Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

This homemade flatbread comes together in 30 minutes’ time and squashes the stereotype that working with dough has to be hard. Whether you’re looking for a carb to dip into soup or to make a batch of flatbread pizzas, this fantastic recipe will be your new go-to.

Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (1)

Flatbreads are perhaps the most universal and simple style of bread. Nearly every culture has some rendition of the flatbread, tapping its endless potential for dipping and topping. Typically touting very minimal ingredients and legwork, flatbread can easily be whipped up on a busy weeknight. For folks who don’t want to spend several days tending to dough, this recipe puts bread on the table without all the fuss.

Flatbread is also a meal-preppers dream. You can double or triple the recipe and have fresh, golden brown flatbreads on hand for a variety of easy meals. Extremely versatile, you can substitute flatbread in any dish where you would typically use pita bread, Indian naan, or even pizza dough.

For this recipe, you have two options: make your own flatbread using our pizza dough recipe or purchase a pre-made store-bought version (no judgment here).

Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (2)

How to Make Flatbread From Scratch

Making homemade flatbread only requires a handful of wholesome ingredients and a bit of elbow grease. In no way, shape, or form does this recipe require as much attention as traditional bread baking!

  • Prepare the Dough: If you’re going the homemade route, reference our easy pizza dough recipe to quickly whip up the dough. If you’re not in the mood to make pizza dough from scratch, Trader Joe’s (and most other grocery stores too) sells awesome premade dough in the refrigerator section.
  • Shape the Dough: Bust out your rolling pin and smoothen the dough out into a thin, flat piece. You don’t need to be perfect here, but keep the thickness as consistent as possible to promote even baking.
  • Season the Dough: Melt a high-quality, European-style butter (Kerrygold and Pulgra are both great options) and press fresh garlic cloves directly into it. Spread the garlicky butter mixture atop your dough and finish with a sprinkling of shredded parmesan cheese.
  • Bake Flatbread: Bake in the oven until the dough turns golden brown and bubbly. Sprinkle with more parmesan cheese and roughly chopped, fresh herbs. Serve hot and enjoy!

Hot Tip: If you’re making your pizza dough from scratch, opt for a European or Canadian brand of all-purpose flour. They tend to have a higher protein content and yield an overall richer flavor, all while being easier to digest.

Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (3)
Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (4)
Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (5)
Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (6)

Flatbread Pizza Toppings

Flatbread pizza toppings are a never-ending wormhole of possibility. Below, you’ll find a couple awesome flavor combinations, but feel free to get creative and make your own masterpiece.

  • Chicken with alfredo sauce and mozzarella cheese
  • BBQ sauce with shredded chicken
  • Mushroom flatbread pizza
  • Margherita flatbread
  • Marinara sauce, over-easy eggs, mozzarella cheese, and bacon bits (breakfast pizza!)
  • Pesto, heirloom tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella balls
  • Olive oil, fresh figs, and goat cheese

Mini-Flatbread Pizza Hack: Make a beautiful appetizer tray of mini-flatbreads using this fun hack. Divide the dough into 3-4 equal pieces, shape each piece with a rolling pin, and bake. You could also pan-fry each mini-flatbread by heating a cast iron skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the first side begins to bubble (much like when you’re cooking pancakes), flip and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Top each flatbread to your liking and assemble on a large party platter.

Serving Flatbread

Serve your flatbread alongside a steaming bowl of minestrone or turkey neck soup on a cold winter day. During hotter months, pair it with shuba salad, a fancy Russian-style salad of pickled herring and root veggies that tastes as delicious as it looks.

FAQ

What is flatbread made of?

Flatbread is made of flour, dry yeast, lukewarm water, salt, sugar, and olive oil. Some recipes for flatbread won’t call for yeast, but it’s a nice addition if you want some extra fluff.

Are flatbread and naan the same?

Flatbread and naan are very similar, but they are not the same. While flatbread is made with mostly dry ingredient and a bit of water and oil, naan typically has eggs or yogurt in the batter to make it extra dense.

Is flatbread the same as pizza?

Flatbread and pizza are nearly the same. You can interchange flatbread for pizza dough in most recipes so long as the flatbread dough you are using is leavened.

Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (7)

How to Store Flatbread

  • Refrigerating – This recipe makes three flatbreads. If you end up having leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to a week and a half.
  • Freezing – To freeze your flatbreads, allow them to cool completely. Place flatbreads in a single layer on a baking sheet. Pop in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Frozen flatbreads will stay fresh for up to 3 months.

Reheating Leftover Flatbreads: Use an air fryer, conventional oven, or microwave to reheat your flatbreads. Just a minute or so should do the trick.

More Bread Recipes:

  • Easy Brioche Bread – Airy and flaky
  • 5 Minute Flax Wheat Bread – Healthy and hearty
  • No-Knead Bread – Simple and classic
  • Brioche Buns – Perfect for hamburgers
  • Baguette – Classic baguette recipe
  • Popovers – Buttery and fluffy puffy rolls

Recipe

Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (8)

Easy Flatbread Recipe

Print Pin

Servings

3 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This homemade flatbread comes together in 30 minutes' time and squashes the stereotype that working with dough has to be hard.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 batch pizza dough
  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley (dry or fresh)
  • 2 cups parmesan cheese

US UnitsMetric

Instructions

  • Roll out the dough into a thin, flat piece.

