An easy, soft flatbread recipe that’s made without yeast. You’ll love how soft and pliable this flat bread is, making it perfect to use as wraps for Gyros, Shawarma and Doner kebabs. Or as naan to dunk into Tikka Masala or Butter Chicken. The possibilities are endless!
Flatbread recipe
I love fresh homemade bread. And though I 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 wrap unless 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.
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.
And of course, it is perfect to be used as pita bread, for things like Greek Gyros and Greek Chicken Souvlaki.
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.
If you’ve never tried homemade bread before, this flatbread recipe is a great one to 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
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Easy Soft Flatbread (No Yeast)
Ingredients
- 2 cups / 300g 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 butter (1.75 oz)
- 3/4 cup / 185 ml milk
- 1/2 tbsp oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Combine butter and milk and heat until butter is just melted - on stove or in microwave.
- Combine 2 cups flour, salt, butter and milk.
- 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.
- Wrap with cling wrap and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes or so.
- Dust bench top with flour, cut dough into 4 pieces, roll into balls, then roll out into about 1/8" / 0.3cm thick rounds.
- Heat 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a non stick pan over medium heat - or lower if you have a heavy based skillet. (Note 1)
- Place one flatbread in the pan, cook for around 1- 1 1/2 minutes - it should bubble up (see photo in post)- then flip and cook the other side, pressing down if it puffs up. There should be a smallish golden brown spots on both sides.
- 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.
- 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:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Summer, autumn, spring and winter. Rain, hail or shine.
Can this recipe be made with baker’s flour Nagi?
Hi Marjorie – yes that’s fine 🙂 N x
Hey,looks yummy en nice en tasty Wanda full food I like it en keep up doing a good food well done
Hey, looks great!
Is it possible to convert milk into water?
And how much oil should be put in place of butter?
I want non-dairy bread.
Thanks!
I have to say I love your recipes i have made so many now I am huge fan of your site. Keep doing what you are doing. From very grateful UK cook. Xxxx
Brilliant flat-breads and perfect for making Greek food at home. I’d say a Peshwari Naan mixture would also work very well to completely change the mood! Well done Nagi. Keep up the good work!
would the flat bread freeze/defrost well?
Yes 100% Deborah! N x
Hello Nagi, Thankyou for this recipe. I was wondering what your thoughts are if I try to use it as a pizza base?
Hi Rita, you can definitely do that, here’s what I would do: roll them super thin and cook slightly longer in the pan so it’s a little more crispy (rather than soft and pliable). Then cover with your favourite pizza toppings and bake! N x
Love this recipe and tonight had to sub butter with oil and cream, it worked out great!
I’m so glad you loved it Anna!! N x
Great recipe! I veganised it by subbing oat milk for dairy, and 40 ml oil for the butter. Also added nigella/kalonji seeds for extra flavour, which developed beautifully after I’d stored the dough in the fridge for a couple of days.
Yum, I love this idea Mandy!! N x
Has anyone tried making the dough and then freezing it before cooking? I’d like to make a large batch to freeze and then cook as needed.
This recipe is amazing thanks so much for, could I possibly make popadums if I deep fry or would I need to modify or use a completely different recipe.
This is all we eat with your curry/Greek recipes now
I replaced the milk with coconut milk to try and get a peswari naan taste, although the texture was as good the flavour of coconut was hardly there. Do you think adding the full monty of desiccated coconut, raisins and nuts would work in this recipe as I try to avoid yeast if possible
Hi Dawn, it would be a completely different recipe sorry – something I’d need to test. N x
Brilliant flatbread recipe, SO easy, quick and cheap to make. Perfect as part of a Greek meze.
Made these to go with your falafel recipe and it was a big hit. The pan got too hot and the bread turned out crispier than I would’ve liked but it was still tasty and chewy. This is going to be my “go-to” for flatbread forever!
Love how versatile this recipe is! Made wraps for chicken salad, and then wanted something sweet after. So we made a dessert flatbread by sprinkling chocolate chips and chopped hazelnuts, then topped with marshmallows, and broiled.
You never cease to amaze me Nagi! All of your recipes work out perfectly for me and this is the best naan bread I have ever tasted, including restaurant quality ones! I was quite proud of myself and a little shocked that I just made THE best naan bread, all thanks to you!
I started of to make what would be a good wrap. I experimented with my toasted sandwich press.
I put the lid down and ended up with the crispiest flat bread ever. Went well with some Blue Brie. Pore dough left, and my wife doesn’t want soft wraps. Just the crisp flat bread crackers.
Wow, very easy and worked well with the chicken. One of the simplest flat breads to make. Thank you,
My husband and I are on a Daniel Fast for 3 weeks. We kept reading that we could have flatbread because it is unleavened bread BUT all store bought flatbreads have some sort of yeast. After research, I came across this recipe and it is a game changer. We substituted olive oil for the butter and unsweetened almond milk for the milk. We actually made “pizzas” with them! Thank you!
And I forgot to mention we used 100% stone ground whole wheat flour. 🙂
the best easiest naan! cannot fault it and have also used for souv’s!
naan bread actually has yeast in it & is a lot thicker & fluffier. id say this is more like a roti flatbread.
if you really want naan, this is my go to recipe. its very easy!
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-naan-step-step-photos/