Marinated Greek Lamb Kebabs
When you’re craving lamb, but don’t need to roast a whole leg, these tender, flavorful Marinated Greek Lamb Kebabs will fit the bill. The Mediterranean flavors work perfectly with lamb, and these Greek kebabs are destined to become a family favorite.
This Leg of Lamb Recipe is cubed, marinated, and grilled to infuse both smoky and Greek flavors into the meat. It’s absolutely wonderful!
Why You Must Make
- The simple flavors of red wine, red wine vinegar, fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon pair perfectly with lamb.
- Lamb is popular in Greek cuisine and this marinade reflects traditional Greek flavors.
- Grilling adds even more deliciousness to these lamb skewers, by way of the Maillard reaction when the amino acids react with the sugars and create delicious flavor compounds.
Expert Tips
These marinated Greek lamb kebabs are super easy to prepare. Start with a leg of lamb or purchase already cubed lamb from your butcher. Just make your marinade the night before you plan to grill and marinate your lamb cubes overnight.
- PRO-Tip: Big chunks of lamb are better than smaller ones. I aim for about 1 1/2-inch cubes so that the lamb does not get overdone as can easily occur with small pieces of meat. You also want the onions and peppers to have enough time on the grill so they cook and soften.
- If you buy a leg of lamb and cube it yourself, the cost will be less than buying it already cut.
- Keeping the lamb and veggies in the marinade overnight allows the wine, vinegar, and lemon juice to tenderize the lamb. The acid in those ingredients helps denature the proteins in your meats while imparting a delicious flavor (although the marinade works mainly on the surface of the meat).
- PRO-Tip: Marinate in a large Ziploc bag. Make sure to seal well, so the marinade does not spill in your refrigerator.
- Flip the bag once or twice during the marination time and agitate it so that all the surfaces of the lamb are exposed to the marinade.
- We love to grill over charcoal as often as possible as the smoke provides an additional flavor to the lamb that is lacking with a gas grill. But either option will work well.
- Remove the lamb from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before grilling to get the chill off.
- Grill your lamb to medium rare for the best results. Check the internal temperature with an Instant Read Thermometer. (affiliate link)
- It should read 135º when you pull it off the grill. There will be some residual cooking and the final temperature will be higher. Tent the kebabs with foil and let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to reabsorb and the meat to come up to temperature. This Leg of Lamb Recipe is to die for!
No matter what you call these or how you spell them, if you enjoy lamb, or want to try it for the first time, I think you’ll enjoy this recipe for Greek kebabs! It’s picky hubby approved!! Serve it with my favorite Greek Salad with Feta, Cheesy Spinach Rice Casserole, Homemade Pita Bread, and Greek Lemon Bundt Cake for dessert! If you’re looking for a leg of lamb recipe, here’s my Glazed Leg of Lamb. As a bonus, these kabobs are actually a leg of lamb recipe, so you won’t have to carve it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Use a boneless leg of lamb or lamb shoulder or lamb sirloin. Made sure the cut is not too lean as the fat will help keep the meat moist as it cooks.
Cook it to Medium Rare for the best results or 145°. It’s best to pull the lamb off the grill at 135°, cover it with foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes. The juices will reabsorb and the residual heat will bring the temperature up 10 degrees.
Kebab is the more popular spelling, a Turkish word meaning sword or skewer, but Kabob is also used. Even Cabob is seen on occasion. Plus, this dish is also known as souvlaki, which translates to “made from lamb” in Greek and Latin.
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Lamb Kebabs
Marinated and grilled lamb kebabs with a Greek flair!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lamb, cut into 1 ½-2-inch cubes (my butcher cubed some leg of lamb)
- ½ cup red wine
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 + large cloves of garlic (minced)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme or a sprinkle of dried thyme
- 1 large onion (cut into 1+ inch chunks)
- 1 red bell pepper (cut into 1+ inch chunks)
Instructions
- Combine wine, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, lemon juice, and onion in a large ziplock bag. Add lamb and mix to combine.
