Homemade Pita Bread Recipe | The Recipe Critic

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my privacy policy.

This homemade pita bread is soft, fluffy, and full of authentic flavor! Yes, you can buy pita bread at the store, but a freshly baked pita tastes so much better and will make your home smell absolutely delicious. Everyone will want to know what you are making!

I think everyone who has tried homemade bread can agree that it tastes way better than store-bought, and this pita bread is no exception! I’ve been really enjoying making bread from home, and if you are a bread lover like me, you’ll love this Apple Bread, my Grandma’s Perfect Homemade Bread, and this delicious Strawberry Banana Bread. I love the feeling of kneading dough and watching it turn into a delicious treat. If you have never made bread before, this pita bread is a great recipe to start with.

What is Pita Bread?

Pita bread is a classic Greek flatbread that is soft, chewy, and has a hole in the inside that you can fill with delicious fillings! Some people get pita bread mixed up with Naan, but they are different in many ways. While naan is usually made with egg and yogurt, pita bread does not. That means it is vegan-friendly and is a light, fluffy bread.

Pita bread is delicious with many different dishes and can be a side or stuffed with fillings to create a meal of its own. A very traditional way to eat it that you may have seen at your local fair is a Gyro, a delicious Greek-style taco that is full of flavor! You could also eat pita bread with Chicken Souvlaki and any soup or stew. You could also make them into pita chips and eat them with hummus. Pita bread is so versatile and full of flavor you won’t regret learning how to make it at home!

Pita Bread Ingredients

The ingredients in this pita bread are shockingly simple. Just six ingredients make an incredible and delicious bread. The best part is, that you likely already have all of these things in your pantry, so there is no need to run to the store!

• Lukewarm Water: The warmer temperature helps to activate the yeast, which you need in order to get the puffy hollow pocket to your bread.
• Active Dry Yeast: Yeast is what helps the bread rise, making it fluffy and soft.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar helps the yeast activate and gives the bread a sweeter flavor.
• Whole Wheat Flour Divided: It is traditional to have whole wheat flour in pita bread. Divided means you take whatever amount the recipe tells you (in this case, ¼ cup) and cut it in half. It is helpful to have two bowls to keep them in so that you don’t forget to divide them!
• All-Purpose Flour Divided: You could also use unbleached or baking flour, just use whatever you have on hand.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the pita bread.
• Olive Oil: It is traditional to put olive oil in this bread, but you could substitute it with vegetable oil, melted butter, or melted shortening.

How to Make Pita Bread

It’s easier than you think to make pita bread from scratch! You don’t have to be a bread maker, this could even be your first time making bread, and I promise they will turn out great! Following my instructions and tips, your house will smell like a genuine Greek bakery, and you’ll be amazed by the soft and fluffy bread you can create!

Make the Dough

1. Combine to Make Yeast Mixture: Add the water, yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a mixer and whisk until the yeast and sugar are dissolved. Stir in ¼ cup wheat flour and ¼ cup of all-purpose flour. Once combined, cover and set in a warm spot for 15 minutes or so. The mixture should become nice and bubbly, which is your sponge.
2. Stir: Stir in the remaining whole wheat flour, one ¼ cup of all-purpose flour (leaving ½ cup for dusting), salt, and olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Dust lightly with flour and use the dough hook to knead in the bowl for 1-2 minutes on low speed.
3. Knead and Let the Dough Rise: Dust a clean surface with a little flour and transfer the dough. Knead by hand for a few minutes until it becomes smooth. It should still be a little tacky, so be careful not to knead too much flour into it. Place in an oiled bowl and turn the dough to ensure it’s covered with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Set aside to rise until the pita bread dough has doubled in size, about an hour.

Divide and Cook

1. Punch Dough and Form Balls: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Divide it into eight equal portions and form them into balls. Cover and let the dough balls rest for 10-15 minutes.
2. Flatten Dough: Use a rolling pin to roll the balls out on a lightly floured surface until they are about 8-inches in diameter and roughly ¼ inch thick. Then, set them aside until ready to cook.
3. Cook: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a teaspoon or two of olive oil and use a clean kitchen towel or a paper towel to wipe the oil around the inside of the pan and soak up any excess oil. Place one rolled pita dough into the pan and cover with a lid for 30 seconds. Flip the pita over, cover, and cook for an additional 1.5-2 minutes. Fli, cover, and cook once more for about 1 minute.
4. Cover: Remove the cooked pita to a clean kitchen towel and cover while you cook the remaining pita bread.