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
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Been using this recipe for a long time. Always come out wonderful and works with a variety of dishes. Thank you
Thanks so much for the great feedback Doug!!
Wonderful recipe, really soft and very yummy! I substituted the milk with oat milk and the butter with 40g of rapeseed oil. Worked beautifully. These are definitely the best flatbreads. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Sharon!! Thanks for sharing your feedback 🙂 N x
unbelievably easy to make with such a homemade taste! love this — thank you for sharing!
OMG I just made this and so DELICIOUS not to mention easy! Mine don’t look as “pretty” as yours but so good. I filled mine with sun-dried tomato and basil tuna. Thanks for the recipe!
Mm…what type of milk is best to use? Skim milk to whole milk or non-dairy milk?
Thanks
Whole or skim, I can’t tell the difference!
These were very easy to make and tasted great! Reminded me of rotis, an Indian “flat bread” made with whole wheat flour. Thank you for sharing the recipe. What’s the best way to freeze these and reheat from frozen?
Great to hear you enjoyed this Dawn! I simple thaw then reheat in the microwave 🙂 N x
My husband and I LOVED your chicken shawarma and I’m going to make it for a group of about 15 people in November. I want to make this flatbread before I make it for the group. You mention it freezes well. Do I need to place paper between each piece? How do I thaw it? Should I rewarm it?
Hi Rene! I don’t bother with paper usually, then I just thaw and reheat gently in the microwave. It takes about 15 seconds for 1, and you can do a few at a time! N x
Made these a few times now and they’re so easy and tasty! Going to attempt them with your lamb koftas this weekend!
That’s terrific to hear Tamsin! Glad you enjoyed this! N x
I made this with Gluten Free FLour and it worked beautifully!! I had to increase the milk content and added a touch of olive oil while mixing but they looked and tasted great which is such a relief as I was dreading having to eat Gluten Free foods. Thanks for posting 🙂
That’s terrific to hear! Glad you enjoyed this! N x
Just made these with a curry. Work great thank you 👍😀
YUM! I LOVE CURRY!!!!
Hi I don’t have butter or margarine, would veg or canola or olive work?
Olive oil will be great!
Hi Nagi,
I don’t remember how I found your website, it has become my favorite place to look for truly incredible recipes! Love, Love, Love your butter chicken; the bread recipes are out of this world! Thanks!!!!
I’m so glad you found me too Susan! AND that you are enjoying the recipes 🙂 thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! N x
What can I use to substitute butter
Margarine will be fine 🙂
Hi, could you make this thicker so it’s more bread like and if so how would you cook it, I assume slower and longer but perhaps with the lid on??
Hi Carole – you’d need a yeast bread for that 🙂 Sorry!
No worries, thanks for replying
I made this to go with the Harir soup that I made tonight. Made 6 balls so it would be a bit smaller. So delicious with butter and garlic on it but I can imagine in my mind all of the possibilities to use it. Well worth the time to make it … Which isn’t long at all. 😊
That’s terrific to hear Amy! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x
How would this bread work as pizza dough? if so,any changes required?
Hi Tom! Cook the flatbreads then cool then use as pizza bases 🙂 N x
Can you FREEZE this ? If so… do you freeze the dough…. or freeze it AFTER it has been fried ?
Can you substitute water for the milk?
I think that will affect the softeness Josh, but it will still work! N x
I just made this to go with freekeh salad and some grilled chicken. It is fantastic!! Thanks for there recipe.
That’s wonderful to hear Mama! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 N x
I tried this recipe and I must say it’s really soft. I do enjoy eating flatbread with souvlaki or curries. Absolutely the best bread to paired with these delicious foods.
That’s wonderful to hear Cristina! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 N x