Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (2024)

By:Nagi

1,771 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 546 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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1,771 Comments

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

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (13)
    I always wanted to make one but didn’t have the time or energy. I finally tried this last night, easy peasy! Thank you for sharing the recipe,Nagi!

    Reply

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

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (15)
    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

  3. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (16)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

  4. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (17)Savanna says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (18)
    Hi! If i’m cooking them one day ahead of when I need them, should I freeze them, fridge them, or leave them out on the counter? Thank you!

    Reply

  5. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (19)Sue Suitcase says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (20)
    The flatbread was SO easy and was just like Naan with the Butter Chicken! Wonderfully easy and yummy flatbread!

    Reply

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

  7. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (22)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

  8. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (23)Dave says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (24)
    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

  9. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (25)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

  10. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (27)Christopher Davies says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (28)
    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

  11. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (29)Sarah Hibbing says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (30)
    SO delicious!! I have so many of your recipes saved in my app by now! You’re amazing!

    Reply

  12. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (31)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) (33)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

  13. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (35)Naomi Stoeckigt says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (36)
    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

  14. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (37)tania cox says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (38)
    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

  15. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (47)Emily says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (48)
    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

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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).

Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder for flatbread? ›

Even though baking soda and baking powder both perform the same job in baking, they are chemically different and cannot be substituted one for one in recipes. That's because the way they react and create air differs. Not knowing the difference between baking soda and baking powder can cause your baked goods to go flat.

How do you make bread rise without yeast? ›

You can substitute yeast with equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. So if a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of yeast, you can use half a teaspoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Keep in mind that the bread will not need the typical proofing time and the dough will begin rising right away.

What is the best flour to use for flatbread? ›

Flour: You can use bread flour or all-purpose flour. Bread flour leaves a slightly chewier texture, but the difference is barely noticeable since the crust is so thin. Olive Oil: Adds flavor. We'll also brush the dough with olive oil before baking, too.

What is Greek flatbread made of? ›

Homemade Flatbread {Greek Pocketless Pitas}

In a large bowl (or bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook), mix the yeast, sugar water, milk, oil, salt and one cup of the flour until well combined. Gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough is formed.

What is the difference between lavash and flatbread? ›

What's the difference between lavash and flatbread? Flatbread is usually crispy whereas lavash is softer and can easily be folded. Lavash is also thinner than flatbread and is usually shaped into a circle.

Are flat breads healthier? ›

Other flatbread dough variations include a fat like olive oil or butter. Is flatbread healthy? Yes! It's one of the healthiest breads you can make because it's low in calories and fat but high in fiber.

What is the difference between flatbread and naan? ›

Naan is another flatbread traditionally served in Indian restaurants but the difference is that there will already be a filling inside these flatbread pockets. Naan may be stuffed with curd, fresh desiccated coconut, butter, nigella seeds, and raisins.

What do you eat with flatbreads? ›

Best Combinations
  1. Blue cheese, caramelized onion, pear and aged balsamic vinegar.
  2. Pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, onion and red bell pepper.
  3. Scrambled eggs, tomato, spinach and cheese of your choice.
  4. Cooked ground meat with taco seasonings or canned chili beans, diced green bell pepper, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese.

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 happens if you accidentally use baking soda instead of baking powder? ›

Using the wrong leavening agent

If you accidentally add baking soda instead of baking powder to baked goods, they won't rise because there is not enough acid.

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. They already appeared in prehistoric times. Unleavened breads are generally flat breads; however, not all flat breads are unleavened.

What happens if you bake bread without yeast? ›

If you don't use yeast or other leavening in your bread dough, the bread will be dense and will not rise. As others have said, there may well be a subtle taste difference since yeast forms carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. There are many breads that are unleavened and most are flatbreads.

How are flatbreads traditionally made? ›

Flatbreads were typically made from a grain being ground down. In early human history, this was accomplished by using two stones to crush the grain until it became a flour. The ground grain was combined with water and salt, then mixed until a dough formed.

What's the difference between flatbread and pizza dough? ›

But the difference between the two really comes down to the ingredients, they both need flour, water, and salt, but pizza dough has an additional ingredient, yeast. Pizza dough is a leavened dough where flatbread is unleavened, giving it that flat texture.

What is the difference between flatbread and loaf bread? ›

A loaf is normally cut into slices for serving. Wikipedia defines a "loaf" as "a shape, usually a rounded or oblong mass of food, typically and originally of bread". The type of bread you picture is a flatbread. These are unleavened bread; that is they have no yeast in them so they do not rise.

What's the difference between flatbread and naan bread? ›

Naan is another flatbread traditionally served in Indian restaurants but the difference is that there will already be a filling inside these flatbread pockets. Naan may be stuffed with curd, fresh desiccated coconut, butter, nigella seeds, and raisins.

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