubes. Served with extra hummus and it was basically meal-prep perfection.
These were a total hit. The marinade really seasons the beef without needing anything fancy—juicy and flavorful. I grilled a little longer and they came out perfect.
The timing felt a little off. Mine took closer to 18 minutes to cook through, and the peppers got a little charred. Still delicious, just watch the grill.
Not convinced about the cumin/paprika amount. It’s a little strong for my taste, and I can’t tell if the soy sauce overwhelms the lemon. Still edible though.
Good idea, but my beef stuck to the skewers and grill grates. Maybe I should’ve oiled more—still tasted great though.
That’s exactly what extra oil + a hot grill helps with. Next time, I’d oil the grates right before cooking (and make sure the skewers are either oiled too or use a light foil/vegetable-oil brush). Also don’t overload the marinade—just coat, and let excess drip off a bit.
Happened to me once—turning too soon can rip the meat. I tried cooking longer on one side before flipping and it stopped sticking. But also… 15 minutes is kinda short? I marinate like 1 hour. Still, sounds yummy 😅
I’m not a big cumin person, so I was unsure. Surprisingly it works with the paprika and lemon—nice Middle Eastern-ish vibe without being overpowering.
Yes! The lemon + paprika combo really balances the cumin. I’m not a cumin-overload person either, and 1 tsp feels just right here.
Interesting—my cumin always takes over 😅 but maybe because I use more. I might cut it to 3/4 tsp next time. Still seems good though, especially with the soy and lemon together.
I’m skeptical about soy sauce in a Mediterranean-ish kebab, but honestly it worked. The cumin and paprika pulled it together. My family said they want it again—so yeah, I was wrong.
I was also skeptical, but soy sauce + lemon + garlic makes sense. The cumin/paprika would carry it right into that kebab vibe. Glad your family approved!
I followed it pretty closely, but I marinated closer to an hour (ran out of time otherwise). Still delicious and the veggies stayed nice and tender. I’d call it a “weekday fancy” meal.
Wait… 1-inch cubes on the beef? I cut mine smaller and they dried out. Still edible, but not great. Maybe I’ll add a shorter cook time.