With the world more health obsessed than ever, it’s not uncommon to see red meat getting sidelined for plant-based diets, burgers getting swapped out for beans, and omnivores getting some serious side-eye from vegans.

While it’s a great idea to load up on fruits and veggies, let’s not forget that meat—particularly beef—comes with some pretty essential nutrients. Iron, for example, supports red blood cell health (athletes/gym-goers/runners, we’re looking at you—healthy red blood cells are important for getting adequate oxygen during exercise), whereas vitamin B12 also contributes to cell health and helps prevent anemia.

Avoid the omnivore’s dilemma and go for the best of both plant and meat worlds by enjoying them together. These nine creative kebab recipes, each packed with beef, veggies, and fruits, are the perfect place to start, giving you well-rounded nutrition in every skewer.

1. Easy Grilled Steakhouse Kebabs

Get all the steakhouse flavor with none of the stuffy steakhouse atmosphere. Here the strip steak is cubed and soaked in classic flavorings such as Worcestershire and Dijon mustard, while mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers add some crisp veggie action.

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Keeping up your strength is essential for active living. The nutrients in beef—such as zinc, iron, and protein—help you stay strong.
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2. Steak Fajita Skewers With Cilantro Sauce

One of the rules of a healthy diet is to “eat the rainbow,” and these skewers are an easy way to do just that. With multicolored bell peppers and a bright green cilantro sauce, this isn’t just a meal that’s pretty to look at, it’s also packed with lean protein, antioxidants, and several essential vitamins.

3. Grilled Beef and Broccoli Kebabs

Sirloin steak is one of the leanest cuts of beef around, but when it’s soaked in grease and sodium to become the beef and broccoli dish we all love, it’s not as healthy. Give the classic Chinese take-out meal a makeover with this recipe, which uses a fraction of the oil, sugar, and salt of the original, and packs in a lot of the green veggie alongside the meat.

4. Grilled Pineapple Beef Kebabs

Never grilled fruit before? Start with this recipe. The pineapple gets even sweeter once caramelized, making for a fantastic contrast to the savory meat. Between the fruit and the peppers, there’s so much vitamin C in these kebabs, your body will have no problem using it to absorb all the iron from the beef.

5. Asian Steak Kebabs

Get the most out of your sirloin’s high-protein content by soaking it in a marinade that’s seasoned with garlic and ginger, both of which have digestive enzymes that efficiently break down the beef’s amino acids. It’s a super simple way to add a ton of flavor to the meat and veggies without resorting to processed condiments.

6. Thai Beef Basil Kebabs

With lean beef cubes and avocado oil, these Thai-inspired skewers are super heart healthy and a delicious way to lower “bad” cholesterol levels. Fresh basil, crispy red peppers, and a honeyed apple cider vinegar glaze bring it all together.

7. Grilled Beef Kebabs With Avocado Cucumber Tzatziki

The skewers here are lightly seared for just four minutes on each side to keep the veggies crisp and the meat tender. Dunk them into the creamy avocado/cucumber yogurt sauce for a real treat.

8. Steak and Potato Kebabs

If you’re a sucker for good old hearty steak and potatoes, this summery take on the evergreen combo—which adds mushrooms for well-balanced skewers—should be right up your alley. The rib eye that the blogger uses has more fat than, say, sirloin tip, but it’s also higher in iron, potassium, and B12. Plus, the marbling makes for a fantastically juicy kebab.

9. Beef, Fig, and Red Onion Balsamic Skewers

This recipe gives you the choice of using rump, tenderloin, or filet—they’re all smart, lean meat choices but the tenderloin and filet hold up best on the grill. Skewer the succulent cubes along with sweet figs and tangy red onion, and brush everything with the addictive balsamic honey sauce—the combo sounds unusual, but it’s a winner.