21 Delicious Skewer Recipes—No Fork, Knife or Plate Required

If you’re looking for a fast and easy bite that doesn’t require a formal place setting, skewer recipes are a great way to go. These fun foods are super versatile, so they can be enjoyed as an appetizer, entrée or dessert. Better yet, they’re easy to assemble and are designed to feed a crowd. If you’re planning your next barbecue and looking for a few easy cookout dishes to serve, we've got you covered—starting with these skewers that are loaded with pizza flavor. They're kid-friendly so be sure to recruit their help when assembling them! Grilling the dough gently helps give it a pillow-y, poofy texture that’s chewy and crunchy at the same time.

Stuffed mushrooms are an all-time favorite appetizer, any time of year. Slide them onto a skewer and pop them on the grill for your next outdoor gathering. For a zesty twist on the classic flavors, try substituting fresh chorizo and cilantro for the sausage and parsley.

If you’re planning a cocktail party or barbecue, having a few appetizers that are easy to eat while standing up will make your guests’ lives much easier. These antipasti skewers are flavorful and filling, and they’re super easy to eat with one hand. The recipe is versatile too, so feel free to swap out any of the ingredients for something else.

These yummy BLT skewers are a fun spin on the traditional sandwich. The bite-sized snack features all the same components, like bacon, lettuce and tomato in a more portable presentation. Serve them with the homemade green goddess dip for added flavor.

Fruit skewers are a perfect summer treat—they’re sweet, juicy and refreshing. More importantly, they’re super easy to make! This recipe uses blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, oranges and strawberries to create a fun rainbow design.

This rendition of kushiyaki—the catch-all term for the popular Japanese technique of grilling skewered foods—is a play on a surf and turf, combining salmon with earthy shiitake mushrooms, for a dose of umami.

This super-fast appetizer couldn’t get any easier—it’s ready in just 15 minutes and requires only four ingredients. Manchego combines with quince paste, watercress and chopped almonds to make a savory, sweet bite that’s perfect for any type of occasion.

Seekh kebab (or shish kebab) is a melt-in-your-mouth preparation said to have been brought to the Indian subcontinent by the Turks long before the Mughals popularized the concept. It traditionally consists of minced mutton threaded onto a skewer (or seekh) and cooked in a tandoor, but it’s equally delicious with minced lamb or beef. It’s also just as good cooked on a grill.

Tortellini skewers are a cute and easy appetizer to serve any time of year. Ready in just 10 minutes, this recipe requires only a few ingredients and yields up to 18 servings. Jarred pesto is the shortcut to extra herbal flavor.

If you’re looking for an indulgent dessert that doesn’t require a knife and fork, these strawberry shortcakes are a fun option. Grilling the skewers gives the strawberries a caramelized flavor and helps extract the juices, so each bite is coated with a natural sauce.

Waldorf salad is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. It’s refreshing and juicy, and it’s light and crisp at the same time. Instead of serving it in a traditional salad format, try skewering each ingredient for an easy-to-eat snack.

Hoisin sauce infused with ginger, garlic and sesame serves as both marinade and grilling mop for these pork and veggie skewers. We love grilled citrus; the orange is great either squeezed over the skewers or saved as a treat at the end. Make the marinade again for grilled pork chops or chicken thighs.

Meaty swordfish is rubbed with spices and brushed with a spicy, garlicky herb oil for a fresh and assertive punch of flavor. Grilled alongside mushroom and red onions, it makes for the perfect bite.

Bite sized burgers are an irresistible snack. We love that this recipe takes all the essential ingredients—like pickles, cheese, beef and condiments—and puts them in perfect serving proportions. Each bite is packed with juicy flavor.

Mushrooms are hearty and flavorful, which makes them a perfect snack or appetizer to munch on ahead of a meal. Grilling them helps bring out a bold, smoky and caramelized flavor that’s perfect for a quick snack. Fresh garlic and thyme leaves are an easy way to bring about even more flavor.

These flavorful skewers are so easy to recreate. They’re ready in less than a half hour and yield 24 skewers, so they’re perfect for a party too. Roasted red peppers, basil and artichoke hearts help add bright, zippy flavor to every bite.

Traditional caprese salad is a summer staple, thanks to the hearty and juicy tomatoes that are so abundant during that time of year. However, zucchini is another vegetable that shines in the summer months—its hearty and versatile, and it’s perfect for pairing with fresh mozzarella, basil and sweet balsamic.

This backyard grilling staple is nothing short of delicious. But the pre-made kebabs from the grocery store leave us underwhelmed--with tough pieces of meat and chunks of vegetables that always seem to end up either burnt or undercooked. For our beef, we chose tenderloin, which chars beautifully and stays tender during cooking. The vegetables are cut small enough to cook through without burning or falling apart and the tangy marinade brings everything together.

These meatball skewers are like a meal on a stick. They combine the heartiness of meatballs with the crispy texture of croutons, all sandwiched between juicy tomatoes and flavorful bell peppers. Either serve them on the skewer or remove and serve in a bowl with grated parmesan cheese.

This one-bite app is like a spicy tuna roll on a stick. First, sushi-grade tuna gets dressed with a creamy, lightly-spiced dressing, then skewered with avocado and pickled ginger. A light dusting of togarashi makes for perfect presentation.