Spicy Grilled Vegetable Skewers with Garlic-Lime Marinade

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

Colorful vegetables marinated in a zesty garlic-lime sauce and grilled to tender perfection with a touch of spicy heat. This mediterranean-inspired grilling (vegetarian, vegan) ready in about 40 minutes pairs zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces, red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 140 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium yellow squash, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 small red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 12 mushrooms, whole button or cremini
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 wooden skewers, soaked

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp fresh lime juice, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Whisk thoroughly to create the marinade.
2. Step 2: Add 1 medium zucchini sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces, 1 medium yellow squash sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, 1 small red onion cut into 1-inch chunks, and 12 whole mushrooms to the marinade. Toss gently to coat all vegetables evenly. Let marinate for 20 minutes.
3. Step 3: Preheat grill to medium heat, about 375°F. Thread the marinated vegetables onto 4 soaked wooden skewers, distributing colors evenly.
4. Step 4: Place skewers on the grill and cook for 12-15 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes, until vegetables are tender and have nice grill marks.
5. Step 5: Remove skewers from grill and serve immediately as a vibrant, spicy side or vegetarian main.