The Pioneer Woman's 'Dinner on a Stick' Is So Worth Firing Up The Grill

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Whether we’re firing up the grill — or getting out the grill pan — summer dinners are always better with a little char. And while grilled chicken is a classic family-friendly favorite, sometimes we find ourselves craving a meal that’s a little more interesting. Dinner on a stick, anyone? That’s what Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, has nicknamed her flavorful pork kebab recipe, which seasons mild pork tenderloin with a rich hoisin-based sauce. It’s great for summer barbecues, but you can just as easily make it on the grill pan on weeknights.

There are a few key ingredients you’ll need to make this grilled sesame pork kebabs recipe, and if you love Chinese, Korean, and Japanese flavors, you’ll want to stock these in the fridge and pantry so you have what you need for other delicious recipes, too. The marinade is made with soy sauce, honey, and brown sugar, along with toasted sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and aromatics like ginger and garlic. The accompanying fresh cucumber salad is made with rice vinegar, which is tangy and just slightly sweet.

Drummond calls for quick-cooking, lean pork tenderloin to make this recipe. She marinates the meat for at least two hours, so it can soak up the sweet, salty, nutty flavor. Then, she skewers the meat with chunks of green onion before cooking them on the grill. The marinade caramelizes on the grill grates, deepening the flavor and creating those iconic grill marks. The cucumber salad helps balance the rich sweetness of the marinade, and a side of white rice completes the meal.

You could also try serving the dish with noodles, or add the meat and cucumber salad to pita pockets or wraps for a fun sandwich-style meal. And if you fall in love with the marinade like we think you will, then you can also try using it with chicken, beef, or even salmon.

Even if it’s not summer anymore and you’re just craving those bold, fresh flavors, you can whip out the grill pan and make The Pioneer Woman’s “Dinner on a stick” recipe and imagine yourself dining al fresco.

In search of more summer recipes? Giada De Laurentiis has plenty:

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