Quick Garlic Flatbread
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This Quick Garlic Flatbread Recipe is soft, warm, and full of savoury flavour — made with instant yeast for just enough rise without a long wait. The dough comes together easily, rests briefly, and cooks straight on the stovetop, giving you fresh flatbread in around 30 minutes from start to finish.
Brushed with olive oil and generously seasoned with garlic powder and dried Italian herbs, this flatbread is perfect for scooping up curries, serving alongside soups and stews, or tearing and enjoying straight from the pan while it’s still warm.
What Readers Are Saying
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“Delicious and so easy. My children just declared it the best garlic bread they’ve ever had and I agree, will definitely make it again!” – Sandra
Your New Dinner Sidekick.
When you want fresh bread without committing to hours in the kitchen, this garlic flatbread is the answer. Pillowy soft in the middle, lightly crisp on the outside, and generously seasoned, it’s designed to work with whatever dinner looks like tonight. Simple ingredients, reliable results, and endless ways to serve it. Sam x
Uses Yeast (Without the Wait) – Soft texture with only a short rest
Stovetop Method – No oven required
Quick & Practical – Ready in about 30 minutes
Classic Garlic Herb Finish – Familiar, versatile, and crowd-pleasing
Perfect for Pairing – Works with almost any meal
Ingredients you’ll need
All-Purpose Flour
Forms the base of the flatbread, providing structure and allowing it to roll out easily while staying soft and tender.
Instant Dried Yeast
Helps the dough rise slightly and develop a light, airy texture without requiring a long proofing time.
Salt
Enhances the natural flavors in the bread and balances the richness of the olive oil and garlic.
Warm Water
Activates the yeast and binds the dough together, keeping it soft and pliable for rolling.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Adds flavor, keeps the dough tender, and helps create a golden, slightly crisp exterior when cooked in the pan.
Garlic Powder
Infuses the flatbread with aromatic garlic flavor, perfect for pairing with stews, soups, or dips.
Dried Italian Herbs
Adds depth and a savory, herbaceous note to the flatbread, elevating a simple base into a flavorful side or snack.
How to make quick garlic flatbread
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add the flour. Whisk through the yeast and salt, then make a well in the centre.
Step 2: Pour in the warm water and olive oil. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix until a soft dough forms.
Step 3: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for 15–20 seconds, just until smooth. Form the dough into a smooth ball, cover with a clean tea towel, and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Divide the rested dough into four equal portions. Keep unused pieces covered with the tea towel.
Step 5: Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll one portion into a 15–20cm round, about 3–4mm thick.
Step 6: Place the dough into the preheated hot skillet and cook for 1½–2 minutes, until air bubbles appear and the underside is lightly golden. Carefully flip and cook for a further 30–40 seconds, until cooked through and golden.
Step 7: Remove from the pan and immediately brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder and dried Italian herbs to taste.
Step 8: Keep cooked flatbreads warm in a low oven while finishing the rest, if desired.
How to serve flatbread
This garlic flatbread pairs beautifully with:
- Curries and Stews – Ideal for scooping sauces, you’ll love it with my chickpea black bean curry
- Pasta Dishes – A simple side instead of traditional garlic bread
- Soups – Soft enough for dipping without falling apart
- Mezze Plates – Serve with dips, olives, and roasted vegetables
Flatbread topping ideas
This garlic flatbread is super versatile — a perfect base for your favorite flavors.
- Spices: Curry powder, cumin, paprika
- Fresh herbs: Oregano, basil, parsley
- Extras: Cooked veggies, shredded cheese, thinly sliced meats
Mix and match to suit your taste. Every flatbread can be unique!
How to store garlic flatbread
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Warm in a skillet or oven until soft and heated through.
- Best Enjoyed Fresh: These are at their peak straight from the pan.
More recipes
Garlic flatbread video
Quick Garlic Flatbread
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the flour. Whisk through the yeast and salt, then make a well in the centre.
