Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (2024)

By:Nagi

1,770 Comments

An easy, soft flatbread recipe that’s made without yeast, an excellent quick option when you don’t have hours for yeast dough to rise.You’ll love how soft and pliable this flat bread is, making it perfect to use as wraps forGyros,Shawarma and Doner kebabs. Or as naan to dunk into Tikka Masala orButter Chicken. The possibilities are endless!

Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (1)

Flatbread recipe

I love fresh homemade bread.And thoughI bake bread with yeast more frequently nowadays,I still find it easier and a general preference to make bread without yeast.

Maximum taste, most tasty outcome with minimum effort – but without compromising on the end result. That’s my ultimate goal and the ethos that underpins every recipe I share here on RecipeTin Eats.

Over the years, I have tried a lot of flatbread recipes. Flatbreads from many different cuisines, from blogs and cooking sites, by home cooks, from reality cooking shows (yes, Master Chef and My Kitchen Rules!), serious chefs and celebrity chefs.

But I always found they were too doughy (e.g. the ones that only use yoghurt as the wet ingredient) or too crisp to use as a wrapunless they were moistened with lashings of butter. Absolutely delicious, mind you. But not what I was after.So this recipe is my idea of a perfect flatbread recipe.

Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (2)

How to make Flatbread – with NO yeast

This flatbread recipe is made with no yeast. It is very easy to make, requiring just a minute or two of kneading.

And it honestly is beautifully soft and pliable. So soft you can use it as a wrap and it won’t crack.

Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (3)

And of course, it is perfectto be used as pita bread, for things like Greek Gyros and Greek Chicken Souvlaki.

Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (4)

And here I have used it as “naan” as a side for Butter Chicken. When I make it to be like “naan”, I cook it on a slightly higher heat to get larger and more brown bits on it – just like real naan! The crust gets slightly crispier so it’s not as suited to use as a wrap, like in the above photo. (PS If you’ve got the time to make proper naan, try my Naan recipe. It’s just like the real deal!)

Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (5)

If you’ve never tried homemade bread before, this flatbread recipe is a great oneto start with because it really is that easy. The worst that can happen with this flatbread recipe is that the heat is too high when you cook it so the exterior ends up a bit too crunchy and cracks when you roll it. If that happens, just spray it with olive oil or brush lightly with oil or butter and it will moisten the surface.

Try this once, and store-bought flatbreads will never be the same again. That I can promise! – Nagi x

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Watch how to make it

I’ve added oil but it’s not necessary. Please follow your recipe card below.

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Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (7)

Easy Soft Flatbread (No Yeast)

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Resting: 30 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

Flatbread

Greek, Mediterranean

4.96 from 545 votes

Servings6 x 20cm / 8″ flatbreads

Tap or hover to scale

Print

Recipe video above. The dough for this recipe is ridiculously easy to make with only a minute or two of kneading. The bread is soft and pliable so it’s perfect for using as a wrap, stuffed with whatever takes your fancy. It’s also a great make ahead recipe – the dough keeps for around 3 days. See NOTES for substitutions, including using GLUTEN FREE flour. 30 minute resting time. Recipe VIDEO below.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain flour (all purpose flour) (level cups, unsifted, not packed), + keep 1/4 cup extra for dusting & adjusting dough
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 1/2 tbsp / 50g unsalted butter (1.75 oz)
  • 3/4 cup milk

Instructions

  • Melt butter in milk: Combine butter and milk and heat until butter is just melted – on stove or in microwave.

  • Combine Dry: Combine 2 cups flour, salt, butter and milk in a bowl.

  • Knead 2 minutes: Sprinkle work surface with flour then knead for a few minutes until it is smooth – it doesn't need much kneading. Add extra flour if the dough is too sticky.

  • Rest 30 minutes: Wrap with cling wrap and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes or so.

  • Roll into rounds: Dust bench top with flour, cut dough into 6 pieces, roll into balls, then roll out into 20cm / 8" rounds, 2 – 3 mm thick.

  • Heat pan: Heat a non stick pan over high heat (no oil). (Note 1)

  • Cook: Place one flatbread in the pan, cook for around 1- 1 1/2 minutes – it should puff up dramatically. Once the underside has nice golden patches on it, flip and cook the other side for 45 seconds to 1 minute until the underside has golden spots and it puffs up again.

  • Keep wrapped in tea towel: Stack the cooked bread and keep wrapped with a tea towel – the moisture helps soften the surface, making them even more pliable. Continue to cook with remaining pieces.

