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 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. (PS If you’ve got the time to make proper naan, try my Naan recipe. It’s just like the real deal!)
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
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Easy Soft Flatbread (No Yeast)
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
- 1/2 tbsp oil (for cooking)
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 4 pieces, roll into balls, then roll out into about 1/8" / 0.3cm thick rounds.
- Heat oil: 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)
- Cook: 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.
- 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:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Summer, autumn, spring and winter. Rain, hail or shine.
Wow these were great, even the first one that I burnt. We had them with your Curried Sausages. My hubby loved them too, he took one bite and said “Nagi” and I replied “Of course”. Thank you once again Nagi for a delicious dinner. Hope you and Dozer are safe and well.
Great flat bread. i made it to go with butter chicken instead of traditional naan as i did not want to wait around for the dough to rise. This did not disappoint. I was quite surprised at how easy it was to roll this out after the 30 minute resting period!! i rolled mine into 5. It was perfect. will definitely be making it again. thanks Nagi. Awesome as usual! cant wait to try the pork knuckle!
My family loves this so much, whenever I say I’m making Indian, they always ask “homemade flatbread too?” My 12- yr old likes to put rice & butter chicken in a flatbread & eat it like a burrito. I “test” a flatbread fresh out of the pan with cold butter on it. 4 people in our house and I have to double the recipe because it is one of their favorite things to eat. (Though the recipe as-is is a normal amount for most families of 4!!).
Nice tortillas
Nagi – THANK YOU. Absolutely delicious recipe and now my go-to. I used avocado oil instead of butter with no issue. I doubled the batch with no issue either, split into 2 balls and let it rest for 30 and then hang in the fridge before portioning and cooking later in the evening. Thank you again. Desi family approved 🙂
Yet another winner recipe, so easy and so good. I might add a smidge more salt next time.
Hi Nagi!
Love this recipe btw! I was wondering if I could cook this much earlier in the day before having it for dinner…what do you recommend?
thanks x
I did and it was perfect. I made the dough, wrapped it and let it hang on the counter for 30 then put in the fridge. I took it out 20 minutes before starting to cook and then split the balls and rolled them out.
Can I use my Kitchen Aid to knead (don’t like to get “stuff” under my nails).
The answer is in the “how to cook this” video. But yes.
I did, worked out great! i always use my kitchen aid for kneading. So much quicker and easier, with less mess too!
Have you made this flat bread using Spelt flour? If so, what changes need to be made? Thanks 😊