Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (2025)

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Buttery Garlic Naan Bread is so soft and perfect for mopping up curries, like our Creamy Butter Chicken. I guarantee you’ll find it hard to stop at one!

This Garlic Naan Bread recipe is better than the naan you’ll find at the some of the BEST Indian restaurants! These pillowy soft naan breads are so easy, you’ll be making them every weekend. Safe to say, it’s our favourite yeast bread recipe yet!

Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (1)

GARLIC NAAN BREAD

This garlic naan bread recipe is our favourite spin on a traditional flat bread from India. Normally baked inside hot Tandoor ovens with charcoal or wood fire, our naan bread recipe has been altered to cook right on the stove in a hot, cast-iron skillet.

We use a combination of yogurt and oil to give them an addictive, soft and fluffy texture and add minced garlic right into the dough to create that unmistakable garlicky flavour. It could just be us but we lovethe way the garlic pairs with the flavours of traditional Indian curries like Chicken Tikka Masala, Coconut Shrimp Curry and of course, our infamous Butter Chicken.

You’ll be amazed as you watch your dough puff up into glorious, bubbly naan right before your eyes!

Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (2)

NAAN BREAD VS PITA BREAD

Both flatbreads are made with a yeast raised dough, however pita breadhas a harder texture when compared to Naan. While pita bread only contains flour, water, yeast, salt and some olive oil;naan is made with a fattier, more enriched dough including ghee (clarified butter), oil, yogurt and sometimes eggs. This gives naan its different texture. While pita is slightly thicker making it perfect to fill with greek meats like our Greek lamb souvlaki.

HOW TO MAKE GARLIC NAAN BREAD

We start off with a basic naan dough, like our super soft naan bread recipe.

  • First, you’re going to activate your yeast.
  • Mix all of those ingredients together until the dough comes together with your hands.
  • Knead until smooth, then transfer to a lightly greased bowl. You can use the same bowl you mixed the dough in to save dishes.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and let double in size.
  • Divide dough into 10 balls and roll each piece into large ovals about 6-inches long and ⅛ inch thick. The thinner you roll them, the more air pockets form inside them while cooking.

Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (3)

  • Get a lightly greased skillet nice and HOT. The high heat makes the dough rise fast and fills the bread with air.
  • Cook garlic naan bread until bubbles form, then flip and cook until large golden spots appear on the underside. Flatten the breads with a spatula while cooking to ensure they cook through.

Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (4)

  • Wrap cooked garlic naan bread in a clean kitchen towel and keep them wrapped while cooking remaining bread.
  • Optional: brush your warm cooked naan with a little melted garlic butter; top with coarse salt and fresh chopped cilantro.

Serve with one of your favourite curriesor use them to make wraps. Substitute garlic naan bread for tortillas for quesadillas, or make simple naan pizzas!

Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (5)

HOW TO STOREGARLIC NAAN BREAD

If you plan on storing your garlic naan bread, do not brush them with the garlic butter. When cooked, let cool completely to room temperature to prevent condensation. Transfer to ziplock bags and store at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

When ready to eat, heat them up on a pan over low-medium heat, or in the microwave for 10 seconds. Brush with garlic butter and enjoy!

FREEZE NAAN

Follow the same steps above (store plain – no garlic butter) and store in the freezer for up to two months. Frozen naan bread thaws quickly at room temperature. Reheat in the microwave or on a skillet over low-medium heat, then brush with garlic butter.

MORE BREAD RECIPES

Easy Flatbread Recipe (No Yeast)

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Artisan Bread Recipe

Easy Buttermilk Cornbread

Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (6)

Garlic Naan Bread

Garlic Naan Breads are so soft and perfect for mopping up curries, you’ll find it hard to stop at one! Just as good as the best Indian restaurants, this will become your new favourite naan recipe!

