32 Ideas For What To Serve With Kabobs

Here are 32 delicious ideas for what to serve with kabobs including salads, vegetable side dishes, fruits, bread, and more!

Kabobs are a popular Greek dish with Middle Eastern origins.

And if you’ve never seen one before, they usually consist of a cubed or chopped protein with vegetables or fruits on wood or metal skewers.

They’re typically grilled, and you can enjoy them in many different variations with unique seasoning and flavor combinations.

But with so many options, it’s hard to know what foods go well with kabobs.

That’s where we come in! We’re sharing 32 perfect kabob sides for all your favorite recipes.

Table Of Contents

Types of Kabobs
Tips for Cooking and Grilling Kabobs
The Sides to Serve with Kabobs
More Like This

Types of Kabobs

Not every side dish pairs well with every kabob. So, you’ll need to pay attention to the seasonings and flavors of your kabobs.

Choose a side with a similar flavor profile and consider pairing kabobs with richer, darker flavors with lighter sides and vice versa.

Here are the common types of kabobs:

Steak kabobs
Sausage kabobs
Chicken kabobs
Shrimp kabobs
Pork kabobs
Salmon kabobs
Lamb kabobs

And some of the common ingredients for marinades are:

Herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro
Oils like olive oil and sesame oil
Acids like lemon juice, lime juice, and vinegar

Tips for Cooking and Grilling Kabobs

Here are some general cooking tips to make the perfect grilled kabobs:

Always soak wooden skewers in water before grilling them so they don’t catch fire. To do this, you can place them in a shallow dish with water for 20-30 minutes.
To ensure even cooking, cut your vegetables and meats to the same size.
Choose ingredients that have the same cook time, or par-cook some of the ingredients that may take longer so everything grills at the same speed.

The Sides to Serve with Kabobs

Classic Kabob Sides

1. Lemon Rice

Lemon rice with basil leaf in a large metal skillet on white surface.

This light, and citrusy side pairs well with most types of kabobs, and especially well with chicken or shrimp. Lemon rice is easy to make and only takes about 20-30 minutes.

It’s a simple dish to throw together in a pinch, and it’s great for a crowd!

2. Coconut Rice

Coconut rice with black beans in rice cooker with blue rim and kitchen towel.

Coconut rice with black beans is another perfect rice dish for kabobs. Use this side dish for Hawaiian-inspired kababs like pineapple chicken skewers or salmon kabobs marinated in brown sugar. The coconut milk makes the rice creamy and gives a hint of coconut flavor.

And you can cook your coconut rice in a rice cooker to make it even easier!

RELATED: Soy Sauce and Brown Sugar Baked Salmon

3. Sweet Potato Fries

Roasted sweet potato fries with herbs and a dipping sauce in small glass bowl.

Fries of any kind, and especially sweet potato fries, pair well with steak and pork kabobs. Their slightly sweet flavor plays well with the savory umami flavors of marinated meat.

Cook them in the air fryer for an even healthier alternative to traditional fries!

4. Homemade Potato Chips

Sliced and whole potatoes next to pile of homemade potato chips.

If you like a good homemade potato chip, they’re also an ideal side for steak or pork kabobs. They’re similar to fries. And the crispy texture is a great contrast to tender juicy meat!

Fruit and Vegetable Sides for Kabobs

5. Corn Pudding

Two small white bowls filled with corn pudding next to kitchen towel and green garnish.

Corn pudding has a touch of sweetness and a creamy texture. It’s a great side for lamb kabobs. And the perfect side dish to feed a crowd!

6. Corn Salsa (Cowboy Caviar)

Cowboy caviar with avocado, black beans, onions and tomatoes in white bowl.

Corn salsa, or cowboy caviar with avocado, is a great side for seafood kabobs like shrimp. And it’s also a good option for meaty kabobs like chicken, steak, or pork.

This flavorful dish features hearty beans, fresh veggies, and a tangy dressing that plays well with grilled foods.

And the recipe uses lots of pantry staples so you’ll likely have many of the ingredients on hand!

7. Honey Butter Skillet Corn

Wooden spoon rests in black frying pan of honey butter skillet corn on white table.

