This delicious gluten free naan is fluffy with the right amount of chewiness. It is an easy-to-make recipe and it is perfect for dipping into your favorite Indian foods! All you need are a few simple ingredients!
If you have missed naan bread since going gluten free, I am really excited to share my new gluten free naan recipe with you! I tested my recipe with two gluten free flour blends so you have some choices in which to use. Each blend needed some specific tweaks, and we will talk about those so you have success with this recipe.
This gluten free naan can be made dairy free, and one of the flour blends I tested is gum-free, so you can make naan without xanthan gum if you prefer.
If you love to make bread, I have a lot of easy gluten free bread recipes to try!
Popular recipes to serve with naan:
- Curry: Naan is often served with a variety of curries, such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, and vindaloo.
- Kebabs: Grilled kebabs, such as chicken tikka or seekh kebab, pair well with naan.
- Dips and spreads: Naan is great for dipping into sauces and spreads, such as hummus, baba ganoush, roasted eggplant dip, or tzatziki.
- Stews and soups: Naan is a great accompaniment to hearty stews and soups, such as lentil soup or beef stew.
- Chana masala: Chana masala, a popular Indian dish made with chickpeas, is often served with naan.
- Biryanis: Biryanis, an Indian rice dish, is often served with naan.
- Vegetable dishes: Vegetable dishes, such as Instant Pot Saag Paneer, aloo gobi, or baingan bharta, are often served with naan.
Why I love this gluten free naan:
- This is the best gluten free naan recipe. Enjoy it with just the melted butter, or add some garlic for extra flavor! This will quickly become one of your favorite recipes!
- I tested this recipe with two gluten free flour blends.
- This gf naan freezes easily, so you can make a big batch and then enjoy it any time. Just thaw it in your microwave oven.
- Naan is traditionally dipped in Indian food, but I tried dipping it in my gluten free pasta sauce, and it was incredible.
- You can use this naan as a pizza crust for flatbread pizza!
These are just a few examples of popular dishes to serve with naan. Experiment with different recipes to find the combinations that work best for you.
Reader Rave
.This is our go to naan recipe!! It’s easy to make and turns out delicious every time. Thank you!!” Katlyn O.
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten Free Flour – I tested this recipe with my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend (gum-free) and Cup4Cup. (Note: Cup4Cup has milk powder and isn’t suitable if you are dairy-free.) I haven’t tried other blends, but it is important to read the bag of your blend to ensure it works with yeast. Many flour blends don’t. See Gluten Free Flour Blend and Comparison below for detailed information about these blends.
- Yeast – Most yeast is gluten free, but Red Star Platinum is NOT gluten free! I used Fleischman’s Rapid Yeast to make this naan.
- Yogurt – I used plain Greek Yogurt in my recipe. Plain dairy-free yogurt also works.
- Butter – Use salted or unsalted.
- Egg – Use size large.
- Sugar – I used just a tiny bit to help activate the yeast. Honey will also work.
- Salt – Feel free to use kosher or sea salt.
- Water – When using yeast, I usually recommend using filtered water. I find chlorine affects yeast growth negatively in bread recipes.
Tips For Success:
- Go with your gut. If your dough is sticky, sprinkle more of your gluten free flour blend to make it easier to roll. Every gluten free flour blend is different and has different starch to grain levels, so needing to adjust is normal.
- You can make this gluten free naan dough and refrigerate it overnight if you prefer.
- I love using my cast iron pan to cook my naan because it evenly disperses the heat. Some pans do not distribute heat well and it will affect how your naan cooks.
How To Make Gluten Free Naan:
Step 1: Add the gluten free flour, salt, and rapid yeast to a large
Step 2: In a smaller bowl, add the melted butter, water, yogurt, and egg. Whisk to blend.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. See the FAQ for more details.
Step 4: Mix the wet and dry ingredients into the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and rise the dough for 45 minutes.
I rise my dough in a warm oven, especially in the colder months. I preheat the oven to 200º F, then turn the oven off. I put the bowl into the oven.
Step 5: Remove the plastic wrap and evaluate your dough. If your dough is really sticky, add more flour. With Cup4Cup, I had to add a lot more flour so that it wasn’t too sticky to work with.
Step 6: Break off a piece of dough and place it on a silicone mat. (You can dust it with flour if needed.)
Step 7: Roll the gluten free naan dough. I made mine ¼ inch thick, but you can make yours wider.