  • Brush with butter or oil (optional): Brush or spray bread with olive oil or melted butter, for a more luxurious finish. Or even with melted butter mixed with minced garlic for a garlic butter version!

Recipe Notes:

1. Higher heat and the thinner the dough = crispier crust, though still pliable inside, the thin crispy crust on the outside might crack when you roll it. This is how I make naan. The larger darker brown spots on the bread (see image in post) make it look like authentic naan, just like what you get at Indian restaurants! (If you got the time, here’s my proper naan recipemade with yeast. It’s just like you get at Indian restaurants – super soft and fluffy!)

2. STORING: Dough keeps in the refrigerator for around 3 days. Tip: Roll out the rounds, ready to cook. Just make sure you use baking paper or cling wrap to keep the pieces separated, flour will not suffice.

Cooked breads keep really well in the freezer!

3. Wholemeal flour – Works great with WHOLE WHEAT flour, does not work with almond flour. See note 4 for Gluten Free.

4. Dairy free / vegan substitutions: A reader tried the original recipe then reported back that it also worked just as great substituting the butter with olive oil and almond milk for the dairy milk to make it a vegan / dairy free version. Brilliant! Another reader has also made this with coconut oil and reported it works great.

5. Gluten free option – This works pretty well with Gluten Free flour. You may need a bit of extra flour to roll it out – just add more as required. The texture is a bit different – a bit chewy, and you may not be able to roll them out into neat rounds like pictured.

6. Use this for: Gyros, Souvlaki, as naan for curries like Butter Chicken, Chickpea Curry or Beef Rendang.

7. Recipe source:Based on this Flatbread by Julie Goodwin.

8. Nutrition per flatbread.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 125gCalories: 370cal (19%)Carbohydrates: 49.9g (17%)Protein: 8.1g (16%)Fat: 15.2g (23%)Saturated Fat: 7.6g (48%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 7.6gCholesterol: 31mg (10%)Sodium: 386mg (17%)Fiber: 1.7g (7%)Sugar: 2.2g (2%)

Keywords: easy flatbread, flatbread, flatbread recipe, flatbread without yeast, no yeast flatbread recipe

Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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1,770 Comments

  1. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (12)Deb Myers says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (13)
    I’ve been making these flat breads for years now but reckon it was high time I put in a comment.
    *AWESOME*
    That’s it 🙂

    Reply

  2. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (14)Jess says

    My son is allergic to both dairy and eggs( nuts too) .. do you have any Indian style bread recipes that can be made without, or substitute with nuttelex and oat/soy milk. Would that work or completely loose the tasty flavours!?

    Reply

  3. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (17)Sue Suitcase says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (18)
    The flatbread was SO easy and was just like Naan with the Butter Chicken! Wonderfully easy and yummy flatbread!

    Reply

  4. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (19)Emma says

    We had these last night with your chicken shwarma. My 9 yo made the flat breads and my 6 yo cried when they were all finished! Another big hit 🙏

    Reply

  5. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (20)Chinwe Ogolo says

    I made this flat bread! This is delicious. I made it to eat with my butter chicken, but I ate it without it. Yum!

    Reply

  6. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (21)Dave says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (22)
    Love this recipe. I made it with half plain flour and half cornmeal flour (Masa Harina). Extra tasty with the cornmeal flour mixed in.

    Reply

  7. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (23)Shelly says

    I I have gone over this recipe multiple times and I don’t know what I did wrong but mine came out super dense, did not puff up and only made 3 rounds. Thought u would try a new recipe but this one was not a winner.

    Reply

  8. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (25)Christopher Davies says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (26)
    So easy to make and nice thin & soft when eating. I no longer buy naan or wraps from the store.
    So many of your recipes are a hit in the house! Thank you.

    Reply

  9. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (27)Sarah Hibbing says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (28)
    SO delicious!! I have so many of your recipes saved in my app by now! You’re amazing!

    Reply

  10. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (29)Marianne says

    So I just made 32 flatbreads (recipe x4 – dividing each instance of the recipe by 8) – each ball of dough was about 65-70 g. Flattened into discs then ran each through my pasta maker at dial mark 3 twice, rotating the doing on the second pass to keep the shape round instead of oblong. It worked!! Cooked them and I now have 32 flatbreads for my X-mas eve party next weekend. I’m going to freeze them and hope for the best when defrosting warming and serving. Will also be making Nagi’s lamb and chicken shawarma.

    Reply

      • Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (31)Mariette says

        I always make a large batch and freeze. Once cooled I place small sheets of baking paper (I reuse them a few times as they always stay in freezer) inbetween flatbreads. I put the whole stack in a ziplock bag and freeze. Then I either defrost in a wrapped tea towel at room temperature or warm in a pan.

