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:
Life of Dozer
Summer, autumn, spring and winter. Rain, hail or shine.
Do you think it would work with almond flour? Coconut?
I haven’t tried to be honest Tricia, I’d love to know!
This is genuinely the best bread ever. Brush with garlic olive oil and enjoy.
Woot! I’m so glad you loved it Alexa – You’re converted now!!
Hi Nagi – I love getting your recipes in my inbox :-)) anyway, I have made the easy, soft flatbread recipe a few times recently and love it, so much so, that I keep some dough ready in my fridge. But I have tweeked it a little. When I did not have any milk, I used light coconut milk instead – great!
I also cook it a lot longer than 1.5 minutes – the first time I stuck to that, it was raw on the inside.
Also, after rolling the dough, I brush it with a little butter before frying the bread – yummy!
Coconut milk would give it a lovely flavour Sybille!
May I sub the butter with oil instead? Intend to make a pile of these to freeze.
Hi NJ, I haven’t tried to be honest, would love to know if it works – N x
Can’t wait to try this tonight. I only discovered your page 2 weeks ago and tried your Gozleme (delicious) and Pork (I used chicken) & prawn wonton soup…and both a massive family hit. So I know this will be perfect tonight with my slow cooked stew
Awesome Madelyne!
I will never buy naan again. So easy and so good. Cooked in oil but put slices of butter on the uncooked side before turning. As suggested, wrapped in a tea towel before serving. Used SR flour as didn’t have plain flour, wouldn’t change this, light, crispy and moist. Thanks!
Perfect Cassie! You’re converted now! 😂
I’m going to try and make this with vegan butter and plant based milk. I’m vegan, but I’ve adjusted several of your recipes and wow, they work well. THANKS!
I’d love to know how they turn out Greg!
Comment: *This recipe was wonderful and so so easy,my family love it. Thanks so much ma’am
You’re so welcome! I’m so glad you loved it!
Just made it for me and my partner! We both loved it!
Wahoo!
Can I substitute butter with coconut oil?
Hi Desrene, I haven’t tried but would love to know how it goes!
Would this work to cook it on the grill?
Sure can Michele!
Can you use unsalted butter in this recipe to cut down the sodium content? Heart condition requires low sodium. Thanks!
Definitely Rhonda!
Have you tried to bake this recipe? Would it work in the oven?
I haven’t Aaron, I feel it’s just easier to do it in a pan as it doesn’t take long – N x
Just made these today with the chicken slouvaki. Super easy and delicious! Thanks for the recipies!
I’m so glad you loved it Regina!
This recipe is so simple and delicious! Making it again tonight .
It’s one of my favourites! So easy!!
@recipetineats I want to try your Doner Kebab gyros and shawarma which type of flatbread should I use for each??
This flatbread would work perfectly for both!
Was a life safer, thank you. Unexpected guest with nothing prepared then I found this tasty and easily done recipe.
Wahoo Marius, flatbread to the rescue!
pita bread recipe worked great and tasted so good I was just wondering if I can make the dough and roll it out and freeze it
Sure can Jessica!
Excellent! Made several times for unleavened bread week!
I’m so glad you love them Tedi!
Hi, love love all of your recipes, discovered you about a year ago and now can’t live without you ha, making these flat breads once again, they are fab. Also love Dozer, my parents had a Golden retriever many years ago and my big brother and his other half have on e now called Alfie.Keep up the good work, xxx
I’m so glad you love my recipes Shauna!