Grilled Kofta Kebabs are fun and easy to make, perfect for summer grilling season. Made with only 2 ingredients!
Whether you call them kebabs, kabobs, or shish kabobs, these delicious lamb koftas kebabs will be a hit at your next bbq party.
Ground lamb and seasoning are all it takes to make this super simple kofta kebab recipe. Fire up the grill and get cooking! All you need is a simple side dish like this cold pea salad, or cucumber and onion salad and dinner is ready!
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these minced lamb kebabs can be found at the bottom of this post.
So what do you call them? Kebabs, kabobs, or shish kabobs? How about skewers or meat on a stick? Whatever you call them, they all have one thing in common, DELICIOUSNESS!
One of our favourite ways to cook on the grill. Chili Lime Chicken Skewers are always a hit. Have you tried Grilled Balsamic Strawberries? The perfect summer dessert.
Being Ukrainian, I have had my share of “meat on a stick” as we call it. If you really want to get technical, they actually are called patychky. These are breaded meat kebabs that are fried in oil.
Lamb Kofta Kebab Ingredients
If you have never made koftas before, you are in for a tasty treat. With a couple of simple ingredients and a (little) bit of time, before you know it, you will be a kebab master. After you make these for the first time, you will wonder why on earth you never tried them before.
- ground lamb
- seasoning
- salt and pepper
- oil
Preparing This Lamb Kofta Recipe
Do know how easy kofta kebabs are to make? SO EASY! I think this has got to be one of the simplest grilling recipes ever. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Combine ground meat and seasoning.
- Shape into LARGE meatballs.
- Roll to form a sausage shape.
- Slide onto the skewer.
- Flatten slightly.
Mix, slide on a skewer, and grill. You have to admit, it doesn’t get easier than this, right?
Throwing some frozen burgers on the grill is easy too, but after you try this kofta recipe, frozen burgers will only be for emergencies.
Grilling Koftas
- Brush each kofta kebab with a bit of oil.
- Preheat grill.
- Cook about 6 minutes per side over medium-high heat. The internal temperature should be 160º F.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
Seasoning – You can mix any type of seasoning you like into the ground meat. I used some wonderfully aromatic Cinnamon Chili blend. Don’t be scared to experiment here. Smoked paprika, Moroccan seasoning, Greek seasoning, have fun. You can also add diced onion and garlic too.
Ground Lamb – You can turn this into chicken or beef koftas. Ground turkey works too.
Measuring – I used a kitchen scale to weigh the meatballs. This makes hubby happy since they are all the same size. Meaning they will cook up evenly.
Skewers – I love using double-pronged stainless steel skewers. The meat does not flip flop when you turn it. You can use a single prong or bamboo skewers. Be sure to soak bamboo skewers in water befofe using them. Amazon affiliate link for skewers.
Serving – We love turning these into lamb kofta wraps. Add some shredded lettuce, pea shoots, or any greens like kale and arugula. Top with hummus, tzatziki, or tahini sauce, and enjoy. HINT: Bourbon Caramelized Onion Jam is a great topping!! Making these over the top delicious. You can also serve these on a bun.
Cooking Kofta Kebabs In The Oven – Prepare a baking sheet with foil or cooking spray. Place meat skewers on the sheet. Bake at about 400º F for about 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160º F.
Leftovers – Store cooked koftas wrapped in the fridge. They will last for 3-4 days. You can also freeze them for longer storage.
Reheating – Wrap in foil and place in a preheated oven (about 375º F) until heated through.
Marinating – A great way to add some additional flavor to meats. This chocolate coffee marinade will give the kebabs a bold, smoky profile.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Generally speaking, shish kebabs contain chunks of meat, seafood, and vegetables on skewers. Koftas are made with ground or minced meat.
Central Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. Traditional cuisine in countries like India, Morocco, Turkey, Pakistan, and Greece to name a few.
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Craving more delicious recipes using lamb? Give these a try:
Be sure to check out the great bbq recipes, perfect for summer cooking.
Looking for some summer roundups? Here you go:
Grilled Kofta Kebabs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground lamb
- 2 tablespoons Cinnamon Chili Seasoning
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- ¼ cup oil (to coat)
Instructions
To Make the Koftas:
- In a large bowl combine the ground lamb and seasoning.
