Air Fryer Beef Kabobs are quick, easy and seriously delicious! Juicy and succulent you can serve them with herb salad and garlic yogurt sauce.
Recipes like our Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, Air Fryer Jerk Chicken and Air Fryer Roast Chicken get dinner on the table!
Pair any of them with the Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings, Chips and Gravy or Air Fryer Chips for a total feast!
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Recipe highlights
Beef kabobs are a quick, easy and delicious recipe the whole family can enjoy.
Make dinners fuss free and simple by using the air fryer to cook the beef perfectly every single time.
The beef skewers can be paired with a simple salad for dinner and drizzled with garlic yogurt sauce for an irresistible flavor combo.
Can you put kebab sticks in the Air Fryer
Yes, you can use kebab sticks (also known as wooden skewers) in the Air Fryer, just like you would in the oven, stove or BBQ hot plate!
The trick you need to know (and it is imperative) is to soak the kebab sticks in water so that they are not too dry whilst cooking.
Another handy tip is to ensure that you check the length of your skewers (kebab sticks) to know that they will fit in your Air Fryer.
You don't want to go to all that work in soaking and threading your kebab sticks only to realize that they are too long for the air fryer!!
What kindof beef is used for kabobs
I recommend using casserole beef when making kabobs.
It is a reasonably inexpensive cut of meat that is easy to find.
It doesn't matter if you purchase pre diced meat or you want to dice it yourself.
If you purchase diced beef, avoid the beef strips which are better for stir frys and instead choose chunky beef that you would use in a stew.
If you are preparing and cutting the beef yourself, use a knife and chopping board and aim for 1-2 cm square ish pieces.
Do skewers need to be soaked
If you have a read of the Air Fryer Chicken Skewers, you will see me talking about the importance of soaking wooden skewers before using them to cook with.
Obviously if you are using metal skewers, this step can be skipped. Also on this note, silicon tipped metal skewers are also fine to use in the Air Fryer.
For this recipe, we can start by adding the wooden skewers to a baking dish, pouring water over to cover and then setting aside whilst we prepare the remaining ingredients.
Ingredients needed
The ingredients needed for the recipe are all simple and easy to find at the local shops (including those needed for the garlic yogurt sauce).
As you can see, the recipe calls for:
- beef (purchase diced or dice yourself)
- red onion
- red capsicum (bell pepper)
- green capsicum (bell pepper)
- wooden skewers (soaked)
- salt and pepper
- garlic yogurt sauce
I like to serve these skewers with my garlic yogurt sauce and herb salad. The flavors all compliment each other and go hand in hand for juicy mouthfuls of deliciousness.
A couple of other sauces that work well with this recipe are the Basil Yogurt Sauce, Lime Yogurt Sauce or Herbed Yogurt Sauce (all on the blog for you to make).
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe.
We start by soaking the skewers and seasoning the beef. Then you will need a knife and chopping board to prepare the onion and capsicum (bell peppers).
- season beef with salt and pepper (Photo 1)
- use a knife and chopping board to chop the onion into pieces (Photo 2)
- do the same to cut the red capsicum (Photo 3)
- followed by the green capsicum (Photo 4)
When preparing the onion and capsicums (also known as bell peppers), aim for 2 cm square pieces which will be easy to thread.
- gather the ingredients and drain the water from the skewers (Photo 5)
- thread kebab sticks with beef, bell pepper and onion (Photo 6)
- place flat in air fryer basket and cook for 10 mins (Photo 7)
- then use kitchen tongs to rotate to the other side (Photo 8)
Tips and tricks
You can lightly spray the Air Fryer with olive oil if you wish, but I don't find it as necessary for this recipe as much as something like Air Fryer BBQ Wings which have a sweet syrupy sauce that is likely to stick and create a lengthy clean up.
The kebab sticks will be hot to touch, so I recommend using the tongs to grab hold of the centre of the skewers to make rotating too easy!