- Marinate overnight in the fridge.
- Skewer lamb chunks with slices of onion and bell pepper.
- Grill to desired doneness.
Notes
Adapted from Greek Cookery Marin.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 848Total Fat: 58gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 220mgSodium: 736mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 10gProtein: 57g
92 Comments on “Marinated Greek Lamb Kebabs”
What a fabulous idea and recipe. We love lamb, and get kabobs as a takeout from an Indian restaurant, but have never made them myself. Need to give it try. Looks good.
Love the marinade! Not only red wine vinegar but red wine too. We are all about that a little for the recipe and the rest for the cook.
It’s been some time since I’ve done kebabs, but you’ve got me thinking about them. These look great! Love lamb, and is is one of the nicer ways to prepare it. Thanks!
mi piace tantissimo, segno la ricetta, grazie!
These kabaobs are so tender and juicy. Cooked to perfection and the flavor is spot on. Delicious!
Yummy! This looks so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to make this!
You’re always putting together nice food blogs. I’m glad to be connected to you! 🙂
Great recipe to revisit. And good point one can enjoy lamb without shelling out on a large expensive cut. The kebabs look irresistible, Liz.
Love lamb! It’s my favorite red meat. This is such a nice, easy way to prepare it. And wow, I’ll bet this is SO flavorful! Thanks.
I’m not a fan of curry, nor lamb but my family would like this. I should make it!
I just said the other day I want to focus on grilling more this summer! Thanks for the inspiration:@)
Mouthwatering! I have never prepared kebabs with lamb…and can’t wait to try it! Thanks, Liz!
Remarkable recipe Lizzy. I love all the pics too. I have never cooked lamb. This makes me want to.
Lamb Kebabs are one of Adam’s favorite foods as they remind him of a restaurant he and his brother used to frequent when they hung out in Paris. Turkey day is the next big menu but this will be on the following week’s dinner schedule, a nice surprise for a sweet man. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I love lamb and I love kabobs…so this is the perfect meal…I am officially hungry and I just ate breakfast. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful, and delicious lamb kabobs, which I haven’t made in years, now is enticing me to make it again. Love the kabobs, and of course, the Greek salad. Yumm! A perfect Sunday meal!
xoxo
Beautiful, and delicious lamb kabobs, which I haven’t made in years, now is enticing me to make it again. Love the kabobs, and of course, the Greek salad. Yumm! A perfect Sunday meal!
xoxo
I love lamb! 🙂 Unfortunately, my family does not, so I don’t eat it that often 🙁 I’m sure I’d love these kebabs- they look so tasty and delicious!
Una cena da re!!!! Spiedini e un’insalata saporita e colorata!!!
Mi piace tanto!!!!
Un bacio e felice settimana!!!!
My mouth is salivating from these pics. I haven’t had lamb in so long and this all sounds phenomenal.
let me try this yummy thank for share
Ooo easter was the last time I had lamb but I love it so much and your kebabs look so tasty!
Ooo easter was the last time I had lamb but I love it so much and your kebabs look so tasty!
Yum, Yum, yum……
Delicious kebabs….
Lizzy, they look delicious! My hubby will love these. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Yum…..nice photography.
These look great! I think I get hungry every time I see kebabs.
These kabobs look gorgeous! Great photos and presentation!
Ugh… Want lamb so badly now… Lamb…
If you can’t cook along with Dorie, this looks like a great alternative!
I appreciate anything unexpected at this time of year. This sounds delicious! Love all the flavors and think it would be a nice break from all that is ordinarily on our holiday menus!
These kebabs look great! I’ve been obsessed with anything greek recently so this definitely fits the bill!
I still have never cooked with lamb. I’ve eaten it a couple of times a long time ago though.
This is the way I’d like to try it though.
These are beautiful kebabs. Do you know I’ve never even tasted lamb? I think I’m going to put that on my list of things to try next year!
Glad you enjoyed my recipe Lizzy…
Love your skewers!