Honey butter skillet corn is a great side dish for almost any type of kabob. It’s sweet and savory. And your guests won’t believe it’s made with canned corn!

You’ll only need a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes to make this crowd-pleasing side.

8. Grilled Fruit

Assortment of grilled fruits on a gridle including kiwi and mandarin oranges.

Here’s another easy side that goes well with almost any type of kabob. Grilled fruit is easy to make, and you can use your favorites.

Grilling fruit brings out its sweetness and creates a uniquely delicious and healthy side dish.

9. Yellow Squash Casserole (Posh Squash)

Zucchini and squash casserole in white baking dish with wood spoon and sprigs of thyme.

Zucchini and yellow squash casserole (Posh Squash), is a great side dish for summer. It pairs especially well with steak, lamb, or pork kabobs.

And it’s the perfect way to use up fresh zucchini and squash from the garden!

10. Grilled Artichokes

Wooden bowl filled with marinated artichokes hearts next to green garnish and fork.

If you’re looking for a unique vegetable side to serve with kabobs, try grilled artichokes! They pair well with lamb, steak, and pork kabobs. And they’re surprisingly tender and delicious.

11. Grilled Asparagus

Lemon garlic asparagus in decorative white serving bowl on blue and white placemat.

Here’s another healthy side dish for kabobs: grilled asparagus! It’s great for spring or summer. And it pairs well with any type of kabob.

When trimmed and cooked properly, grilled asparagus is tender and flavorful. Even skeptics will love it!

12. Corn on the Cob

Instant pot cajun corn on the cob topped with paprika piled on white dinner plate.

If asparagus isn’t your thing, you can try grilled or steamed corn. Corn has a fresh flavor and sweet taste that pairs well with rich flavors like steak, pork, or lamb.

It’s a great palate cleanser for richer and heartier foods.

13. Sweet Potatoes

Roasted sweet potatoes and apples on parchment paper lined baking sheet with sticks of cinnamon.

Baked sweet potatoes or sweet potato mash pairs well with meaty kabobs like chicken, steak, pork, and lamb. And it’s a great option for grilled salmon skewers too.

14. Green Beans

Air fryer green beans topped with flaky salt on white serving plate.

Roasted green beans are another great side for meaty kabobs. They’re a very versatile ingredient that can take on many different types of flavors and seasonings. So you can easily tailor them to your favorite dish.

The Best Salad to Serve with Shish Kabobs

15. German Potato Salad

Warm German potato salad with bacon and herbs in a large cream serving bowl.

Potato salads are another hearty side dish to serve with kabobs. And if you don’t like German potato salad, you can try a creamier version like this Instant Pot potato salad with egg.

German potato salad pairs well with chicken, steak, pork, and lamb kabobs.

16. Cucumber Salad

Fresh cucumber salad with red onion, herbs, and olive oil in a large white serving bowl.

A fresh cucumber salad is a perfect side for any kabob. There are endless variations for cucumber salad. And they’re also an ideal pallet cleanser.

17. Caprese Salad

Caprese salad skewers with red and orange grape tomatoes on wooden cutting board.

This simple salad features fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese. And it’s typically dressed with balsamic vinegar.

You can serve Caprese salad on skewers to keep with the kabob theme. Or you can serve larger and thicker slices on a platter.

Caprese salad pairs well with grilled chicken skewers, steak, pork, and lamb kabobs.

18. Caesar Salad

Chicken Caesar salad with pasta, croutons, cheese and tomatoes on white platter.

Caesar salad is a classic side. And you can serve it alongside any kind of kabob. It has a creamy dressing, crunchy croutons, and shredded cheese.

And if you’re feeling extra fancy you can try this chicken Caesar salad with pasta.

19. Green Salad

Large mixing bowl filled with spinach strawberry almond salad with feta cheese.

There are endless variations of the humble green salad. And, you can’t go wrong with this simple side dish.

You can add toppings and choose a dressing for your salad according to the type of kabob you’re serving.

Here are some delicious options to try:

20. Greek Salad

Greek salad with olives, tomatoes, feta cheese, and lettuce in a large white bowl.

While we could certainly include Greek salad along with the green salads listed above. We thought it deserved its own highlight.

