5 Ingredient Olive Oil Bread (No Yeast Required)
This simple olive oil bread is so easy to make and doesn’t require any yeast! You can have fresh bread on the table in minutes!
There are few things I love more than a fresh slice of bread. The problem is I don’t usually want to make an entire loaf of bread… because I will eat it all in a matter of days. Why aren’t there more single-serving bread recipes? Just in case you love bread as much as I do, here is a super simple recipe for some warm and fluffy bread, no yeast required.
You’re probably wondering, “Can I make bread without yeast?” and the answer is yes! I love fresh bread, but I don’t always have yeast in my pantry, and even when I do, I don’t want to wait hours for the dough to rise. The good news is, you can make bread without yeast!
Olive Oil Bread Ingredients
- Flour– You’ll need all purpose flour for this recipe. If you want to make bread with whole wheat flour, I recommend trying this whole wheat flatbread recipe!
- Baking Powder– The baking powder gives the bread a little bit of lift without yeast.
- Olive Oil- This helps hydrate the bread and gives it a soft texture.
- Water– This is necessary to hydrate the bread.
- Salt– A little salt adds flavor to the bread.
I’m not sure if I should call these biscuits or rolls or just little mini loaves. These little loaves are made in a skillet, so you don’t even have to wait for the oven to preheat!
How to Make Bread Without Yeast
To make bread without yeast, mix water, flour, salt, baking powder, and olive oil in a large bowl.
The baking powder will give this bread a little lift without any yeast. Mix until a dough forms.
Divide the dough into small disks.
Cook the loaves in a skillet until toasted on each side.
As an alternative method, you can mix the dough in a food processor. It’s a little more “hands off” but it does require cleaning the food processor, so I’m not sure if it’s really much faster. But both methods will create beautiful little loaves of bread!
Technically this recipe makes 4 little mini loaves, so if you wanted to be strict on portions, you could serve 4 people with these. But they’re so delicious that you’ll probably want to eat at least two. My absolute favorite olive oil is California Olive Ranch olive oil, but any kind will do.
Tips for Perfect Olive Oil Bread
- I’ve made these in a non-stick skillet and a cast-iron skillet. I found a non-stick skillet to be the easiest, but either pan will work.
- You can either make these in a food processor or by hand in a bowl. I actually think the bowl method is easier in the end because cleaning a food processor can be a hassle. But both work well!
- Be sure to make the loaves equal in size so they cook at the same rate.
Substitution Ideas
If you wanted to make this with whole grain flour, try using whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour, which is softer than regular whole wheat flour. In a pinch, you can use other oil like canola oil or vegetable oil, but I highly recommend using olive oil if you have it. It adds more flavor to the bread.
No Yeast Bread Variations
- Adding a few fresh or dried herbs is an excellent way to add a little extra flavor. I’ve experimented with rosemary and parsley, and both added a subtle hint of flavor.
- You could also add 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to create a cheddar biscuit!
- If you’re looking for more ways to made bread without yeast, check out this post on the best yeast substitutes.
Is Olive Oil Bread Healthy?
I think this bread is a great healthy option because it’s easy to keep the portion sizes in check! It’s made with just a few simple ingredients and it’s perfect to pair with a bowl of soup or a salad!
How to Store Olive Oil Bread
I recommend eating this bread the same day you make it. Since it’s a small quantity, you probably won’t have much leftover. But if you do, store it in an airtight container or zipper-top bag at room temperature. I don’t recommend keeping it for more than a day, as it will dry out.
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Olive Oil Bread
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Bread
Description
These little single-serving loaves of bread are easy to make and you don’t need any yeast! You can make this in a bowl or a food processor!
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
- 1/3 cup warm water
- (Rosemary or other herbs, optional.)
Instructions
Bowl Method:
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and sea salt.
- Stir in the olive oil and water until mixed.
- Warm a large cast iron skillet or non-stick skillet over medium heat until heated.
- Sprinkle with olive oil and swirl around the pan to lightly coat.
- Shape the dough into 4 small patties.
- Drop into the heated skillet and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side.
- You can sprinkle them with rosemary or other herbs while they’re cooking.
- Serve immediately.
Food Processor Method:
- In a food processor, add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend for 10 seconds.
- While running the food processor on low, slowly add in the olive oil and water.
- Blend for 30 seconds or until a dough starts to form. (You’ll be able to tell; it’ll start to clump up.)
- Warm a large cast iron skillet or non-stick skillet and heat over medium heat.
- Sprinkle with olive oil and swirl around the pan to lightly coat.
- Shape the dough into 4 small patties.
- Drop into the heated skillet and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side.
- You can sprinkle them with rosemary or other herbs while they’re cooking.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
This olive oil bread is best served right away, but you can make it a day in advance if needed.
Recipes to Serve with Olive Oil Bread
Looking for a whole wheat bread recipe? Try this easy 4 ingredient whole wheat flatbread! Don’t worry- there’s still no yeast required!
Are you a carb lover like me, or could you pass on the breadbasket?
This was amazing. I used fresh garlic and chives and it was amazing. Very addictive. Thank you so much for the recipe. I have already made it a few times 😁
Delicious! I made this olive oil bread recipe couple minutes ago. Its easy to make and perfect for any meal of the day. The aroma and slight pungency of the olive oil is tasted. Definitely recommend this recipe. 😊Greetings from St. Croix U.S. V.I.
Can you use avocado oil instead?
That should work!
Dear Liz,
I just had to let you know that this was an absolute joy for my family and I. We are currently on lockdown in South Africa and we can’t move around much. I had no yeast to make English muffins for my family for their Sunday breakfast so I scoured the internet for a recipe. I was a little skeptical at first but after reading the comments decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did. Great job on the recipe. My husband could not stop raving and my three year old daughter loved it. Thanks again. You’re a star.
This was amazing. I only had these ingredients left. Will be making these much more from now on! Great with some parsley and chili flakes on top and drizzling oil while they’re still hot so it soaks in!
I absolutely LOVE this recipe! I’ve been making it every day to have with my morning coffee. I add a healthy amount of za’atar to the dough and ive even tried stuffing them with mozzarella before frying. Definitely recommend!!!
Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder?
No
Just to add more detail to Lindsay’s response:
From my limited understanding,
Baking powder has both a rising agent and an activator (something to make the rising agent do its job). Baking soda, on the other hand, only has the rising agent. In order for baking soda to react and actually cause the baked good to rise, it would need an activator such as baking powder or an acid like lemon juice or vinegar.
Hope this helps give a little more clarity as to why baking soda and baking powder are not interchangeable!
I gave your recipe a try, my husband and the kid both loved it so much so that I had to make another batch right away
Yay!! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
Doing the same here in the U.S. We can’t even find yeast here, let alone flour (which we have!) We are going to have to ration the last 2 yeast packets and need some good alternatives. Fortunately we love making wraps with tortillas and the like. Also, nothing beats making a sandwich with fresh baked dough. This looks really good and one recipe that we’ll definitely try in the coming days. I also love California Olive Ranch oil. It’s what ‘s in our pantry. These kind of remind me of English muffins. Thanks for the recipe.
Hello from Malaysia! We’re having a movement restriction order here due to the Covid19 pandemic and I have run out of bread so wanted to make my own but do not have any yeast. Searched for a yeastless bread recipe, found yours and it works a treat. I added some garlic powder into the dough mix before cooking it. Tastes good. Thanks again! Bless you!