Easy Flatbread Recipe

A super easy, soft, light and fluffy flatbread recipe that is really versatile and perfect for beginners to bread making. 

Let me paint a picture for you here. You are making an Easy Flatbread Recipe that starts with a bowl of soft, puffy, yeasty dough, and ends with warm, soft, fluffy flatbreads straight off the griddle or skillet and stuffed straight into your mouth.

Because not eating them while they are all puffy and warm is quite frankly pretty impossible. I tried and I lost. Welcome to carb heaven. 

If yeasty recipes scare you, please be brave, trust me, like you have done with my No Knead Focaccia Bread, and give this one a try. It's really super easy. As long as you follow my instructions step by step you will be making flatbreads like a boss in no time at all! 

This flatbread recipe is kind of like homemade pita bread and a bit like naan bread. If you like both of those you will love it.

They are really soft and pliable. 

Look at that! And because they are so soft and pliable they are really versatile. 

Here are some suggestions for how to use them:

- eat them alone just as they are while freshly cooked - so good!

- eat them with hummus or other dips

- top them with whatever you fancy - how about my spreadable vegan feta cheese or vegan cream cheese with piles of peppery arugula and sliced tomato?

- use 2 to make a sandwich instead of regular bread

- fold them or roll them and stuff. Kids love them spread with peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter and banana, then rolled up. 

- turn them into mini pizzas: add a schmear of marinara sauce or tomato paste, some vegan cheese, toppings of choice and bake at about 400°F (200 °C) for about 7 - 10 minutes

- brush them with melted vegan butter or vegan garlic butter

- serve them as a side with salads, soup or curry 

You name it, this flatbread recipe works with it!

What do you need to make this flatbread recipe?

To make flatbreads you need just some basic ingredients. They are:

• all purpose flour or bread flour
• yeast
• salt
• sugar
• oil
• and water

How to make flatbread

---

SEE MY VIDEO FOR A VISUAL GUIDE. FOR INGREDIENTS & FULL DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST

---

This simple flatbread recipe is made in just a few easy steps. 

STEP 1

Activate your yeast (full details are in the recipe), or if you use instant yeast you can skip this step

Step 2

Add the flour and salt to a large bowl and mix them together

Step 3

Add the oil, yeast mixture, remaining water and mix together with a spoon, then get your hands in and bring it all together right there in the bowl. 

Step 4

Leave it alone, put your feet up, and let the yeasties get busy for 1 hour

Step 5 

Break into pieces and roll out into rough circles or ovals

Step 6

Then throw each one on a hot griddle or in a large skillet for a couple of minutes each side. They start off flat

but bubbles start to form very quickly

Some puff up massively like balloons but once they come off the griddle they deflate and become flat again. 

and then onto the good part: Your first bite of warm, fresh off the griddle, soft, yeasty flatbread ... and yes that's me stealing one .....

Flatbread success tips 

Make absolutely sure that your yeast is fresh and active

Be sure to use all purpose flour or bread flour. All purpose gives slightly softer results.  If you are in the UK use strong flour. 

Make sure your griddle or skillet is nice and hot for ultimate puff and fluff

Follow the recipe closely and as always with recipes involving flour, I highly recommend you use a kitchen scale. Cup measurements are not accurate enough to get the best and consistent results, but if you do need to use them, spoon the flour into the cup then level off the top with a knife without compacting it or shaking it down. By doing it like this you will get roughly the correct amount. If you scoop the flour up into the cup, you will end up with much more than was intended.

Digital scales are available at most big grocery stores and all kitchen supply stores. You can pick one up for around $10. They are a great investment and are so worth having! I have this one:

Flatbread recipe variations and add-ins

These flatbreads are great plain, but can be switched up with many different flavour variations. 

Garlic and Herb - Add 2 minced cloves of garlic and 1 tablespoon of dried mixed herbs to the dough

Cumin - Toast 1½ teaspoons of cumin seeds in a hot pan for a minute or two to release the flavours, let cool then add them to the dough

Red Pepper Flakes - Add 1 teaspoon (or more) of spicy red pepper flakes to the dough

Cilantro - Add  a handful of chopped cilantro leaves to the dough

Rosemary - Add 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary to the dough

Cinnamon Sugar - Make the flatbreads as they are, and while warm brush with melted vegan butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar

Make pizza dough!

One more very special thing you can do with this recipe, is turn it into pizza dough. 

How? 

Well, just make it exactly as described until it has been left covered in the bowl for one hour. Then, instead of shaping into flatbreads, shape into a big pizza or a couple smaller ones, and while the dough is still raw, top with pizza sauce, vegan cheese and whatever else floats your boat, then bake in a really hot oven (about 450 °F (225 °C) on a pizza stone if you have one, but on a regular baking tray if you don't, until cooked through and crispy.

Perfect fluffy pizza here we come! 

Want more easy bread recipes?

For more great bread recipes, check out these very popular reader favourites:

No Knead Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread 

Easy No Knead Focaccia

Easy Whole Wheat Bread

Homemade Pita Bread