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

Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (6)

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) (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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

How do you make bread rise without yeast? ›

Instead of using yeast to make the bread rise, quick breads rely on other leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder to get height. "Quick breads, like banana bread, zucchini bread, and cornbread are delicious and easy alternatives to yeast-based bread and can satisfy cravings in a pinch," says Tyler Lee.

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.

Why is my flatbread dry? ›

Why is my flatbread dry? Your flatbread may have dried out during the proofing process or even during cooking. Keeping the dough soft and moist at all stages is key. That is why the dough should always be covered while it rises and proofs.

What happens if you bake bread without yeast? ›

Some differences could be that your bread will not rise as tall as you're used to, the flavor is a little different, or the texture may not be exactly the same. However, if you're out of yeast or don't have the time to wait for your bread to rise, these substitutes will undoubtedly get the job done.

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.

How are flatbreads traditionally made? ›

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.

Are flatbread and naan the same? ›

Popular flatbread is a lot like a cross between pita bread and naan. There really is no such thing as an American flatbread, but the flatbread you see everywhere looks, feels, and tastes a lot like pita and naan. For some, it tastes too much like it's baked in a commercial bakery with extra ingredients.

Is naan or pita softer? ›

While both naan and pita bread are delicious in their own way, naan bread has a softer texture and richer flavor profile that makes it a versatile option for any range of dishes.

What does "pita" mean in slang? ›

/ˈpiː.tə/ abbreviation for pain in the ass: used, for example on social media and in text messages, to refer to someone or something that is annoying: Deeply held beliefs are no excuse for being a PITA. It was a real PITA to then get the sugar into the mixing bowl. More examples.

What is the difference between naan and pita bread? ›

Naan and pita are similar in that they are both flatbreads, but naan contains butter and yogurt, whereas pita does not.

What ingredient makes bread moist? ›

Some alternative ingredients can help give your bread added moisture. One such ingredient is milk, which has a high-fat content and can add a delightfully creamy flavor when baking. Additionally, adding mashed potatoes or cooked grains can help keep the crumb soft and tender for days after baking.

Why are my flatbreads chewy? ›

The chewiness of your bread, or lack thereof, is related to gluten content, hydration levels, and proper kneading to develop the structure of the dough. Higher gluten content, such as that found in bread flour or high gluten flour (used for bagels) will give you a stretchier, chewier crumb.

Can you over knead flatbread? ›

The point of kneading dough is to help strengthen the gluten in it. Gluten is what gives your bread; it's structure and texture. Gluten that is not strong enough results from under kneaded dough, whereas gluten that is too tight results from over kneaded dough.

How do you force bread to rise? ›

A Bowl of Steaming Water is the Key to Quickly Proofing Bread. In the winter, when your house and kitchen are at a crisp temperature and you need a warm spot for your dough to rise, create a makeshift “proof box” by placing a bowl of steaming water inside your oven alongside your bowl of dough.

Will self rising flour rise without yeast? ›

Or don't have any idea what self-rising flour is? It's just what it sounds like—a type of flour that makes baked goods rise without the addition of baking powder or yeast. Self-rising flour is often called for in recipes for biscuits, cornbread, and quick breads.

What makes homemade bread rise? ›

Once reactivated, yeast begins feeding on the sugars in flour, and releases the carbon dioxide that makes bread rise (although at a much slower rate than baking powder or soda). Yeast also adds many of the distinctive flavors and aromas we associate with bread.

What do you do to bread to make it rise? ›

You can also put hot water in a heat-safe dish and place it on the floor of a cold oven (or on a lower shelf). The steam and heat from the water will help the temperature rise just enough that the yeast is active.

References

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