Step 8: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Drop the rolled dough onto the skillet and cook for a few minutes. Flip the dough over. Adjust the stove temperature hotter if needed to get the charred bubble bumps.
Step 9: Melt some butter in a small microwave-safe dish. Add optional minced garlic. Use a pastry brush to brush butter over the naan, then sprinkle a little salt over the tops. Everyone will love this delicious gluten free naan! It has the same texture and flavor!
For best results, serve warm!
This is THE BEST recipe for GF naan, ever. We make this often in our house! Thank you for tirelessly testing out new recipes and providing so much info for the rest of us. You are truly appreciated!
Katelyn O., Facebook comment
Gluten Free Flour Blend Comparison and Notes:
These are side-by-side comparisons of the two gluten free flour blends I tested. The plate on the right is made with Cup4Cup, and the plate on the right is made with my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend.
Both blends yielded tender, fluffy, soft naan that was flavorful. The main difference seemed to be in the quantity of flour needed in the recipe. 2 ½ cups of my gluten free flour blend weighed 406.2 grams, and the same amount of Cup4Cup weighed 343.4 grams! That is a significant weight difference!
- Cup4Cup – The texture is light and fluffy. This naan is a little more golden, and I think it is because the Cup4Cup has dried milk powder in the blend. This blend was a lot stickier, and I had to add almost half a cup of additional flour. Because of this, I reduced the total water amount by ¼ cup. You will need to dust the silicone mat and rolling pin in flour when making gluten free naan with Cup4Cup flour.
- My DIY Flour Blend – My blend needed a lot more water than the Cup4Cup, and I think this is because it had less starch, so it uses psyllium husk instead of xanthan gum. From a cost perspective, this made it more economical to use this blend because you need less flour. I did not have to dust my silicone mat when using this blend.
Recipe FAQ:
Yes, you can make this naan dairy-free by using plant-based butter and dairy-free plain yogurt.
Store your naan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Soften it by warming it in the microwave oven for 30 seconds. You can also freeze it in a zip-style freezer bag.
Naan is a popular flatbread from India that’s often served with a variety of dishes. In many cases, Indian food is gluten free, but unfortunately, the naan you find in Indian restaurants is not gluten free. This is why I am so excited about my homemade gluten free naan recipe.
More Gluten Free Bread Recipes:
- Gluten Free Garlic Knots
- Gluten Free Bread Machine Bread Recipe
- Easy Gluten Free Bagels
- Gluten Free Sourdough Bread (sandwich loaf style)
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Include which flour blend you used. This helps others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Easy Gluten Free Naan
Ingredients
- 2 ¼-2 ½ cups gluten free flour blend See notes!
- 2 ½ teaspoons rapid yeast Do not use Red Star Platinum.
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ to 1 cup water purified, see notes!
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 large egg
Topping
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- dash salt
Instructions
- Add the gluten free flour, salt, sugar, and rapid yeast to a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk to blend them together.
- In a smaller bowl, add the melted butter, water, yogurt, and egg. Whisk to blend.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix the wet and dry ingredients into the dough.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and rise the dough for 45 minutes. I rise my dough in a warm oven, especially in the colder months. I preheat the oven to 200º F, then turn the oven off. I put the bowl into the oven.
- Remove the plastic wrap and evaluate your dough. If your dough is really sticky, add more flour. With Cup4Cup I had to add a lot more flour so that it wasn't too sticky to work with.
- Break off a piece of dough and place it on a silicone mat. (You can dust it with flour if needed.)
- Roll the gluten free naan dough. I made mine ¼ inch thick, but you can make yours thicker if you prefer.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Drop the rolled dough onto the skillet and cook for a few minutes. Flip the dough over. Adjust the stove temperature hotter if needed to get the charred bubble bumps.
- Melt some butter in a small microwave-safe dish. Add optional minced garlic. Use a pastry brush to brush butter over the naan, then sprinkle a little salt over the tops. Everyone will love this delicious gluten free naan! It has the same texture and flavor!
- Serve warm!
Notes
- I tested this recipe with Cup4Cup and my homemade gluten free flour blend. See below for important notes on each. For Cup4Cup only: 360 grams and ¾ cup water.
- I recommend purified water in yeast recipes. Chlorine in tap water can inhibit yeast growth.
- For my DIY GF Flour Blend, start with 2 ¼ cups of flour, and expect you may need more water.
