How Long Should You Cook Beef Kabobs in the Oven for Perfectly Juicy, Flavorful Results?

Beef kabobs are a classic grilled dish that are loved by many for their succulent, flavor-packed taste. However, whipping up oven-baked beef skewers is an excellent alternative for days when you don’t feel like firing up the grill. With the right technique, you can achieve tender, juicy oven kabobs that mimic the taste of their grilled counterpart.

But to pull off tasty oven-baked beef skewers, knowing how long to cook kabobs is key. Undercook them, and you’ll end up with tough, chewy meat. Overdo it, and your skewers will turn out dry and flavorless.

So how long should you bake beef kabobs for optimal texture and taste? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook beef skewers to juicy perfection.

Factors That Affect Beef Kabob Cooking Time

Several factors impact how long you should cook beef kabobs in the oven, including:

Meat Cut

Tougher cuts like chuck or round steak require longer cooking than naturally tender cuts like tenderloin. So if you use a leaner cut plan on a longer bake time.

Meat Shape

The shape of your beef pieces affects cooking time Cubed meat in 1-inch chunks will cook faster than steak slices threaded onto skewers

Marinating

Marinating beef before cooking helps tenderize it. So meat that has marinated will cook more quickly than unmarinated beef.

Oven Temperature

Higher oven temperatures cook beef faster. Kabobs baked at 400°F will be done quicker than ones cooked at 350°F.

Doneness Level

How done you cook your beef also impacts time. Rare kabobs take less time than well-done ones.

Veggie Additions

If you thread veggies like peppers or onions onto your skewers, you’ll need to bake them long enough for the produce to become tender. This extends total cooking time.

So what do all these factors mean for how long you should bake your beef kabobs? Let’s take a look.

Recommended Cooking Times for Oven Beef Kabobs

Here are general guidelines for how long to cook beef kabobs based on preparation method and desired doneness.

Unmarinated Beef

If you skip marinating and use 1-inch cubed stew beef or sirloin:

• Rare: Bake at 400°F for 8-12 minutes
• Medium-Rare: Bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes
• Medium: Bake at 400°F for 12-18 minutes
• Medium-Well: Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes
• Well-Done: Bake at 400°F for 18-25 minutes

Marinated Beef

For 1-inch cubed sirloin or tenderloin that has marinated for 2+ hours:

• Rare: Bake at 400°F for 6-10 minutes
• Medium-Rare: Bake at 375°F for 8-12 minutes
• Medium: Bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes
• Medium-Well: Bake at 375°F for 13-18 minutes
• Well-Done: Bake at 375°F for 16-22 minutes

Kabobs with Veggies

If using mixed beef, onions, and bell peppers threaded onto skewers:

• Rare: Bake at 400°F for 10-14 minutes, flipping once
• Medium-Rare: Bake at 375°F for 12-16 minutes, flipping once
• Medium: Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping once
• Medium-Well: Bake at 350°F for 18-25 minutes, flipping once
• Well-Done: Bake at 350°F for 23-30 minutes, flipping once

These ranges provide a general guide. But the best way to ensure your beef kabobs turn out right is to use a meat thermometer.

Checking Beef Kabob Temperature

Using an instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of determining doneness. Insert the probe into the thickest part of a beef cube to get an accurate reading.

Here are the target internal temperatures for different doneness levels:

• Rare: 120-125°F (49-52°C)
• Medium-Rare: 130-135°F (54-57°C)
• Medium: 140-145°F (60-63°C)
• Medium-Well: 150-155°F (66-68°C)
• Well-Done: 160°F (71°C) and above

Once your kabobs reach the desired temp, remove them from the oven. The temperature will continue rising 5-10 degrees during resting time.

Let the kabobs rest for 5 minutes tented with foil before serving for juicy, tender meat.

Oven Kabob Cooking Tips

Follow these tips for foolproof oven beef kabobs every time:

• Marinate the beef for at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours for super tender meat. The acid in the marinade helps break down tough muscle fibers.

• Use 1-inch chunks for even cooking. Smaller or thinner pieces may dry out.

• Par-cook dense veggies like potatoes or carrots before skewering to give them a head start.

• Brush with oil to help browning and prevent sticking. Canola, olive, or avocado oil all work well.

• Flip the skewers halfway through baking to ensure even cooking on all sides.

• Insert skewers perpendicular to the grates if using a broiler to get charring without burning.

• Rest kabobs before serving so juices redistribute for tender, moist meat.

Oven-Baked Beef Kabob Inspiration

Here are some tasty oven-baked beef kabob recipes to try:

• Balsamic Beef Kabobs – Delicious brown sugar and balsamic glaze.

• Beef and Vegetable Kabobs – Classic skewers with onion, tomato, and bell pepper.

• Greek Beef Kabobs – Marinated in a zesty Greek yogurt sauce.

• Steakhouse Kabobs – Smoky, garlic-peppercorn marinade.

• Skillet Beef Kabobs – Simple stovetop version without skewers.

• Korean Beef Bulgogi Kabobs – Sweet and savory bulgogi marinade.

So fire up your oven and get ready to enjoy tender, juicy beef kabobs cooked to perfection. Just follow our tips on bake times and temperature, and you’ll nail delicious skewers worth gulping down again and again. Serve them with rice pilaf or roasted veggies, and prepare for your new go-to weeknight dinner recipe.