- Add the Liquids: Pour in the warm water and olive oil. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix until a soft dough forms. You may want to use your hands to bring it together.
- Lightly Knead: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for 15–20 seconds, just until smooth.
- Rest the Dough: Form the dough into a smooth ball, cover with a clean tea towel, and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Pan: Drizzle olive oil into a small cast iron skillet or fry pan, coating the base and sides lightly. Begin warming the pan over low heat.
- Divide the Dough: Divide the rested dough into four equal portions. Keep unused pieces covered with the tea towel.
- Roll the Flatbread: Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll one portion into a 15–20cm round, about 3–4mm thick.
- Cook the First Side: Increase the pan to medium-high heat. Place the dough into the hot preheated skillet and cook for 1½–2 minutes, until air bubbles appear and the underside is lightly golden.
- Flip & Finish Cooking: Carefully flip and cook for a further 30–40 seconds, until cooked through and golden.
- Season While Warm: Remove from the pan and immediately brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder and dried Italian herbs to taste. Tip: Keep cooked flatbreads warm in a low oven while finishing the rest, if desired.
- Repeat & Serve: Repeat with the remaining dough portions. Serve warm on their own or alongside curry, stew, pasta, or soup.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
I love this recipe, can I froze the balls and then take out few days laters and bake them as you said
Thank you
I’m so glad you love the recipe! Yes, you can freeze the dough balls. After making them, place the balls on a tray lined with baking paper, freeze until firm, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. When you’re ready to use them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight (or at room temperature for a few hours) before rolling out and cooking as per the recipe. Hope that helps, Sam 🙂
I made this today cooked in my wood fire oven yummy . One thing I love is bubbles in our dough we added out of oven feta cheese, rock salt , chilli from my garden sliced fine with oregano , drizzle of chilli olive oil
Hi Naomi, that sounds amazing! Love your twist with the feta, chili and oregano, it must’ve been so flavorful! Thanks for sharing, I’ll definitely be giving that a try next time! Sam 🙂
a very good, very easy, fast recipe – love the smoky flavour which is somewhat close to real pitta bread
thank you very much – they’re great
Hi Mik, I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipe and appreciated the smoky flavor that brings it close to traditional pitta bread! It’s always wonderful to find recipes that are not only easy and quick to make but also deliver on taste. Thank you so much for your feedback. Happy cooking! Kindest, Sam 🙂
This is a wonderful recipe. Just made this for dinner. Even tho I would double the measurements for a family of 4. In the end I brushed it with butter and minced fresh garlic. You cannot beat fresh garlic if you want garlic bread!
Hi Rebeka! Thank you so much for trying the recipe and for sharing your feedback! Doubling the measurements for a larger family is a great tip and I wholeheartedly agree, fresh garlic on bread is unbeatable. Your butter and garlic finish sounds absolutely divine. Thanks for the wonderful suggestion; I’m sure other readers will appreciate it too. Kindest, Samantha x
Delicious and so easy. My children just declared it the best garlic bread they’ve ever had and I agree, will definitely make it again!
Hi Sandra! So nice to hear that, glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe, it’s my go-to garlic flatbread recipe too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
Hi Ashok! That’s so good to hear, happy that your family also enjoyed the bread and i’m sure your friends will also! It’s one of my favourite recipes. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi there, wondering if you could use gluten free flour in this?
Hi Theresa, apologies for my delayed response. Yes, you can most definitely use gluten free flour in this recipe. I’ve used it before and works wonderfully 🙂
Can this be cooked in a pizza oven?
Hi Lee! Apologies for the late response to your question. I haven’t tried this flat bread in a pizza oven however I cook pizzas in my pizza oven and I think this flat bread would work fantastic in a pizza oven!
Hi Sam, can the flour replaced with wholemeal flour?
Hi Lee, I haven’t tried it myself but I see no issue with you using wholemeal flour. Hope you enjoy! 🙂