Greek Beef and Lamb Kafta Kabobs

Kaftas are a Lebanese meatball skewer typically made with lean ground beef. I added in Greek spices here including oregano, thyme, and garlic and topped these Greek Beef and Lamb Kafta Kabobs with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and Kalamata olives.

If you’re looking for more Greek inspired recipes, check out my Greek Avocado Toast, Chicken Sausage Greek Salad, or Grilled Greek Chicken Shish Kabobs with Tzatziki Sauce.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

• Recipe Name: Greek Beef and Lamb Kafta Kabobs
• Ready In: 20 minutes
• Makes: 4 servings
• Main Ingredients: ground beef, ground lamb, oregano, olive oil
• Flavor Profile: savory, herb-forward warm Mediterranean spices, subtle smokiness from grilling
• Dietary Info: gluten free, dairy free, eggless, no seed oils
• Difficulty: Easy!
• Why You’ll Love It: quick and easy light lunch or party recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Bold Mediterranean flavors: Perfectly seasoned with oregano, thyme, garlic, and lemon.
• Quick & Easy: Ready in about 30 minutes with simple, wholesome ingredients.
• Healthy & Satisfying: Made with lean organic ground beef and fresh veggies.
• Versatile Serving Options: Enjoy with pita, over rice, or alongside hummus and salad.
• Perfect for Entertaining: Fun handheld skewers that are crowd-pleasing and delicious!

Ingredients

• Ground Beef: I use organic ground beef that is 90% lean, but if you can only find 85% that will also work.
• Ground Lamb: I use a mix of ground beef and ground lamb for Mediterranean flavor. I buy organic ground lamb from TruBeef. You can easily shop online as this is something that is not found in most grocery stores.
• Lemon: This adds zesty flavor to this Greek recipe.
• Garlic: Organic garlic is a staple in the Mediterranean culture. You can use minced garlic from a jar, or fresh cloves and mince them up, either works.
• Oregano: I use organic dried oregano. This spice is common in Greek recipes and provides flavor.
• Kalamata Olives: These are Greek olives, which bring that Mediterranean flavor to dishes. I prefer to buy them already pitted for ease.

*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.

Tips for Greek Beef and Lamb Kafta Kabobs

• You can soak skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning. However, I didn’t do this here and I didn’t have any problems. But, if you do notice skewers are burning, this is a great trick!
• I used 6-inch skewers. If you want to use larger ones, you can do that and get 4 total instead of 8 total skewers. If using larger ones, it may be easier to form the meat into the middle of the skewer, leaving skewer on each side.
• I found it's easiest to create the oblong shape of meat first and place it on a platter. Place the skewer into the middle and form the meat around it.
• You can make these on the grill or in a cast iron skillet. Either way will work! I used a grill cast iron pan, which was super easy.
• You can add feta on top of these as well, it’s totally delicious this way!
• You can also serve these with my Organic Tzatziki Sauce With Fresh Dill.

How to Make Greek Beef and Lamb Kafta Kabobs

Step 1

In a large bowl, add the ground beef and lamb, diced onion, lemon juice, sea salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and thyme. Mix together until combined and the spices are evenly distributed.

Step 2

Divide the meat into 8 portions. Using your hands form each portion into an oblong shape about 1-inch thick. Wrap the meat around a 6-inch skewer. Place on a plate and continue with the rest of the meat.

Step 3

In a large grill pan, or on the grill, heat to medium/high. Add the olive oil to coat the pan.

Step 4

Place the kabobs onto the grill pan and sear, cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, rotating every few minutes to ensure even cooking and grill marks on each side. Serve with hummus, chopped cucumbers, Cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives.

Recipe FAQ's

More Greek Inspired Recipes

Grilled Greek Chicken Shish Kabobs With Tzatziki Sauce

Chicken Sausage Greek Salad

Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

Cinnamon Pecan Kourambiethes (Greek Butter Cookies)