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. Perfect alongside Greek Couscous Salad.
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 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 for 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.
Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU.
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.
Sam
Wow these kebabs look amazing!!! Love the spices in here and that it’s made with lamb! My husband would love this!!
Homemade & Yummy
Well I hope you give this recipe a try. We love them.
Jessica
When my Turkish friend visited me a few years ago we made these all the time. I still remember mixing some finely chopped vegetables and herbs and forming them around the kebab stick. They are delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
ALL kinds of kebabs are delicious for sure. Those sound amzazing.
Donna
My husband is Lebanese so I have eaten a lot of Kofta in my time. I love that it is such a simple meal to prepare, and that the spices really shine through the flavor of the lamb. I am inspired to get out there and experiment with the spices and get grilling today. I definitely have a hankering for some kofta with fresh leb bread and strained yogurt!! YUM
Homemade & Yummy
You can flavour lamb so many different and delicious ways.
Monica
Agreed, these are delicious, by any name whatsoever! I have made lots of more traditional kabob skewers, but never quite like this in the kofta shape – seems like such a fun way to change things up!
Homemade & Yummy
I know…these are fun and delicious….and the traditional kofta shape is easy to make.
Rachel
Looking at this recipe is making me super hungry. Lamb kebabs are one of my favorite things to eat and it won’t be hard to whip up a batch because your recipe looks so tasty and simple!
Homemade & Yummy
These are super easy to make….and I hope you try this recipe soon.
Richa Gupta
Wow this looks yum, I would love to try this soon!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this easy recipe a try!!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
What a great dish, Gloria! Loreto makes and loves koftas or kebabs or kabobs 🙂 . They look wonderfully seasoned and grilled. Beautiful pictures, too!
Homemade & Yummy
They are super easy and super delicious. I bet his are awesome….just like everything else you guys make.
Selena Hughes
Yummy!! Perfect for summer. I will make this soon:)
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…they are super easy to make.
Stephanie Simmons
These look so yummy! I love kebabs, especially in the summer
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this easy recipe a try. ENJOY!
Mayuri Patel
Kebabs are so versatile, add them to flatbreads, wraps, between sandwich bread, make a kofta curry, enjoy them as starters with dips as starters, the options are endless. Make them with all sorts of meats, lentils, potatoes, sweet potatoes etc. You’ve mastered these lamb kebabs, making them with other meats will be easy.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes making them with any meat is easy….all would work the same.
Jacqueline Debono
I love lamb so that would definitely be my meat of choice for these delicious looking kofta kebabs!
Homemade & Yummy
Lamb works well in the recipe….so delicious.
Lisa
This looks so good! I might try making them this weekend!
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…they are so easy and delicios.
mydeliciousmeals
Wow, I didn’t know they are so easy to make and look delicious!! I’m a meat lover, so these are a must-try for me. Is the Cinnamon Chili ingredient just a mixture of cinnamon and chili? Thank you!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…so easy!!
Linda
I’m glad I’m not the only one having issue with kabobs or kebabs. But I do like kofta kebabs and love how easy it is. Yum!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this easy and delicious recipe a try soon.
Anna
I have only grown to like lamb recently too so these kebabs sound fantastic. I love a 2 ingredient recipe and I need to find some chili cinnamon!
Homemade & Yummy
SOOOO good!!