For those who are not lamb lovers this marinade works really well on pork, cut up country style ribs especially with some fat for the grill, and with white wine and white wine vinegar with chicken for chicken Souvlakia…
I haven’t had lamb on forever! My husband’s not a fan, so I only make it once in awhile when he’s deployed. But somehow it always seems to get pushed aside… maybe it’s high time I make some!
Your kabobs look perfect!
Lamb is a favorite of mine and my husbands. I actually wanted to try the FF recipe but this week it was impossible. Love your kebabs! They look like something I would enjoy for dinner tonight. Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
I love lamb! Your kebabs look so delicious.
Lizzy, I’m not a huge fan of lamb, but your lamb kebabs look so delicious!
Drooling! Lamb is my favorite meat and my favorite way of eating it is grilling on skewers. Never tried marinating it with wine and parsley though. I often do it with olive oil. Thanks for th idea!
Your lamb kebabs look super delicious, I am a huge fan of Greek flavors!
I am a fan of lamb and your lamb kebabs looks so mouthwatering to me! I honestly prefer it more than lamb curry!
The Greek Salad sounds good too!
I’m not much of a lamb eater because I didn’t grow up eating it (Northern island Hokkaido is famous for eating lamb in Japan, but that’s pretty much it). My poor husband would love this kind of dish. Your dish is beautiful too. I need to train myself a little more with lamb.
Hi Lizzy! I’m sorry your hubby wouldn’t eat the curry…I adore the stuff, but it usually has cinnamon in it and I’ve blended without and it is NOT the same!
That being said, I’m not a huge fan of lamb, but you made this look SO appetizing I wouldn’t hesitate to try it! …the hallmark of a good dish!
The kabobs and salad look delicious! have a great weekend1
Eeek! I find myself getting hungry looking at your photos and reading the recipe for the lamb kebabs. Yum!
What a great line up of spices! I’ve made and eaten lamb once and botched it horribly. I think I’m ready to try again. Thanks for the shot of confidence with your recipe.
Great looking kebabs! And I don’t know what your husband is thinking, what’s not to love about curry? :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Beautiful, Lizzy! I’m not usually a fan of lamb, but the seasonings on this sound so great, I think I would give these a try!
I still think Dorie would approve–these look wonderful!
those kebabs look outstanding! i love lamb and greek food, i know my husband would enjoy this dinner one evening
As much as I love curry, I understand it’s not for everyone. These look like some fabulous kebabs. As always, wonderful job Lizzy! 🙂 Have a great weekend. ~ Ramona
The heck with turkey, I want this for Thanksgiving! Looks amazing.
Seems like everyone went their on way this week. Love your version too and glad you can serve lamb on the dinner table.
Looks so good. Beautiful photos.
Absolutely delish i say!
Lovely looking kebabs! No lamb eaters in my family but I do have a friend that I make it for on occasion, I am sure he would love this 🙂
This looks and sounds amazing! I love lamb, but it’s really hard to get around these parts for poor, non-motorized grad students. As soon as we get home to Germany, I know though that my dad will make his famous honey-rubbed Arabian leg of lamb. 🙂
Great recipe!
I love lamb kebab,perfect serve with greek salad,YummY 🙂
Ridwan
This looks great. I’m behind and just caught up on the soup from last week. I’m still thinking about how I want to do the lamb dish…actually thinking of a beef sub, but your idea in this post looks great.
Lizzy, I think I love you! I LOVE Lamb… lots and lots. Did I mention that I love lamb? yeah… cause I do. And it’s hard to find good recipes for it when there are the rare times I can manage to afford it lol. So this recipes makes me very happy… in a lamb loving sort of a way.
These sound divine, Liz! I have never cooked with lamb but I love how you did it here!
How about a groan of pleasure from over here as affirmation? I adore lamb. Lamb kebabs even more. Souvlaki three times as much. Even though I’d have gone for the curry dish, I’d eat this one too. In fact, even more so because I think the curry would have overpowered the lamb flavor (and that would have been criminal). This looks delicious.
