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
I’ve added oil but it’s not necessary. Please follow your recipe card below.
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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
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:
Nutrition Information:
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PuddleDuck says
Loving making flatbreads, so easy to make, I use soya milk and dairy free butter as my son is dairy intolerant. Come out just as well and he knows he doesn’t have to miss out!
KG says
Great easy recipe, flatbread was amazing.thanks
Brigitte says
Absolutely fabulous! Super easy to make. Brushed them with garlic butter and served them with the mega flavour lentils. A Dream!
Best regards from Switzerland
Jackie says
That was fabulous, just made flat bread dinner, salad, yoghurt and bbq chicken…..yum, yum!
Thank you Nagi, big fan, always visit your website
Nagi says
Sounds fabulous Jackie!!! N x
Diana says
Hi Nagi, I always love your recipes! I gave this one a try and my breads turned out weren’t pliable. What did I do wrong here??
rose says
hi Nagi
how can i get your naan bread with yoghurt receipe
Nagi says
Hi Rose, you can use the search bar on my website to locate any particular recipe. Here is the direct link for you though: https://www.recipetineats.com/naan-recipe – N x
Kim says
This is my all time favourite go to recipe. Have you tried making crispy taco shells? Do think this recipe will work?
Frankie says
Absolutely delicious and super easy. My 3 year old helped roll them out (we cut into 8 pieces to make them more manageable) to great success.
Rachael Major says
Can you make this with Greek yoghurt instead of milk? I have none 🙁
Nagi says
Hi Rachael, I would water it down with half water/half yogurt, it should work fine! N x
Sherean says
I make this all the time. It’s easy and the dough is very pliable. I often double the recipe and keep half in the fridge. Take it out an hour before cutting and rolling. I also cut it into 8 pieces cuz each piece is HUGE. I use a cast iron skillet and sometimes brush butter after the first flip, then flip again and get a bit of charring. Such an easy recipe and works great as a wrap or by itself. I’m Persian and love a good flat bread and this one is fantastic!
Heather Westover says
Absolutely fabulous! Forgot to bring bread to the cabin, had everything for this recipe there. Cooked in a cast iron skillet on the BBQ, it was everything I hoped for. Thank you!
Paul Mason says
Is it possible to cook the bread without using oil?
Nagi says
Hi Paul, yes I have successfully done this on a hot, non stick pan – just don’t overcook otherwise the outside can become a little dry. N x
Holly says
Hi Nagi,
I made these wraps to go with your chicken gyros. Quick & easy, tender but not too doughy. Will hang onto this recipe. Thanks!
Btw loving the latest collection of French recipes, always impressive how you pump out so much material!
Hollyx
Holly says
Hi Nagi,
I am totally cheating and leaving you another 5 stars for a total ten 😉
I made these again tonight rolling them slightly thicker and they were even more amazing with tender flaky layers! The family was asking for more and my husband asked me to teach him how to make these!?…?!
Anyhow, something so simple, so good and permanently going in my book of keepers.
Holly x
Kristen Morgan says
This is incredible. So easy, and so versatile! I tried subbing 50g of chickpea flour for some of the regular flour, and it was lovely. This will be a new staple in our house.
Chris newman says
Should you cool down the milk /butter before adding to dry ingredients
Nagi says
Hi Chris, it’s fine to be lukewarm here. N x
Carla says
This is THE absolute best flatbread/naan recipe I’ve ever tried! I’ve made it about 12 times, the day after I made it we went to eat at the local gyro place. My son said my naan bread was BETTER! YOUR RECIPE GIRL!!! I’ve added garlic powder and dried parsley to the flour mixture and it was a nice variation. Thank you Nagi!!!
Arlene says
I made this today at lunchtime because I wanted cheese on toast and I didn’t have any bread. I cooked one piece and added cheese before putting it under the grill. It was delicious. Tonight I cooked another piece to go with my lamb shanks. Again it was delicious. This is a recipe that I will use again and again as I always have the ingredients on hand.
JESS says
I am obsessed with this recipie! I’ve made it so many times now it’s super simple and quick and I always have the ingredients! I substitute the butter for the same amount of olive oil and it turns out great everytime!
Kim says
This recipes was so simple and good. Will definitely make again.
Tam says
Thank you for a fantastic and super simple recipe!! This is just how I like my flatbread – soft, chewy and fluffy. Also makes a perfect pizza base for a quick and easy alternative to traditional pizza dough. My 4yo ate a whole piece which is a massive compliment! Even my mum asked for the recipe which is unheard of! I can see myself making this again and again. Thank you!