This beef skewers recipe is very simple and delicious. Perfect for a summer party or weeknight dinner.
Sitting in an asadero or barbecue restaurant in Colombia eating a beef, pork or chicken skewer with arepa and papa salada is like heaven to me. Street vendors set up outside the clubs and bars in Medellín, serving all kinds of skewers and grilled corn. The flavor of these Chuzos de Res is fantastic.
We marinate all of our meats overnight in Colombia. I remember coming home from the supermarket when I was a girl and watching my mom trim and marinate all the meats she just bought and storing them in plastic bags, which she would label with the date and the type of meat. That was an all day affair, but she had the meat ready for the rest of the week and with amazing flavor.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and cooking directions is below.
Beef: I recommend using filet or sirloin.
Vegetables: Onion, garlic and scallions
Spices and Flavor: Beer, oil, cumin, salt and pepper
How to Make Beef Skewers
- Mix the onion, garlic, scallion, ground cumin, beer, salt and pepper in a large zip lock plastic bag.
- Add the beef and let it marinate overnight or for at least 5 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the grill to high. Thread the beef onto skewers and brush with olive oil. Grill until browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Serve the skewers with a papa salada and small arepa.
More Beef Recipes
Beef Skewers Recipe (Chuzos de Res)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds beef filet diced
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 chopped scallion
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ cup beer
- Olive oil for brushing
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Mix the onion, garlic, scallion, ground cumin, beer, salt and pepper in a large zip lock plastic bag.
- Add the beef and let it marinate overnight or for at least 5 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the grill to high. Thread the beef onto skewers and brush with olive oil. Grill until browned on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Serve the skewers with a papa salada and small arepa.
Pabloski
Que tipo de carne se usa para pincho? Por que nombre la busco aquí en Estados Unidos. Gracias.
Erica Dinho
Yo uso filet mignon o sirloin
Pabloski
I cooked this on Sunday for Mother’s Day and used the same marinade for chicken-pork-beef skewers, except I added a couple of spoons of “mojo” to the pork, it came out delicious, my recommendation would be not to cut the meat too small so that you can get it charred on the outside and keep juices inside. Will make them again for my birthday in a couple of weeks, can’t wait.
I love this website’s authentic colombian flavor! Thanks! ☺️
luis alfredo
Gracias por ilustrarnos en gastronomía colombiana que es una delicia, así se preparan los pinchos colombianos, si desea agréguele un poquito en polvo orégano, tomillo, laurel y comino.
Gracias profesora muy deliciosa
Jessica Jones
Can I replace the beer with anything else? We are an alchohol free home (even if it's just for cooking).
Erica Dinho
Just omit it!
Viviana
Can I use the same marinate with pork?
Erica Dinho
Yes,it's delicious with pork.
Yolanda
Thank you so much for the recipe! I've been looking for this for so long now and i am so happy i've found yours...I am wondering what kind of meat you used. I've tried several kinds but they either don't cook fully or the meat is so hard to eat it does not fall off from the skewer..can you recommend what kind of meat i should buy - rib-eye, NY strip?Thank you!
Erica Dinho
I love making them with filet mignon or sirloin.
Aimee
Hi! I have to tell you how thrilled I am to find your site! My 10 yr old daughter & I made a Colombian feast for her gymnastics coaches, who were moving away. They are originally from Bogota so we wanted to impress them with some really authentic recipes, to say thank you for coaching her for 4 years. We made the arroz con pollo, arepas with mozzarella cheese, & the chuzos de res. Juan & Luisa were so impressed with the flavors of the food, they said it was just like "home!" And these recipes are not difficult! It is fresh food and beats the take-out they usually get near their apartment. The meat, especially, with the beer marinade...who would of though the beer would add so much flavor??? You can definitely taste the beer, but it really works with the flavor of the meat. It is absolutely mouth-watering! My daughter & I can't wait to try more of your recipes!!!!! Muchas gracias!!!!
Jill
I love Colombian Food and your site is fantastic for people like me. I don't speak Spanish, but I adore traditional Colombian cuisine. Thank you for this wonderful site about Colombian food.
ana maria
Erica me encanta cocinar todas tu recetas. Hoy vamas a comer chusos los sasane anoche. gracias por tus recetas, y que sigas triunfando. anamaria de santee, california. orgullosamente colombiana
Diana
I made these for lunch yesterday and we all just loved how they turned out. I always wondered what was that "special" seasoning they used in Colombia for their chuzos and never got it right. Turns out it was beer! Never would've thought to use it in my marinade. Don't change a thing! These are as delicious and authentic as the ones you will buy in Colombia. ¡Erica, mil y mil gracias nuevamente!
Respondon
I made these (to me they're pinchos) a few days ago, and I used a thick piece of sirloin because filet (tenderloin) is so expensive. It was great (I made some quick yellow arepas, though white would have been more authentic) and would be even better with tenderloin.
Luis
Hello Erica...great page!
How do you make Arepa Paisa like the one shown in this picture? Is it done in a BBQ grill, oven or skillet?
Luis
Erica
Hi Luis,
I cooked the round arepa in the grill over low heat, but you can use the Colombian parilla if you have it or just place the arepa in a baking sheet in the oven. Let me know if you have more questions.
Thank you for visiting!
Adriana
I use a 2-sided panini grill pan (Cuisinart Griller) to cook my arepas in 7 minutes.