Grilled Margarita Turkey Kebabs

Grilled Margarita Turkey Kebabs are tender and flavorful from a fresh citrus marinade. This is a fun meal packed with lean protein. It’s time to fire up the grill!

 

I.

am.

so.

excited!

Spring is fiiiiiiiiiinally here to stay, after that unwelcome dump of snow we had just a couple weeks ago.

We’ve moved the outdoor furniture onto the backyard patio. I’ve even washed a few windows. We’re ready to celebrate all the reasons why we live in Minnesota (spring, summer, and fall!). 

And today I’m sharing my first grilling recipe of the season. This makes me SO VERY HAPPY.

Grilled Margarita Turkey Kebabs, you’re gonna want to fire up the grill >>> pronto!

* This is a sponsored post, created in partnership with the National Turkey Federation.

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, and these margarita turkey kebabs are the perfect way to celebrate. I’m positive you’ll find this recipe so tasty that you’ll be grilling these kebabs until the snow flakes fall again at the end of the year. 

Turkey is packed with lean protein, low in fat, and high in B vitamins that help your body produce energy – all aspects that I appreciate when planning meals for my family. 

Turkey also soaks in the flavor of whatever seasonings or marinades it’s cooked with, making it ultra versatile. For this recipe, I cut turkey tenderloins into like-sized pieces and then cozy them into a marinade for a couple hours’ rest. 

The marinade consists mostly of fresh lime and orange juices (which not only add great flavor, but also help keep the turkey tender!), plus their zest. A nice amount of fresh garlic, chili powder, and cumin add even more flavor. To mimic the margarita cocktail, I add tequila to the marinade. But you can totally skip that ingredient, if you prefer. 

Then I thread the turkey pieces onto skewers, alternating with pieces of red onion. I include onion in most of my kebabs recipes, as I love how the grill’s flame makes them tender and sweet. A sprinkle of salt and pepper is the final touch before hitting the grill grates.

I’m partnering with the National Turkey Federation this year, sharing recipes and tips for turkey. And these grilled margarita turkey kebabs are just the start!

Did you know? 

• The top six turkey producing states are Minnesota (#1!), North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, and Virginia. These six states produce 2/3 of U.S. turkeys. 
• It’s illegal for hormones or steroids to be added to turkey.

A few food safety tips:

• Don’t rinse your turkey! Rinsing can lead to the spread of bacteria around the kitchen. 
• But DO wash your hands after handling a package of raw turkey! Also disinfect any surfaces you may have touched along the way. 

And a few tips for grilling turkey:

I’m not making this a requirement, but do take this as a strong suggestion.

Make yourself a margarita to enjoy with these kebabs, especially if you make these for Cinco de Mayo. 

You know how much I love a margarita – here are a few recipes for you! 

• Traditional Margaritas
• Margarita Recipe for One and for a Crowd
• Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita
• Prosecco Margaritas {big-batch cocktail}
• Rhubarb Margarita
• Orange Margarita 

Like this kebabs recipe? Save it to Pinterest!

Grilled Margarita Turkey Kebabs

Yield: 4 servings

prep time: 30 minutes mins

cook time: 6 minutes mins

Additional Time: 2 hours hrs

total time: 2 hours hrs 36 minutes mins

These kebabs are tender and flavorful from a fresh citrus marinade. This is a fun meal packed with lean protein!

4.9 Stars (7 Reviews)

Print

Equipment

• Citrus Juicer
• Flat Bamboo Skewers
• Stainless Steel Skewers

Ingredients

• ¾ c. freshly squeezed lime juice about 4 medium-large limes
• ½ c. freshly squeezed orange juice about 2 medium-large oranges
• zest from 1 medium-large lime
• zest of 1 medium-large orange
• 3 T. tequila optional
• 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 T. honey
• 2 large garlic cloves minced
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1-1/2 lbs. turkey tenderloins cut into 1″ to 1-1/4″ pieces
• half of a medium red onion cut into 1″ to 1-1/4″ pieces
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lime half
• 1 orange half

Instructions

• If using wooden skewers, soak them in water starting the night before grilling.
• In a low, wide bowl, whisk lime juice, orange juice, lime zest, orange zest, tequila, olive oil, honey, minced garlic, cumin, and chili powder. Add turkey pieces and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Remove turkey from refrigerator. Thread turkey onto wood or metal skewers, alternating with pieces of red onion. Sprinkle kebabs with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper on all sides.
• Heat grill to high heat. Make sure grates are scrubbed clean and then oiled. (To oil the grates, add some vegetable oil to a small bowl. Then fold a heavy paper towel a few times to make a smaller square. With a tongs, grasp the folded paper towel and dip it into the oil until the paper towel is drenched. Then run the paper towel over the grates, repeating until all grill grates are thoroughly oiled.)
• Grill lime half and orange half until charred and softened. Remove from grill. Turn heat down to medium-high, and then clean and oil grates again.
• Grill turkey kebabs for 3 minutes on the first side, flip over and grill for another 3 minutes. Timing will vary depending on size of turkey pieces and heat of grill. If the kebabs are sticking to the grates, use a thin metal spatula to gently lift/scrape kebabs from the grates. Serve grilled turkey kebabs with grilled lime half and orange half, for squeezing over the top of the kebabs. Fresh cilantro is also nice.

Notes

from a farmgirl’s dabbles

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 510kcal Carbohydrates: 26g Protein: 70g Fat: 12g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g Cholesterol: 181mg Sodium: 394mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 15g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!

© Brenda | A Farmgirl’s Dabbles

Cuisine: American

Course: Dinner Ideas

Find more turkey recipes and cooking tips from the National Turkey Federation at ServeTurkey.org. And follow @ServeTurkey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Join in on the conversation with the hashtag #TryTurkey!

This post is sponsored by the National Turkey Federation. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make this site possible.