Perfect Finger Food
Gearing up for your next potluck dinner? Homemade meals are great no matter the dish, but for an assortment of treats, skewer up your favorite food to create delicious bite-sized snacks. If you need ideas on what to make, we've got you covered. Here are 20 fun kebab recipes to impress guests at your next party.
1. BLT
BLT (bacon, lettuce, tomato) sandwiches are a classic. So why not do a fun spin on them? Slice up bite-sized chunks of the main ingredients (tip: to save time and avoid a messy cutting board, use cherry tomatoes) and skewer them up! For extra flavor, serve with sauce on the side, like chipotle or honey mustard.
2. Mushrooms
Mushroom lovers, this is the skewer idea for you. Go as simple or as crazy as you'd like with these. You can do grilled mushrooms drizzled with teriyaki sauce for a smoky flavor, or stuff some buttons up with cheese, garlic, and spice for a delicious kick.
3. Assorted Fruit
For an appetizer kebab, cube up assorted fruit—like strawberries, peaches, kiwi, and pineapple—and line them up with various berries. If you (or your guests) have a knack for sweets, dip these in some chocolate to make them more indulgent.
4. Strawberry Shortcake
For a fun dessert idea, try this playful take on strawberry shortcake by pairing pieces of shortcake with whole strawberries. Throw the berries on the grill or a pan to bring out their natural juices first, then spear them in so that the cake can soak up the syrupy goodness.
5. Rainbow Veggies
Chop up peppers, onions, and carrots to create rainbow veggie kebabs. You can choose to keep them separate so each skewer has only one kind of vegetable—which also allows them to cook at the same pace—or mix them up to create some color.
6. Halloumi Cheese & Bread
Who doesn't love cheese and bread? While any type of cheese or bread works, halloumi has a distinctly tangy and creamy taste that's wonderful paired with bites of bread. Place these on the grill to really bring out that savory, buttery taste.
7. Sweet & Sour Pork with Pineapple
Sweet, sticky, and tangy pork with sweet, juicy pineapple? Sign us up. These brown sugar and vinegar glazed bites of pork are maddeningly addictive, and the pineapple boosts up the sweetness while adding some zing to the meat to make it even more tender.
8. Steak
You can't go wrong with steak kebabs. For an elevated take, cube up your favorite block of cheese and add them in with cherry tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. The veggies will give a refreshing crunch to each bite, while the cheese will melt in with the juicy steak.
9. Mini Cheeseburgers
BLT not your choice of sandwich? Make some mini cheeseburgers instead. Cut up each ingredient into miniature parts or use meatballs, pickles, and cherry tomatoes as substitutes for the patty and veggies. Then, stack them up on a skewer and enjoy.
leonardovieira260998 on Pixabay
10. Tanghulu
If you haven't heard of Tanghulu yet, this is your sign to try it. Originating from China, this sweet, sticky snack is similar to a fruit skewer, only with an added syrup glaze. Once the melted sugar hardens, it turns into a fun treat for anyone who has a sweet tooth.
11. Grilled Shrimp
Grill up some shrimp with your choice of sauce—we recommend garlic butter for obvious, delicious reasons—and serve them up cocktail-style. Leave the shrimp in the shell so it can absorb all the flavor during the cooking process; it might be a mess to peel and eat, but each tasty bite will be worth it.
12. Donut Holes
Making donuts from scratch? Don't toss those balls of dough in the middle. Fry them up until puffed and crisp, then add your choice of glaze or toppings. Serve them up alongside your batch of regular sugar rings, and you have the perfect dessert plate.
13. Crispy Tofu
Skewers aren't limited to veggies, protein, or sweets. Cube up medium-firm or firm tofu and toss them in some seasoning and cornstarch, then pan fry both sides until golden. Flavor them up any way you like before skewering them up.
14. Miso Eggplant
Miso-glazed eggplant is a Japanese favorite; even if you're not a fan of the purple vegetable, this dish is guaranteed to make you fall in love with it. Sweet, savory, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, serve this up at your next potluck for happy stomachs.
pelican from Tokyo, Japan on Wikimedia
15. Mini S'mores
What's better than regular s'mores? Bite-sized s'mores without the sticky marshmallow mess! These are incredibly simple to make: just skewer up graham crackers, marshmallows, and a square of chocolate (or Nutella, whichever you prefer), then warm them up over the grill.
16. Lemon & Herb Salmon
Lemon and herb salmon bites. Need we say more? Irresistibly flaky, silky, and tender, this dish is equal parts tangy, earthy, and wonderfully spiced. To bring out the richness, brush with butter before baking, then place on skewers with assorted grilled veggies.
17. Grilled Watermelon & Feta
For a refreshing treat, dice up watermelon into chunks and stack them with feta in between before placing them on the grill. The heat will bind the flavors together for a nice cooling, gooey bite, and the grill marks will add a visual touch. Garnish with herbs for some color to make these pop.
Tanalee Youngblood on Unsplash
18. Honey Sriracha Chicken
While any chicken kebabs are bound to be delicious no matter their flavor, we think honey sriracha stands above the pack. Sweet with a hint of spice, this sauce is worth licking the bowl clean afterwards. Squeeze some lime for extra zing.
19. Caprese Salad
For a spin on Caprese salad, why not turn it into finger food? Chop up some fresh veggies, like cucumber and zucchini, and tack on some button tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella balls. Serve with balsamic vinegar on the side, or brush some over the kebabs when ready to eat.
20. Brownie & Berries
Because you can never have too many desserts, these brownie and berry skewers are sure to be a crowd favorite. Plus, they're easy to prepare: just spear bite-sized brownie squares along with juicy, fresh blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. You can also choose to slightly heat the berries so that their natural sugars come out.