5 from 40 votes

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Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Rise: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Serves: 10 naan breads

Ingredients

NAAN BREADS

  • ¼ cup warm water
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast or instant, rapid rise
  • ¾ cup milk warm
  • ¾ cup Greek yogurt or natural plain yogurt
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil plus 2 tablespoons extra for cooking
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups plain flour plus extra for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

GARLIC BUTTER TOPPING

  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

Instructions

FOR NAAN BREAD

  • Combine together the water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes or until the mixture begins to bubble on top

  • Add in the milk, yogurt, oil, minced garlic, flour baking powder and salt. Mix until the dough comes together with your hands.

  • Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Use floured hands to knead the dough until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes.

  • Lightly grease the same mixing bowl with a small spray of cooking oil. Transfer dough to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest at room temperature for about an hour until doubled in size.

  • When ready to cook, divide the dough into 10 equal pieces. Roll into balls, then use a rolling pin to roll each piece of dough into a large oval, about 6-inches long and ⅛-inch thick. Repeat with remaining dough.

  • Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Grease skillet all over with ½ teaspoon of the extra oil.

  • Place one piece of the naan on the oiled hot skillet and cook until bubbles form on top, about 1-2 minutes. While cooking, brush the top with a little oil.

  • Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until large golden spots appear on the bottom.

  • Remove from the skillet and wrap in a clean kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining naan (keep them wrapped in a towel while you work).

FOR GARLIC BUTTER TOPPING

  • Combine melted butter and minced garlic together in a bowl. Brush each naan with the garlic butter and top with the fresh herb of your choosing.

Notes

Tips: Perfect to serve withTikka Masala,Butter Chickenor Coconut Curry Shrimp.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 316mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gabby says

    Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (13)
    Just made this to go with chicken korma and OMG !! Amaaazing, thank you!

    Reply

  2. shakira says

    Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (14)
    wowowowowowo fantastik

    Reply

  3. Marie says

    Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (15)
    I LOVE this recipe, as does my family. One of my sons described this bread as “the inside part of garlic bread”… which is accurate. It comes together beautifully and is just out of this world.

    Reply

  4. Patti says

    Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (16)
    This was my first try making naan but your directions were perfect. The naan is delicious. I did think it needed more salt but didn’t read that until I had made it, so I sprinkled the top with very little Maldon finishing salt.
    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  5. Lis Clark says

    Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (17)
    Made these to have with homemade lamb curry. Thought they were excellent, easy to follow recipe, best of all store cupboard ingredients, so know trip to the supermarket.
    Nice one. I have frozen the balls uncooked, so 🤞that’s ok.

    Reply

  6. Avisha Sukhessan says

    Quick and easy👌 …..super delicious 🤤
    Love this recipe 😀

    Reply

    • Helga says

      Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (18)
      I made these and they were amazing I’ve frozen the rest and will use them tonite as I have my grandson and girlfriend coming for a three course Indian meal all made to your recipe thankyou for these amazing recipes 👍🥰

      Reply

  7. Gail says

    Dough was quite wet…added a fifth cup of flour to get it correct.
    Tasty! Agree with comment above to add additional salt. Appreciate the good instructions.

    Reply

  8. Mimi1022 says

    I have n
    Made these 3 or 4 times . My girls love this . I was requested today to make this by my lovely foster daughter. I obliged but I had no Greek yogurt 🙂 so using what I had I substituted vanilla yogurt. The naan was delicious and I don’t think the girls even knew 🙂 Win all the way around ! Thank you for this delicious recipe!

    Reply

    • Karina says

      Hi Mimi, that’s wonderful to hear! I’m glad you and your girls enjoyed the naan, and it’s great that you found a delicious substitute with vanilla yogurt. Thank you for the positive feedback!

      Reply

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Buttery Garlic Naan Bread Recipe (2025)

FAQs

What is the difference between butter naan and normal naan? ›

Butter naan is indulgence personified. After cooking the plain naan, a generous amount of butter is brushed over the surface, imparting a rich yet buttery flavour. The butter also gives the naan a glossy finish, making it irresistible to resist.

Is yeast or baking powder better for naan? ›

Naan is essentially a leavened flatbread, which means it contains some form of raising agent to provide its airy texture. Hence for this naan, the raising agent we will be using is yeast. Other variations do exist which may utilise self raising flour or baking powder/baking soda.