- Cup4Cup – start with ¾ cup of water and expect to add more flour. My gluten free flour blend – start with 1 cup of water and plan to add more water.
- Be sure to use plain yogurt.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, use vegan yogurt and butter.
- Store cooked naan in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze it in freezer bags.
-
- Cup4Cup – The texture is light and fluffy. This naan is a little more golden, and I think it is because the Cup4Cup has dried milk powder in the blend. This blend was a lot stickier to work with and I had to add almost half a cup of additional flour. Because of this, I reduced the total water amount by ¼ cup. You will need to dust the silicone mat and rolling pin in flour when making gluten free naan with Cup4Cup flour.
-
- My DIY Flour Blend – My blend needed a lot more water than the Cup4Cup, and I think this is due to the fact it had less starch, so it uses psyllium husk instead of xanthan gum. From a cost perspective, this made it more economical to use this blend because you need less flour. I also did not have to dust my silicone mat when using this blend.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
I don’t have a cast iron pan. Would you suggest a regular frying pan or baking in the oven?
Hi, I would try a regular frying pan. I hope this helps.
I never comment on recipes, but these were hands down the best gf baked item I’ve ever had. No grainy texture or weird after taste. The kids had three each. Will absolutely be making these again!
I am so glad everyone loved the naan…it also makes a great flatbread pizza :-).
I used Steve’s Bread Flour and it came out perfect. It has become my new favorite go to blend for everything.
It really is a magical blend. I am so glad you are enjoying baking with it!
Oh my gosh, Sandi! These came out So Darn Good, thank you 🤗
I am so glad you enjoyed the naan. We have been enjoying it dipped in so many things lately.
Can I use instant yeast in this?
Hi Becky, I haven’t tested instant yeast yet in this recipe. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out.
Any suggestions for egg alternative? My daughter is celiac and ana to eggs 🙁
Hi Jenn, I haven’t tested any egg alternatives, but I would try Just Egg or Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer.
I made this a couple of weeks ago it was delicious! I followed the directions exactly and used the tips which made it much easier. I had a question about making the dough in advance and sent a DM not only was it replied to but quickly including my follow up questions. BEST GF SITE I’ve found!!!
I am so glad you loved the recipe, Cyd. I really appreciate your kind words, thank you so much!
You didn’t mention when to add the sugar. I assume it goes in with the yeast?
Hi, yes, the sugar is to help proof the yeast. I can clarify in the recipe.
My son and I made this to go along with tikka masala and it was BOMB. I didn’t even roll them (because I’m lazy). I just patted them out with my hands and they cooked up great. Thank you so much! I have missed naan most of all since becoming GF.
I am so glad you loved the naan! My husband is always asking me to make another batch. Which gluten free flour blend did you use?
We used Bob’s Red Mill cup 4 cup because it was what I had on hand. Making more tonight!
This naan is so good!! I couldn’t believe it was gluten free. Such a perfect side dish!
I am so glad you are loving the recipe, Liz. Thank you!
I’ve been missing naan for such a long time and this came out GREAT! I’m already planning on making it again next week. 🙂
I am so glad you loved it. I love how fluffy and normal this homemade naan tastes.
I love Naan Bread and it came out wonderful. Never had Gluten Free version but so happy I tried it. Delicious and easy to make. Recommend!
Thank you so much, Greta. I appreciate your coming back to let me know the recipe was great.
Nothing beats fresh naan with the homemade curry I make often and this recipe turned out delicious with the GF flour mix I keep on hand. Just as fluffy and addicting as the regular version.
I am so glad you loved the recipe, Gina. Thank you!
As someone who makes naan every week at home, I found this recipe for a friend who is GF, and it was super simple and the naan turned out soft and fluffy (though gluten-free)! Will be adding to my rotation for sure.
I am so glad you were able to share my recipe with your friend, I really appreciate that.
I wish you would present your recipes with weights for ingredients! You made it clear in your flour comparisons that the weights vary greatly; I prefer to weigh and wish you have that option!
Please see the section titled, “Gluten Free Flour Comparison Notes.” I give measurements there, and how crazy different the weights are between flour blends. How would you propose I list weights when 2 1/2 cups of one flour blend weighs 406.2 grams and another brand weighs 343.3 grams? Given all of the flour blends out there, each with a different weight based on their starch content, having one measurement would cause most people to have fails.