This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Arbormist #StartSummer #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.
This past weekend, Adam and I hosted a grilling kabob bar for a few friends by the pool and it was a blast! Today, we're sharing some inspiration with you as to how you too can host your own kabob bar.
The key to a successful grilling kabob bar is variety! What I mean by this is that it's crucial to have lots of different types of vegetables, as well as more than one type of protein to choose from.
As far as choosing vegetables, I recommend taking a look in your local grocery first. Get an idea for what's fresh and in season, and then go from there! For us, we choose a variety of bell peppers, corn on the cob, baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, pineapple, squash, zucchini, and red onion.
When you're setting up your ingredients for your kabob bar, I recommend using lots of smaller dishes rather than bigger ones. Doing this will also keep you conscious of the portions of the ingredients you are putting out--for instance, think about how many people you are inviting to your party, how many kabobs they'll have, and then you can figure out how many of one vegetable you want to buy and prepare. Once you've got that sorted out, you can begin to choose dishware and display the ingredients out for everyone to start building their kabobs before they head out to the grill outside.
For our beef kabobs, we've used an awesome Mediterranean rub mixture we're excited to share with you!
Mediterranean Beef Rub Recipe:
- 2 tablespoons of paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon of morita pepper
- 1 pinch of ground mint
- 3/4 teaspoon of ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cilantro
- 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a small mixer and mix on lowest speed for 2-3 minutes. If mixing by hand, mix entirely until all ingredients are combined. Store at room temperature. Rub on beef or pork as preparation for kabobs (or other ways to prepare your preferred meat).
It's crucial that you allow your guests to choose whether or not they want the rub, so be sure to leave the rub out as an ingredient that is a part of the kabob bar (rather than prepping all of the beef with the rub on it).

Once we all started grilling, Adam started pouring everyone a glass of Arbor Mist. We love serving Arbor Mist at these types of get togethers because they are seriously the best (and most simple) way to entertain! Hosting a grilling kabob bar is just one idea out there for you to consider when it comes to summer entertaining--be sure to check out the Simple Entertaining Social Hub for more great entertaining ideas, too!
Once everyone had their kabobs all prepared and starting to grill, I grabbed a glass of Arbor Mist Mango Strawberry Moscato (my favorite) and sat at the pool.
What is your favorite thing to cook on the grill?
That sounds like such a fun party! We love cookouts in the summer.
ReplyDeleteCookouts are the best! So much fun! Especially when the weather is nice and everyone goes swimming, too!
DeleteThis is one of the best cookout ideas I've seen in... ever! I love the idea of everyone being able to pick and choose their own kabob ingredients. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ben! We love to cookout, and everyone definitely has their own preferences for ingredients for sure. Glad you like our post!!
DeleteMy mom use to l-o-v-e arbor mist! I love this idea for a party and think it will be perfect for this summer!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you love it!
DeleteBeautiful display - looks delicious! Wish I was in Arizona to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I wish you were in Arizona, too! *hugs*
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea for a grilling party! And I love a little booze with my meat lol
ReplyDeleteYES! Booze does seem to make grilling much more fun (and dangerous! lol)
DeleteWhat a yummy meal that must have been! I would love to try these kabobs soon!
ReplyDeleteYes it was SO yummy! I hope you try them!
DeleteThose look so delicious, I love the pictures! Thanks for sharing your rub, I hope we can use it as soon as the weather improves here in Seattle! My husband makes a special marinade with beer for our chicken. It is always so good. Now you've got me hungry!!
ReplyDeleteOhhhh beer marinade is fabulous! That sounds so amazing! You are making me drool right now haha. So I guess we are even :P
DeleteThis looks like such a refreshing mix of food and drink for a backyard party! I haven't tried Arbor Mist but it looks so fun and flavorful! #client
ReplyDeleteIt is super refreshing and fresh! I highly recommend having a kabob party at least once!
DeleteOh how fun. I love, love, love this idea. And that Moscato looks so refreshing. YUMMY
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI love how fresh it all looks. And I happen to think that wine is the PERFECT thing to go with anything on the grill!
ReplyDeleteRight?! Wine makes everything better.
DeleteI have not had kabobs in so long and this idea is so clever. The wine makes a great beverage to serve with a yummy meal on the grill.
ReplyDeleteKabobs are awesome, and I feel like people generally forget about them a lot until summer rolls around! I hope you enjoy some this year!
DeleteI haven't had kabobs in a very long time. I love the idea but my family probably won't eat them.
ReplyDeleteWe hadn't had them in a while either, so it was definitely a treat for us.
DeleteI love this grilling idea and it would definitely leave everyone happy. It is certainly not a party without a cocktail or two!
ReplyDeleteSo true!
DeleteI love kabobs on the grill! And, this is a great way to do it for a larger group of people. I'd never thought about offering a kabob bar to let guests choose what they'd like on their individual kabob!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you can take away something you hadn't thought of before! :)
DeleteI love the idea of a Kabob bar! I am so excited that it is grilling season, I love how easy it is to grill.
ReplyDeleteYes, grilling is so easy and awesome!
DeleteThese Kabobs look so delicious. This is a great way to prepare them. I will have to make some this weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou for sure should! And thanks!
DeleteWhat a fun idea for a kabob bar! I love that everyone gets just what they want.
ReplyDeleteYes exactly! Everyone is happy!
DeleteYuma! Kabobs and moscato - I'm coming over next time!
ReplyDeleteCome on over! Hehe
DeleteWhat a great idea for a backyard party! I love the idea of a kabob bar. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThis looks perfect for a BBQ party! I love that 'grilling season' is now full on!
ReplyDeleteYeah!! We are so stoked about grilling season, too!
DeleteThose kabobs look really good. We are thinking about grilling out this weekend, too!
ReplyDeleteOh nice! I hope the weather stays nice so you can!
DeleteHi Cathy - I'm going to have to save this recipe for my hubby - he really has been enjoying new grilling recipes - watches for ideas on TV and surfs online - thank you :)
ReplyDeleteHi Donna! You are very welcome--that is awesome that he is on the hunt for grilling recipes. Hope he enjoys it!
DeleteThis looks delicious. I love making grilling kabobs. Love the variety of meats and veggies you can add.
ReplyDeleteTotally! Kabobs are so fun that way! So much variety.
DeleteThe beef rub sounds amazing!! I love to cook salmon on a cedar plank on the grill :)
ReplyDeleteThe rub is awesome!! We've been using it both on and off the grill, too!
DeleteI haven't made kabobs in a really long time. Too long!
ReplyDeleteYou should make some when you buy that new grill you were telling me you needed! :)
DeleteWhat a great idea. I love seeing recipes that help usher in summer.
ReplyDeleteYes, ushering in summer is totally a big deal around here!
DeleteI've never thought of adding corn to my kebabs, but I love the idea! Kebabs are one of our favorite meals, so a kebab "bar" is such a fun idea!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you discovered something new to switch up your kabobs! That's awesome--and thanks!
DeleteThis is such a great idea! I love the recipe. It would be so much fun to have family over and have a grilling kabob bar.
ReplyDeleteYes! Would love to plan another kabob bar some time soon!
Delete