Why do you put yogurt in naan bread? ›

The extra protein from the yogurt eliminates the importance of advanced gluten development. The yogurt also adds some fat. The fat keeps the dough nice and soft and prevents the naan from hardening too much during the cooking process.

Why add egg to naan? ›

Egg – Helps bind your dough. Garlic – Mince it to give your garlic naan recipe a yummy and savory taste. Salted butter – Adds more flavor and richness.

Why is naan unhealthy? ›

Naan and pita are similar in that they are both flatbreads, but naan contains butter and yogurt, whereas pita does not. As stated earlier, naan is high in fat, and specifically high in saturated fats. Pita on the other hand is considered to be a low fat food.

What are the disadvantages of naan? ›

As such, you should avoid filling up on naan if you're watching your saturated fat intake. Moreover, store-bought plain naan has a relatively high sodium content, accounting for around 18% of the DV. Eating too much sodium may increase blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke ( 7 ).

Do Indian restaurants use yeast in naan? ›

About Naan

In the modern days, yeast & other leavening agents have replaced the bread starter. So most restaurants either use yeast or another leavening agent like baking powder & baking soda. If you order naan in Indian restaurants you may not find the texture & flavor to be the same in every place.

Why is my naan not fluffy? ›

If you don't see the dough puffing up, you should turn up the heat under the griddle. Take the naan with thongs and turn on an adjacent gas burner. Flip the naan on top of this gas burner and leave until it's nicely charred.

Can you let naan dough rise overnight? ›

It was handy to discover that the naan recipe can be made ahead, refrigerated overnight and cooked up the next day – and it's 100% perfect. It's just as fluffy and soft. With the added bonus of even better flavour in the bread because as with many yeast breads, flavour develops with time!

Why do you sprinkle water on naan bread? ›

You sprinkle water to keep the naan bread soft. Naan bread will naturally stiffen when not eaten straight from the pan, so eat it as soon as you possibly can.

Is garlic naan bread healthy? ›

Is Naan Bread Healthy? Naan bread can be part of a healthy diet, especially if you choose whole grain varieties. Naan bread contains vitamins and minerals like niacin, fiber, and iron, as well as fiber.

Should I refrigerate naan bread? ›

Naan bread typically lasts 2-3 days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It can also last up to a week if refrigerated. Naan bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap each piece of naan in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag.

What are the black things in naan? ›

Probably most familiar as the black seeds in naan bread, nigella seeds are widely used across India in chutneys, vegetable dishes and many curries. Also known as 'kalonji' or mistakenly as black onion seeds, nigella seeds are jet black and have a delicious earthy, nutty flavour.

How do Indians eat with naan? ›

One of the most popular Indian delicacies that we know of; curries are creamy with the right amount of spicy, curries pair perfectly with warm, fluffy naan. Naan bread also serves as the perfect companion to soups and stews, absorbing their rich flavors and adding a delightful textural contrast.

What happens if you don't put an egg in bread? ›

Bread with no egg looked as normal as any other white loaf. It had puffed up evenly and had a nice crust colour and a soft texture. The interior was soft but quite tight. This could be made lighter by skipping the pre-shaping or folding steps making the dough looser.

What are the different types of naan? ›

Among the varieties of filled naan are: keema naan, which contains spiced lamb; Peshawari naan, which is sweet, being filled with combinations of coconut, raisins, sultanas, and nuts; Kashmiri naan, which uses candied cherries, golden raisins, almonds, cumin, and fenugreek; aloo naan, which contains spiced mashed ...

What is the meaning of butter naan? ›

Butter naan is traditional Indian Naan bread brushed with melted butter after cooking. You can add some minced cilantro (coriander) leaves or minced garlic to make garlic butter naan. It is a yeasted dough rolled into flatbreads and cooked traditionally in tandoor clay.

What is the difference between naan and roghni naan? ›

But what if I told you, there's actually a superior naan saved for special occasions in Pakistan called "Roghni Naan"? Roghni Naan is softer, thicker, and richer than plain naan, has a beautiful golden shine on it, and is covered with sesame seeds which add more texture and flavor to it.

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