Sheet Pan Kebabs

Oven Kebab Dinner. I prepared this one in a cast iron and served with green salad, roasted cauliflower, olives & a legit middle eastern hummus.

This is a newer recipe in our family repertoire, born from my increasing laziness around preparing dinner. I wasn’t sure how the lamb would go over (it can be hit or miss), but it was a universal hit and the leftovers were devoured within a day. Choosing lean lamb & mixing it with the beef keeps the gamey flavor that turns some off from it imperceptible.

I don’t quite call it a lazy dinner b/c of the number of ingredients, but if you have your spices well organized & your kitchen is highly functional as mine is, you can throw this whole dish together in 15 minutes or less.

Because lamb are smaller and tend to graze, it’s a healthier option. As for the beef, I’ve been buying more “ancestral blends” with organ meats mixed in. No one notices, so it’s an excellent way to add the essential nutrients we get from organ meat into our meals without it being an ordeal. Plus, no one eats my sublime chopped liver around here, so it makes little sense to go to the trouble of preparing it for me alone. For those interested, I’ll share more about their benefits at the bottom of this recipe.

There’s one more element that makes this recipes special, and it’s the grating of the onion, which releases its juices, tenderizing and flavoring the meat.

As for serving, there are so many variations that work, but I would recommend something saucy, whether it’s a juicy cuke salad with feta, tzatiki or hummus.

Ingredients:  

1lb ground beef (ideally an ancestral blend with organ meat)

1 lb ground lamb

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 small red onion, grated on the large grate of a box grater (I grate it directly over the bowl)

1 cup chopped parsley

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tbsp coriander

1 tbsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika if you don’t have smoked)

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp sea salt

Pepper to taste

TO SERVE (some ideas)

Tzatziki (you can find my recipe here)

Salad with red onion, tomato, cucumber and feta

Fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, parsley)

Real hummus if you are near a Middle Eastern market. Otherwise fuggetaboutit

Seasonal grilled/roasted vegeables

Pita

Instructions: 

1) Preheat your oven to 450°F. Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together all of the kebab ingredients until fully combined. Use your hands to work the mixture so it’s uniform and well-seasoned. Transfer onto an oiled, lined sheet pan and press it into an even rectangle — aim for about 3/4 inch thick. You want it thick enough to hold its shape but not so thick that it won’t cook through evenly.

2) Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, slice the beef mixture into long kebab-style strips, about 1–1½ inches wide. No need to separate them — they’ll bake and pull apart easily after.

3) Bake for 15–16 minutes, or until the kebabs are fully cooked through. For a crispier finish, switch the oven to broil on high for the last 1–2 minutes. Keep a close eye so they don’t burn.

4) Serve hot with something saucy (see ideas above).

More on the benefits of organ meats:

Organ meats are nutritional powerhouses that generally pack a much higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients than standard muscle meats. Often referred to as "nature's multivitamins," common varieties like liver, heart, and kidney provide highly bioavailable forms of energy-boosting iron, immune-supporting zinc, and critical B-vitamins.

Key Health Benefits

• Combat Fatigue: Organ meats supply massive amounts of Vitamin B12 and highly absorbable heme iron. This direct combination helps oxygenate blood, prevent anemia, and elevate metabolic energy.

• Enhances Cognitive Function: High levels of choline, primarily found in liver, serve as building blocks for vital memory and mood-regulating neurotransmitters.

• Strengthens the Immune System: A dense profile of zinc, selenium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D works to reinforce cellular defenses against viruses and bacteria.

• Protects Cardiovascular Health: While high in cholesterol, organs like the heart are packed with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which acts as a potent antioxidant that reduces inflammatory markers linked to heart disease.

• Aids Muscle Repair & Weight Management: Organ meats provide complete, high-quality proteins full of essential amino acids. This promotes muscle growth while simultaneously slowing stomach emptying to keep you full longer.

• Supports Radiant Skin: The heavy presence of Vitamin A helps maintain skin elasticity, fight acne, and accelerate collagen fiber regeneration.