        Reply

  11. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (33)Naomi Stoeckigt says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (34)
    I make these about once a fortnight. A double batch every time!! 😁 They’re a bit hit in our house. I make balls from 50g of dough and roll to fit my frying pan. When they’re cooked, the leftovers go in the freezer in my decor pastry storage box!! 🙃 Reheat either in the microwave in my tortilla warmer or directly in the frying pan.

    Reply

  12. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (35)tania cox says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (36)
    I always make these with the chicken shwarma and they elevate this dish to restaurant quality. Such an easy fail proof recipe and the flavour is sublime.

    Reply

  13. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (45)Emily says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (46)
    I ate 3 of these in the space of 5 minutes! Scratches the itch for naan and is ideal for scooping up curries:) Or just eating straight-up as a snack like I did with the first few!

    Reply

  14. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (47)Christine says

    This recipe was a hit! For those of you who want to add a little something, I would recommend adding some leftover seasoned minced meat — trust me, people can’t get enough!

    Reply

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Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (2024)

FAQs

What are the four types of flat breads? ›

Flat breads are made throughout most of the world. Examples are pita (from the Middle East), chapati and naan (India), tortilla (Mexico) and focaccia (Italy). The bread may be leavened (have a raising agent of yeast or sourdough) or unleavened.

What makes bread rise without yeast? ›

Baking Soda

It helps breads rise and gives them their light and airy texture. Unlike yeast, baking soda needs an acid to activate it. By adding an acid to baking soda (such as lemon juice or cream of tartar) a chemical reaction occurs that produces carbon dioxide and fills your bread with air — much like yeast does.

Why are my flatbreads hard? ›

Try to let the dough rest between steps, for example, form the balls then roll the first ball that had a minute to rest. Cook the flatbread on medium heat – too high heat will burn them. And yet, too low heat will cause them to become too hard when cooled.

What makes flatbread flat? ›

A flatbread is bread made usually with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pita bread.

What is the best flatbread in the world? ›

Roti canai ranked as the best flatbread in the world. From breakfast staples to supper bites at the mamak, roti canai is a top choice among Malaysians.

What is the difference between lavash and flatbread? ›

Lavash is a fully baked flatbread that is usually lower in sodium, less doughy and chewy, and generally contains less oil. Lavash's rectangular shape makes it easier to fit in lots of good stuff inside when you're making wraps.

What is bread without yeast called? ›

Unleavened bread is any of a wide variety of breads which are prepared without using rising agents such as yeast or sodium bicarbonate. The preparation of bread-like non-leavened cooked grain foods appeared in prehistoric times.

Does baking powder make bread softer? ›

As with baking soda, baking powder also releases gas bubbles into your quick bread, giving it a softer, fluffier texture in the oven.

Why is my flatbread not fluffy? ›

The thinner the dough, the more firm and crisp the texture. For a softer, more fluffy flatbread, use the 1/4″ thickness. Bake your Homemade Fluffy Flatbread on a lightly greased griddle, electric skillet or large frying pan. Allow about a 1/4″ between breads as they bake.

Is milk or water better for flatbread? ›

You will need a bit more milk than the amount of water required (because of the milk solids). The dough will be softer, the crumb less open. You will have to bake it at lower temperatures than a lean bread. In other words, your bread will be more like a sandwich bread.

Are naan and flatbread the same thing? ›

Naan is a leavened flatbread with a soft and chewy texture.

Why don't my flatbreads rise? ›

Yeast is too hot Yeast may have been dissolved in water that was too hot, or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Yeast needs to be warm - not too hot, not too cold. Yeast is too cold If the other ingredients are too cold, it could cause some of the yeast to die.

What are the different types of flatbread bread? ›

The majority of flat breads are consumed in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Major types include 'chapati,' 'roti,' 'naan,' 'paratha,' 'poori,' 'balady,' 'pita,' and 'barabri. ' These breads typically have high crust-to-crumb ratios and limited crumb.

What type of bread is flat bread? ›

Traditionally, flatbread is basically unleavened bread, which is made without yeast. Flour, water, and salt are the main ingredients. It's rolled out flat and cooked, usually in a brick oven. While it originated in ancient Egypt, many cultures have versions of flatbread.

Is naan a flatbread? ›

Naan is a leavened, oven-baked (usually using a tandoor) or tawa-fried flatbread. It is characterized by its light and slightly fluffy texture and golden-brown spots from the baking process.

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