Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (2024)

By:Nagi

1,766 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 542 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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1,766 Comments

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

  2. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (13)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

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

  4. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (18)Christopher Davies says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (19)
    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

  5. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (20)Sarah Hibbing says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (21)
    SO delicious!! I have so many of your recipes saved in my app by now! You’re amazing!

    Reply

  6. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (22)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) (24)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

  7. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (26)Naomi Stoeckigt says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (27)
    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

  8. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (28)tania cox says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (29)
    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

  9. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (38)Emily says

    Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (39)
    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

  10. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (40)Christine says

    This recipe was a hit! For those of you who want to add a little something, I would recommend adding some leftover seasoned minced meat — trust me, people can’t get enough!

    Reply

  11. Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (41)Jackie says

    Hi Nagi, have made this recipe many times big hit in the house…..we are going away can I freeze cooked flatbread and bring out for our lunches etc when needed?
    Hugs to Dozer

    Reply

Older Comments
Easy Soft Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast) (2024)

FAQs

What makes bread rise without yeast? ›

By adding an acid to baking soda (such as lemon juice or cream of tartar) a chemical reaction occurs that produces carbon dioxide and fills your bread with air — much like yeast does. You can substitute yeast with equal parts lemon juice and baking soda.

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).

Why are my flatbreads hard? ›

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. It is very important to place the cooked flatbread wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth. This causes the steam in the bread to cool inside the bread and keeps it soft.

What did the pioneers use instead of yeast? ›

Pioneers used both corn meal and wheat flours for bread. They baked bread in cast iron bake kettles set in the coals of the open hearth. Pearlash, eggs, saleratus, an early chemical leavening preceding baking soda, and home-created yeast starters were used to leaven bread.

Can I use baking soda instead of yeast for bread? ›

To substitute baking soda and acid for yeast in a recipe, replace half of the required amount of yeast with baking soda and the other half with acid. For example, if a recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of yeast, simply use 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of an acid.

How to keep flatbread soft? ›

Place a heavy-based non-stick frying pan – or a cast-iron griddle – over a high heat and when it's good and hot, turn the heat down a bit. Have ready a plate lined with a clean tea towel so you can put your cooked flatbreads on it to keep them warm and soft.

What makes bread soft and airy? ›

Carbon dioxide is responsible for all the bubbles that make holes in bread, making it lighter and fluffier. Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.

How do you make bread soft and spongy? ›

Final answer: Baking soda is used to make bread soft and spongy. Q. Baking soda is used in small amount in making bread and cake. It helps to make these soft and spongy.

How do you soften hard flatbread? ›

Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place on a baking sheet, and pop it in the oven for 5-10 minutes. In the microwave: Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place it on a microwave-safe dish, and microwave on high for 10 seconds.

What can you use instead of yeast to rise bread? ›

What Substitutes for Yeast?
  • Baking Soda and Lemon. If you are lacking yeast in your pantry or dry goods storage, try combining baking soda and lemon juice. ...
  • Baking Powder. The ratio to replace yeast with baking powder in a recipe is 1:1, making it much easier to substitute if you have baking powder on hand. ...
  • Whipped Eggs.

How did they make bread rise before yeast? ›

The most common source of leavening in antiquity was to retain a piece of dough from the previous day to utilize as a form of sourdough starter. Pliny the Elder reported that the Gauls and Iberians used the foam skimmed from beer to produce "a lighter kind of bread than other peoples".

How did the pioneers make bread without yeast? ›

With No Yeast : The Salt Bacteria can make a bread rise and give it a cheesy flavor. That's the secret ingredient in salt rising bread, which dates to the late 1700s in Appalachia, when bakers didn't have yeast on hand.

How did they make bread back then with no yeast? ›

They discovered that mixing flour and water together and leaving it to sit for several days would cause wild yeasts to start fermenting, resulting in a risen dough. The Egyptians also used sourdough as a leavening agent, which is a natural mixture of yeasts and bacteria found in flour and water.

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