These kebabs look so good!
Your Lamb kebabs have made me more hungrier and I wish the day to be over soon because my husband’s friend is cooking lamb shanks (all men cooking) today.
I was not wrong when I first spotted your blog while looking for salmon recipe. Your presentation is very pleasing.
Estas espetadas estão com aspeto bem suculento e delicioso, gostei muito!
Beijinhos
These kabobs have my mouth watering. I would love to give these a try. Yummy!
MMM!! I was so excited about the lamb I didn’t notice the salad recipe… wish I could buzz twice!!
I’m SO glad you posted this recipe! I haven’t had lamb since I was a kid when my mom cooked it, but she likes everything WELL done and frankly I’m not a fan of well done lamb. Just recently I had some lamb cooked “properly” and LOVED it, so I’ve just been on the lookout for lamb recipes to try. This one is right up my alley… love it!
Oh so yummy!!! My mouth is watering at the very sight of these! Sounds like a fabulous meal with that salad!!
xoxo,
Tammy
I’m not a fan of curry either…. but I’m also not a fan of lamb ;). I know, I’m no fun, but that salad… I could eat the whole thing by myself…. yummo!
Hope you have a great week!!
Wow thios look amazing Lizzy! I love it! yumm! gloria
Lovely colourful photos Lizzy! So tempting
Husband got more daring when he married me. This is definitely something I would love to do and love the rich marinade to tame the lamb. I also am intrigued with Dorie’s curried dish. So many dishes so little time. I did sigh with the mention of grilling – that will be few and far-between until April!
We do not come by lamb very often but are planning to go to a specialty market soon an this is a delicious reminder that I need to pick up lamb. My husband loves it and this looks like a tasty way to prepare it. Enjoy your weekend Liz.
The kebab and the salad looks so appetizing , really fab . Have a great weekend Lizzy :D.
I’ll pass on this one since I’m a vegetarian 🙂 but I do like the look of sprouts in that dish 🙂
PS the real Greek salad, their national dish, is when you slice cucumbers and mix them with sour cream, garlic and some fennel.
Too bad you had to give the cardamom curry a miss. I’ve seen it around this morning and it looks devine! That being said, you kebabs look pretty badass! YUMMY 🙂
Madras curry is really mild, maybe he wouldn’t notice? ; ) But who doesn’t love a kebob!!
I’m the lamb lover in this little family, and skewered is the only way I can get Mr. Rosemary to eat them! (It took me a few years to get him to like fresh mushrooms.) Love this!
Beautiful, you I am sure know that lamb is my all time favorite meat I dont get to eat it often enough being on a strict cholesteral diet stinks, you just drew me in, love the kabobs, I marinate them for days sometimes they just fall apart, boy the good ole days when I was younger eating a whole plate of these bad boys! Yours are fabulous, and this is what I am going to be eating as soom as I am regulated, my mouth is watering!
If YOU like lamb, you would love the FFWD recipe! But I love your kebabs anyway – YUM!
Those charred bits probably disappeared first. These kebabs would taste even nicer with Friday beers/drinks:)
Rice, lamb and curries are all those we eat to max at home though I try to cut down on lamb but you bet this kebab will bring glory to both my hubby and me.
I like this change from your baking for a change, nice, nice and more nice.
At the end of the day, we have to make it work!
These look absolutely lovely & I am sure they were a hit.
that should taste real nice , it has a fantastic look.
so yummy!
I do love lamb, but if one doesn’t like curry it can be too much to even have it once in a lifetime!
I love your lamb cabobs! I’m imagining the fragrant aromas and I think I would like to give this a try.
Yum. Souvlaki takes me back to Cyprus. Happy memories! This looks fabulous!
We love lamb here Liz and these kebabs rock! I have 2 lbs of lamb cubes in the freezer and hope to make this next week when our nest is almost full. Lovely photos!
Great alternative to the curry. These look fantastic!
well curry or not, this still looks uber delish!!! 🙂 Happy friday!