  • Melt butter. Press fresh garlic cloves into melted butter and give it a good stir.

  • Spread garlicky butter atop the bread. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the parmesan cheese.

  • Bake at 410°F for 15 minutes and sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese onto the bread. Top with fresh herbs and serve!

Nutrition Facts

Easy Flatbread Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 697 Calories from Fat 450

% Daily Value*

Fat 50g77%

Saturated Fat 31g155%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 13g

Cholesterol 127mg42%

Sodium 1810mg75%

Potassium 82mg2%

Carbohydrates 34g11%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 29g58%

Vitamin A 1466IU29%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 804mg80%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Easy Homemade Flatbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is flatbread dough different from pizza dough? ›

But the difference between the two really comes down to the ingredients, they both need flour, water, and salt, but pizza dough has an additional ingredient, yeast. Pizza dough is a leavened dough where flatbread is unleavened, giving it that flat texture.

What is the difference between flatbread and a loaf of bread? ›

A loaf is normally cut into slices for serving. Wikipedia defines a "loaf" as "a shape, usually a rounded or oblong mass of food, typically and originally of bread". The type of bread you picture is a flatbread. These are unleavened bread; that is they have no yeast in them so they do not rise.

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).

Is flatbread just pita bread? ›

Traditional Flatbread

The dough is then cooked in a brick oven for added crispiness and flavor. Pita bread, roti and naan bread are two popular types of flatbread that have become household names worldwide.

Are flatbreads healthier than pizza? ›

Flatbread Pizza

Flatbread pizza is a thinner and lighter option than traditional pizza, reducing calories and carbohydrates. Opt for whole grain or whole wheat flatbread for added nutrition and fiber.

Is flat bread healthy for you? ›

Other flatbread dough variations include a fat like olive oil or butter. Is flatbread healthy? Yes! It's one of the healthiest breads you can make because it's low in calories and fat but high in fiber.

Are flatbreads healthier than bread? ›

Not necessarily. While different doughs vary nutritionally, flatbread is generally just unleavened bread. In other words, bread dough that was not made to rise. Flatbreads may look smaller, but if it's the same dough, the nutritional contents are identical.

Can diabetics eat flat bread? ›

The Bottom Line. In short, yes. If you have diabetes, you can certainly eat bread, as long as you keep in mind the number of carb servings that particular bread provides. Choosing healthier breads like whole-grain ones with a high fiber count is best for keeping blood sugar levels low.

Is lavash and flatbread the same? ›

Lavash is a soft, paper-thin flatbread. Much like pita, this ancient flatbread is a beloved staple of Armenian and Middle Eastern cuisine that is easy to make at home with pantry ingredients you likely have on hand. This lavash recipe will teach you how to make lavash any night of the week using a skillet!

What are 3 examples of flatbreads? ›

Due to their geometry and structure, tortillas, pizza crust, English muffins, crumpets, and pretzels can be considered flat breads. Tortillas are flat breads traditionally made from wheat flour or maize and are indigenous to Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States.

What makes a flatbread a flatbread? ›

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 naan and flatbread 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.

What is traditional flatbread? ›

For something to be classified as a traditional flatbread, it means it is an unleavened bread that's made without yeast. And traditional flatbread is made with just a few ingredients, usually coming together by combining flour, water, and salt.

Is naan a type of flatbread? ›

Naan is a leavened, oven-baked (usually using a tandoor) or tawa-fried flatbread. It is characterized by its light and slightly fluffy texture and golden-brown spots from the baking process.

What is the key difference between pizza and flatbread? ›

It's in the Dough

The main technical different between flatbread and pizza lies in the dough used. Flatbread calls for unleavened dough, or, dough that doesn't use yeast. Pizza requires dough that has been made using yeast and allowed to rise for a certain amount of time.

What is the difference between flatbread and original crust? ›

The Crust:

In a classic pizza, yeast is added to the dough mixture, which allows it to rise and create a soft, airy texture as it bakes. On the other hand, flatbreads usually lack yeast or any kind of leavening agent, which creates its signature flat and crispy crust.

What is the advantage of using some type of flatbread as a crust for pizza? ›

Flatbread: Less is more! Flatbreads often showcase a select few high-quality toppings. Fresh herbs, cheeses, and artisanal ingredients shine on the simple canvas of a flatbread. It's about savoring the individual flavors rather than creating overload with flatbread toppings.

Is flatbread pizza the same as thin-crust? ›

However, in most culinary circles, it is generally agreed-upon that the main difference is that flatbread is thinner and crispier than pizza crust. According to some, even thin-crust pizza should be thicker and chewier than flatbread, which should have a much more crusty, crumbly texture.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6257

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.