Greek salad has a few key ingredients that make it uniquely identifiable. You can’t miss the crumbly feta, briny olives, tomatoes, and red onion.

This side dish pairs especially well with lamb and steak kabobs. But, it’s a great side for seafood, chicken, pork, and fish kabobs, too.

21. Pasta Salad

White bowl of pickle pasta salad with peas and fresh dill garnish.

Below are several delicious pasta salads to try with your favorite kabob recipes. Pasta salads are another incredibly versatile side that you can personalize with your favorite ingredients.

And you can tailor your pasta salad to suit the type of kabobs you make.

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Pesto Pizza Pasta Salad
Tuna Rotini Pasta Salad
Tri-Color Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

22. Couscous Salad

Couscous salad with herbs and roasted vegetables in a large white serving platter.

A citrusy couscous salad with lemon juice and herbs is a perfect side dish to serve with salmon and shrimp kabobs.

And, with different seasonings and add-ins, you could also pair it with steak, chicken, lamb or pork.

23. Orzo Salad

Orzo salad with herbs, onion, and veggies in a large clear glass mixing bowl.

Orzo looks like rice, but it’s actually pasta. And you serve it as a side dish for kabobs the same way you would couscous salad!

RELATED: 14 Easy Orzo Substitutes

24. Barley Salad

Barley salad with herbs and fresh veggies in a large white serving platter with a serving spoon.

A delicious barley salad with herbs like cilantro, basil, or mint makes the perfect side dish for any type of kabob.

Salads with barley are hearty, filling, and have greater nutritional value compared to salads using other grains or traditional pasta.

25. Watermelon Salad

Watermelon salad with arugula, feta, nuts, and balsamic vinegar dressing.

There’s nothing more refreshing than a watermelon salad on a hot summer day! And it’s a great side dish for any type of kabob.

Some of the common ingredients for watermelon salad are basil, mint, and feta.

26. Cilantro Chickpea Salad

Bowl full of cilantro chickpea salad on wooden cutting board with fork.

This delicious cilantro chickpea salad with cherry tomatoes is the perfect, healthy side dish for kabobs. And it’s another great recipe for summer.

You can use this side dish for any type of kabob.

Easy Bread to Serve with Kabobs

27. Dinner Rolls

Pan of potato rolls and bowl of potato rolls all shaped differently on white table.

Dinner rolls are the perfect side dish when you need to feed a crowd. They’re easy to make in large batches and they pair particularly well with meaty kabobs like steak, pork, chicken, and lamb.

Here are some simple and delicious recipes for rolls:

28. Garlic Bread

Several pieces of cheesy, crusty pesto garlic bread on wooden cutting board.

Kick your bread up a notch by adding some cheese and garlic! Garlic bread pairs well with most kabob recipes.

And you can try variations like pesto garlic bread, sundried tomato garlic bread, or spinach and artichoke garlic bread.

29. Pita Bread

Two pieces of pita bread with herbs on a wooden serving platter.

If you’re not a fan of garlic bread, you can serve pita bread with your kabobs. It’s the perfect neutral side for any kabob recipe.

Or you can spice up your pita bread by adding oil, fresh herbs, and seasonings.

Dips for Kabobs

30. Tzatziki

Tzatziki with dill garnish in glass bowl surrounded by lemon wedges and garlic cloves.

Tzatziki is a Greek, yogurt-based sauce. And it’s one of the traditional sides for kabobs.

Tzatziki has a fresh and tangy taste with dill and cucumber. And you can serve it with any type of kabob.

31. Grilled Guacamole

Homemade guacamole in a mortar and pestle with herbs next to whole and cut avocados.

If you’ve never tried guacamole made with grilled avocado, you’re missing out! It’s creamy and flavorful, and it’s the ideal dipping side for shrimp, steak, pork, and chicken kabobs.

32. Pesto

Pesto sauce in white bowl surrounded by garlic, parmesan, basil and pine nuts.

You can also serve pesto with many of your favorite kabob recipes. Pesto typically uses fresh basil and good-quality parmesan to make a creamy, herby dip.

And it pairs especially well with chicken and shrimp kabobs.