I find these beef kabobs only take 15 mins to cook in the Air Fryer.
This is mainly due to the very little meat and also not super thick width of each of the pieces of skewered beef.
In the photos below you can see I have served my skewers with my Garlic Yogurt sauce. It brings a subtle, creamy wow factor to the dish, reminiscent of donor kebabs.
If wanting a vegetable side to round out the skewers, try the Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms, Air Fryer Chips or the Gravy fries for tasty pairings!
Frequently asked questions
- This is a quick, easy to bring together recipe!
- The kebab sticks need to be soaked before use
- I recommend casserole beef
- You can spray the basket before adding the raw skewers (optional)
- My Air Fryer is a 7 litre basket version
- If making more skewers and using a smaller Air Fryer you can work in batches
- The recipe takes about 20 -25 mins to bring together from start to finish
If family favorite style recipes are what you need most, try the Dry Rub Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings or Air Fryer Chicken Burger.
Expert tips
This is what I have learnt that will help you master the recipe from the 1st time and every following time:
- Soak the kebab sticks whilst preparing the ingredients
- Rotate the beef kabobs halfway through cooking
- I recommend a 10 min cook, then flip, then 5 min cook
- There are so many sizes and types of Air Fryers that some will cook faster or slower depending on the model, the 1st time you make the beef skewers, check them along the way to see how they are cooking!
I do recommend the rotation of the kabobs during the Air Frying process to allow the meat and vegetables that were flat to receive air flow to all parts.
More Air Fryer recipes
If you love Air Fryer cooking then check out the following recipes for inspiration:
- Easy Air Fryer Cheeseburgers
- Air Fryer Onions
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Whole Air Fryer Roast Chicken
- Air Fryer Sausages
- Juicy Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
- Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
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Recipe
Air Fryer Beef Kabobs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Chopping board
- Knife
Ingredients
- 500 grams casserole beef
- 1 red bell pepper (capsicum)
- 1 green bell pepper (capsicum)
- 1 red onion
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- garlic yogurt sauce
Instructions
- Add kabob sticks to a baking dish, cover in water and allow to soak
- Season beef with salt and pepper and stir to combine
- Use a knife and chopping board to cut the beef, bell peppers and capsicum into 1-2 cm pieces
- Drain water from skewers and gather ingredients ready to thread skewers
- Thread each kabob with a combination of red onion, seasoned beef, green bell pepper and red bell pepper, repeat till all ingredients are threaded Note 1
- Turn the air fryer on to 180°C/350 F for 15 mins (preheat for 5 mins if your model requires it)
- Cook kabobs for 10 Mins, then pull basket towards you, rest on heat proof surface and use tongs to rotate. Push basket back in and cook for a further 5 mins.
- Serve immediately with garlic yogurt sauce and salad.
Notes
- Note 1 You will find that when you get to the end, you may have a couple more pieces of 1 ingredient compared to others. This is fine, keep threading till you have used everything up even if it means less uniform consistency!
- Note 2 This recipe makes 9 - 12 kabobs. The nutritional info is per 1 beef kabob.
Nutrition
Oh the beefiness
Well my friends, we have been talking cheesy garlicky sauciness a lot of late and this one adds the beef to that combo!
You will love the simplicity of this recipe and just how easy they are to cook.
I would love to hear your feedback in the comments below, please let me you make the recipe.
Get your beef on a skewer my friends
Adrianne x
These look fab! Look forward to trying.
Thanks Jess!
What temp do you use to cook the kabobs and I cannot find the yogurt dressing recipe. Thank you
Hi Kitty, temp is 180°C/350 F for 15 mins (preheat for 5 mins if your model requires it). Garlic Yogurt Sauce is under homemade sauces. If you go to recipe index then select homemade sauces you will find it. Thanks
Kitty, here is the sauce https://sweetcaramelsunday.com/garlic-yogurt-sauce/ thanks!!