- Mix and divide into 8 equal portions (4 ounces each). I used a kitchen scale.
- Roll each portion into a LARGE meatball.
- One at a time, take a meatball and roll into a log/sausage form (about 6 inches long).
- Thread onto a skewer, and slightly flatten. (I used metal skewers. You can use bamboo, but be sure to soak them in water first).
- Brush koftas on both sides with oil and set aside till ready to grill.
To Grill the Koftas:
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Grill koftas approximately 6 minutes per side (turning once). Internal meat temperature should be 160º F.
- Remove from grill onto a serving platter.
Jyothi (Jo)
Kofta Kebabs are my most favorite meat dish and I love how you can serve these kebabs as starters, as a main dish. At home we eat it with naan. It’s great with pita, buns too. That kofta kebab looks like one perfect kebab.
Homemade & Yummy
These were so delicious….I cannot wait to make them again.
Marisa Franca
I haven’t tried Kofta Kebabs although I would be eager to try. I’ll never forget the first time I suggested to Hubby that we make lamb for dinner. You’d think I said lets eat spoiled meat. For some reason he thought of old goat. Anyway, we both love lamb!! This would be a great recipe for us to try. We certainly enjoy grilling. It’s on the roster.
Homemade & Yummy
HAHA….well I have never tried goat….not sure I would either. Hope you enjoy these koftas….they are so good.
Veena Azmanov
You can never go wrong with kebabs in summer. We love kababs and this would be a great treat to have when entertaining. That cinnamon chilly sounds yum. Saving this for later
Homemade & Yummy
You can really add a lot of great seasonings to lamb that is for sure.
Tina
Kofta’s are always a winner in my house. Everybody gets their own personal meatloaf. The versatility makes it fun, you can add whatever you want to these. When they are grilled, it’s even that much better. Thanks for sharing this recipe, they look amazing.
Homemade & Yummy
These turned out so well. Such a fun recipe that you can really have lots of variations with. ENJOY!!
Amanda
I LOVE lamb kofta… it is one of my favorite meals. I used to love this Persian place not far from where I lived in London where they made their own fresh bread and everything was just amazing. I would stop in and get their lamb kofta regularly. I never even considered I could make it before. I am definitely going to try it soon…. and also, I use kebab, kabob, and shish kabob interchangeably.
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….howvever you call it….ENJOY since they are so delicious.
Claudia Lamascolo
I have never thought to put chili seasoning with lamb it really enhances the flavor of meat I need to try that. My whole family loves lamb and they will surely love this recipe when I make it for them.
Homemade & Yummy
This really is a great lamb recipe…and the chili WORKS!!
Sandra
This is such a welcome change from the usual burgers and hot dogs! We grill a lot around here during the summer (all year, actually) it’s too hot to use the oven. I can’t wait to try the other meats you suggested.
Homemade & Yummy
This is such a fun and easy recipe. Switch up the meats and seasonings as you wish. Happy Grilling!!
Susanne
I’m always a little nervous about cooking lamb. This recipe was easy and the lamb turned out perfectly! I know we’ll be making these again and again!
Homemade & Yummy
So glad you liked it….we LOVED this and I need to make them again….really soon!!
Christina
What a great flavorful recipe! I love that these are portable too – perfect for our busy lifestyle!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this recipe a try soon. They are easy and delicious.
Ginny
It’s that time of the year and love all of the cinnamon that is used to make this recipe right.
Homemade & Yummy
YES the spice profile is amazing for sure.
Adriana Lopez Martin
I love Mediterranean food and appreciate the steps on how to make that marvelous kofta. I bet is super tasty and cooked to perfection. Need some now =)
Homemade & Yummy
These are super easy to make. Hope you give them a try.
agl
Love grilled recipes for the summer
Homemade & Yummy
Summer is all bout the GRILL!
Pam
I never actually thought of putting ground meat on a kabob. This is just genius! Beautiful photos, too.
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this great recipe a try….so easy!!
Mike from Chili Pepper Madness
I just ground some lamb and pork shoulder this weekend for making homemade sausages, but I’m saving some to make these kebabs. Such a great recipe. Thanks for the idea. They look fantastic.
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…these are super delicious.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
I love kofta kebabs, we make it very often and love it with pita, salad or rice, it’s always delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
I know….I think I like these more than burgers.