This Easy Naan Bread Recipe is soft, fluffy, and simple to make at home. The dough comes together quickly, rises for about one hour, and cooks in just seconds on a hot skillet.
This quick homemade flatbread is perfect alongside Indian Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, or any rich curry. It also works beautifully as a soft wrap for sandwiches, a base for flatbread melts, or a quick bread to serve with dinner.
What Is Naan Bread?
Naan is a soft, leavened flatbread commonly enjoyed in many cuisines, including West Asian, South Asian, Myanmar, Indonesian, and Caribbean cooking. It is usually made with all-purpose flour and leavening agents such as active dry yeast and baking powder, which help create its tender texture and lightly puffed surface.
One of the signature features of naan bread is its rustic oval shape. When cooked on a hot surface, it forms browned bubbles and soft, chewy edges. The result is a warm, flexible bread that is ideal for scooping sauces, wrapping fillings, or serving as a simple side dish.
This homemade naan bread recipe is especially useful because it does not require a tandoor oven. A hot skillet gives the bread a lovely golden finish while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. It is a practical recipe for everyday cooking and a great choice when you want fresh bread without a long baking process.
Ingredients Needed To Make Naan Bread
You may already have most of the ingredients for this easy naan bread recipe in your kitchen. The dough uses basic pantry staples, plus yogurt and milk for softness and flavor.
Here is what you will need to make soft skillet naan at home:
- Warm Water – helps activate the yeast.
- Sugar – feeds the yeast and supports a good rise.
- Active Dry Yeast – instant or rapid-rise yeast can also be used.
- Warm Milk – adds tenderness to the dough.
- Plain Yogurt – gives the naan a soft texture and mild tang.
- Olive Oil – helps keep the dough smooth and pliable.
- All-Purpose Flour – the base of the dough.
- Baking Powder – adds extra lift.
- Salt – balances the flavor.
- Melted Butter – brushed over the naan after cooking.
- Fresh Parsley – optional, for garnish.
How To Make Soft Naan Bread
Like many yeast bread recipes, this naan begins by proofing the yeast. Combine warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface and let it sit for about five minutes.
During this time, the yeast should begin to activate. You will know it is ready when the surface looks foamy. This step is important because it confirms that the yeast is alive and strong enough to help the dough rise.
What If My Yeast Doesn’t Foam?
If the yeast does not become foamy after several minutes, it may no longer be active. The water may have been too hot, or the yeast may be old. If this happens, discard the mixture and start again with fresh yeast and warm, not hot, water.
Once the yeast is foamy, add the warm milk, plain yogurt, olive oil, baking powder, salt, and flour. Mix everything together with clean hands or a sturdy wooden spoon until a dough ball forms.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 3 to 5 minutes. The dough should become smooth, elastic, and easy to handle. If it is very sticky, lightly dust the surface with a little more flour as needed.
Coat the inside of the mixing bowl with olive oil, place the dough back inside, and cover it. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about one hour, or until it has doubled in size. This resting time helps create naan that is soft, airy, and easy to roll.
How Much Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe makes about 10 large pieces of naan bread. You can divide the dough into smaller or larger portions depending on how you plan to serve it and the size of your skillet.
After the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 10 equal wedges. A large knife or bench scraper works well for portioning the dough evenly.
How To Cook Naan On Stove Top
Traditional naan is cooked in a tandoor oven, which becomes extremely hot. Since most home kitchens do not have a tandoor, a stovetop skillet is a simple and effective option. A large cast iron skillet works especially well because it holds heat and helps the bread brown quickly.
- Roll each piece of dough into an elongated oval shape, about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then lightly coat it with oil.
- Place one piece of rolled dough in the skillet and cook for 30 to 60 seconds, until bubbles begin to form.
- Brush the top with melted butter, then flip the naan and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until browned in spots and cooked through.
PRO TIP: Cast iron can become very hot quickly. Once the pan is fully heated, reduce the temperature if needed so the naan cooks evenly without scorching.
As you roll and cook each piece, keep the remaining dough covered with a damp paper towel or clean kitchen towel. This prevents the dough from drying out while you work.
Adding Flavor
This simple naan bread is delicious as written, but you can add even more flavor by brushing it with infused butter. Garlic butter or onion butter both pair well with the warm, tender bread.
As soon as each naan comes out of the skillet, brush it with more melted butter. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and finish with freshly chopped parsley or your favorite herbs. Serve the naan warm for the best texture.
What To Serve With Naan
Naan is a wonderful side for stews, curries, and saucy dishes. It is sturdy enough for dipping but soft enough to fold around fillings. You can also use it to make quick sandwiches, wraps, flatbread pizzas, or melts.
Try serving this homemade naan with these flavorful dishes:
- Indian Butter Chicken – tender chicken in a rich, warmly spiced sauce.
- Chicken Tikka Masala – charred chicken in a creamy, flavorful curry sauce.
- Chicken Coconut Korma – a creamy curry with a gently sweet flavor.
- Shrimp Tikka Masala – a satisfying curry made with plump, tender shrimp.
More Quick Bread Recipes
If you enjoy easy homemade breads, there are many simple recipes that pair well with everyday meals. Soft sandwich bread, flour tortillas, quick breadsticks, and cheesy biscuits are all great options when you want fresh bread without complicated steps.
- Homemade Sandwich Bread – a soft and fluffy bread made with just a few ingredients.
- Soft Flour Tortillas – flexible homemade tortillas that are simple to prepare.
- Two-Ingredient Dough Breadsticks – an easy breadstick option for pasta night.
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits – tender, cheesy biscuits that are hard to resist.
This easy naan bread recipe is a reliable way to make warm, soft flatbread at home. It is quick enough for a weeknight meal and special enough to serve with your favorite curry dinner.
Easy Naan Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup warm water, from the tap
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1½ tsp active dry yeast, or instant yeast
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¾ cup plain yogurt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 4¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp coarse or flaky sea salt
- 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then sprinkle the yeast over the top. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, until foamy.
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Add the warm milk, yogurt, olive oil, baking powder, salt, and all-purpose flour. Mix with clean hands or a sturdy wooden spoon until a dough ball forms.
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Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 3 to 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
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Coat the mixing bowl with olive oil, return the dough to the bowl, and cover it. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
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Divide the risen dough into 10 equal pieces. Roll each piece into an elongated oval, about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick.
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Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and lightly coat it with oil. Once hot, reduce the heat if needed to prevent burning.
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Place one rolled piece of dough in the skillet. Cook for 30 to 60 seconds, until bubbles form. Brush with melted butter, flip, and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until browned and cooked through.
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Remove the naan from the skillet. Brush with more butter, sprinkle with coarse or flaky sea salt, and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
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