Easy Flatbread Recipe

April 28, 2020

This easy skillet flatbread recipe comes out deliciously soft and chewy! Use this Greek pita bread for wraps, falafel, pizza, or simply eating with a meal.

Here’s our new favorite bread trick: flatbread! This traditional bread is so easy to make, nothing like sourdough or artisan bread. Just mix up the dough, then cook it until golden and charred in a skillet! You need no yeast, no special flours, and no special equipment. You’ll be surprised at how soft and chewy it is, with the perfect flavor. Alex and I made these to go with our authentic falafel recipe: but the uses are endless. Try them as a wrap with hummus and grilled veggies, a flatbread pizza, or as a side with soup. Here’s what to do!

About this flatbread

There are hundreds of types of flatbreads that are served in cuisines all over the world (see this list!). This flatbread recipe is a basic Mediterranean style flatbread: it’s a vegan flatbread made with flour, olive oil, and salt. It’s most like pocketless Greek pita bread, used for serving falafel, gyros, and souvlaki. If you’re looking for an Indian style flatbread, we’ve got that, too! Head to Garlic Naan or Vegan Naan.

How to make flatbread: an overview!

Here’s the basic outline of what you’re getting yourself into with making flatbread. The process takes just 45 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook. The total hands-on time is about 30 minutes. In 1 hour, you’ll have deliciously soft flatbread!

Mix the dough	5 minutes active
Form & rest dough	5 minutes active, 30 minutes hands off
Roll dough	5 minutes active
Cook flatbread	15 minutes active

Cook it in a skillet or grill pan!

Flatbread is easy to mix up, and only requires a 30 minute “proof” or rest time. Compared to other bread recipes that require shaping and multiple proofs, it’s a breeze! There’s also no bake time. All you need to do is cook each piece in a skillet for about 2 minutes. It’s nice to have 2 people for this task (and it’s more fun!), but you can do it by yourself too.

How to get the grill marks like the flatbread in the photo the photo? We used a grill pan: it looks like a skillet but has ridges that make the lovely grill marks. You can also make this Greek pita bread in a skillet: then it will have more browned organic cooking spots like naan.

Ways to serve flatbread

How to serve this Greek pita bread style flatbread? There are a myriad of ways: here are our favorites!

Falafel. Our Authentic Falafel with tzatziki or quick cucumber sauce is the ultimate treat!
Gyros. Another stellar Greek sandwich.
Wrap for sandwiches. We slathered with hummus and added some grilled vegetables we had on hand: a total treat! But you could us any sandwich filling (here are some ideas).
With soup. Try with our Curry Lentil Soup, Best Damn Lentil Soup, or any of these soup recipes.
Flatbread pizza: Top with pizza toppings and bake in the oven. An easy and elegant meal!

How to store flatbread (and reheat it)

This homemade flatbread is nice because it stays good for about 3 days at room temperature, and the texture holds up well if stored correctly. Here’s what you need to know:

Room temperature storage (3 days): Place the flatbread in a sealed bag or container, and it stays good for 3 days. It gets dryer as days go by, so we suggest reheating it so it’s more pliable.
Reheating instructions: To reheat the flatbread, place it in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes until warmed and soft. Or if you want a quick fix, tear it in half and place it in a toaster.
Frozen (3 months): Or, you can freeze it! Let it cool to room temperature, then place it into a sealed bag or container.

This flatbread recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.