If you love Indian cuisine, then making perfect homemade garlic naan is an absolute must! This restaurant-style garlic naan recipe is incredibly easy to prepare and requires no special equipment like a tandoor oven. You can achieve soft, fluffy, and flavorful naan right in your own kitchen using just a stovetop or oven.
Balanced garlic flavor adds richness without overpowering, delivering aromatic, buttery bites that pair perfectly with curries, gravies, and hearty dishes.
Whether you’re enjoying a spicy butter chicken, creamy paneer makhani, or a simple dal, this garlic naan will elevate your meal to a whole new level.
What makes this naan so special is its ideal texture—soft and pillowy on the inside, with a slightly crisp and golden exterior.
This easy dough uses basic ingredients, flour, yogurt, yeast, and sugar, creating a soft, fluffy naan that rises perfectly every time.
After resting, the dough is rolled out, brushed generously with garlic butter, and cooked until it puffs up delightfully.
A restaurant favorite, this garlic naan brings authentic flavor home—ideal for festive gatherings, family dinners, or easy weeknight meals.
Give this garlic naan a try, and you’ll find it hard to go back to store-bought bread again. The aroma, the softness, and the flavor will win you over every time!
About This Recipe
Savor soft, fluffy garlic naan at home—easy to make, authentic taste, no special tools needed, and costs much less than restaurants.
Hassle-Free Preparation: This recipe involves very little hands-on work, making it an excellent choice for beginners and seasoned cooks alike. You can knead the dough by hand or use a stand mixer to save time and effort. Once the dough is ready, allow it to proof and rise until it doubles in size. Next, shape the dough into even portions, roll them out, and cook each piece on a hot tawa or skillet until beautifully charred spots form. The process is straightforward, making it easy to fit into any busy schedule.
Simple, Everyday Ingredients: The beauty of this garlic naan recipe is that it uses basic pantry staples you likely already have on hand—flour, yogurt, yeast, sugar, and salt. There’s no need to search for exotic spices or rare ingredients, making it accessible and budget-friendly.
Rich Garlic Flavor: If you’re a garlic lover, this recipe will delight you. The garlic flavor is doubled for maximum taste impact—freshly chopped garlic is incorporated directly into the dough, infusing every bite with subtle garlicky notes. After cooking, each naan is generously brushed with warm garlicky ghee, adding a luscious finish that perfectly balances the garlic aroma and flavor.
With this easy-to-follow recipe, you can create restaurant-quality garlic naan anytime you want—soft, flavorful, and wonderfully aromatic. It pairs beautifully with any curry or gravy, making your home-cooked meals even more special.
Ingredient Notes
- Flour: For this recipe, all-purpose flour (known as maida in Hindi) serves as the base. It produces light, airy naan with a soft texture, closely resembling what you’d enjoy at a quality Indian restaurant. However, if you have bread flour on hand, it’s a great alternative. Bread flour contains higher gluten content, which gives the naan a slightly chewier bite and improved overall structure.
- Yeast: Active dry yeast helps the dough rise beautifully. It needs to be dissolved in warm milk and left to activate or “bloom” before mixing into the dough. This proofing step ensures a good rise. With instant yeast, skip blooming and add it directly to dry ingredients for faster dough preparation and quicker naan making.
- Sugar: A touch of sugar is added, not for sweetness, but to feed the yeast. This small but important ingredient boosts fermentation, helping the dough become light, airy, and fluffy.
- Milk & Yogurt: This combination plays a key role in achieving naan that’s soft, tender, and delightfully airy with each bite. Milk brings moisture and richness, while yogurt helps tenderize the dough, contributing to that pillowy bite that naan is known for.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is mixed directly into the dough, infusing the bread with bold, savory flavor. It’s the heart of this recipe and gives the naan its unmistakable garlicky identity.
- Ghee: Once the naan is cooked, it’s generously brushed with warm, garlic-infused ghee. This not only enhances the flavor but also adds a glossy, aromatic finish. Prefer butter? That works too, but ghee offers a more traditional and richer touch.
Step-by-Step Instruction:
Making Garlic Naan Dough:
1. Warm the Milk: Begin by gently heating the milk on the stovetop or in the microwave until it’s comfortably warm to the touch—neither too hot nor too cold. The ideal temperature is around 100–110°F (38–43°C). This temperature range is key because milk that is too hot can deactivate the yeast, while milk that is too cool won’t awaken it properly.
2. Activate the Yeast: Pour the warm milk into a stand mixer bowl (or a large mixing bowl if kneading by hand). Add sugar and active dry yeast to the milk. Stir gently and leave the mixture undisturbed for about 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll notice a layer of froth or bubbles forming on the surface—this is a good sign that the yeast is active and ready to work.
3. Add Remaining Wet Ingredients: Once the yeast mixture has bloomed, add in the rest of the wet ingredients: plain yogurt at room temperature, a little water, a splash of oil, and finely chopped garlic. These ingredients enhance the dough’s flavor and softness. Stir everything together until well combined, ensuring an even distribution of the garlic and liquids.
4. Yeast Activation Tip: If the yeast doesn’t foam, it may indicate that it’s no longer viable, either expired or affected by incorrect milk temperature. In such cases, discard the mixture and begin again with a new packet of yeast. Always check the expiration date beforehand, and use properly warmed milk for the best activation.
5. Add Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder into the bowl with the wet mixture. Mix briefly with a spatula or the mixer paddle until the dry ingredients are roughly incorporated.
6. Knead the Dough: Fit your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Start kneading on low to medium speed, allowing the dough to come together into a soft, elastic ball. Continue kneading for 5 to 7 minutes until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
7 & 8. Proof the Dough: Lightly grease the surface of the dough and the inside of the bowl with a little oil to prevent sticking. Cover the bowl with a clean damp cloth or plastic wrap. Place it in a warm, draft-free spot and let the dough rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size and becomes soft and airy.
Making Garlic Infused Ghee:
1) Warm the Ghee: Place a small pan over medium heat and add the ghee. Allow it to heat gently until it becomes warm and starts to shimmer slightly. Avoid overheating to preserve its rich, buttery flavor.
2) Add Fresh Garlic: Once the ghee is hot, carefully add the freshly minced garlic into the pan. Stir continuously for about 30 seconds, just until the aroma of garlic fills the air. It’s important to watch closely during this step to prevent the garlic from browning or burning, which can cause bitterness.
3) Remove from Heat: As soon as the garlic becomes fragrant and lightly softened, turn off the stove immediately. Transfer the garlic-infused ghee into a small bowl and set it aside. This flavorful mixture will be brushed over the warm, freshly cooked naan to give it that irresistible garlic aroma and rich taste.
Rolling & Cooking Garlic Naan:
1) Punch Down and Divide: Once the dough has risen and doubled in volume, gently press down on it to release the built-up air.
2) Divide the Dough: Cut the dough into six even pieces, then roll each one into a neat, round ball by folding the edges inward and pinching them at the bottom to create a smooth surface.
3) Preheat the Skillet: Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and allow it to heat thoroughly until it starts to emit a faint wisp of smoke.
4) Roll Out the Dough: Take each dough ball and roll it out into an oval shape measuring about 6 to 7 inches. If the dough sticks, dust lightly with flour while rolling.
5) Cook the Initial Side: Lay the rolled naan onto the preheated skillet. Within seconds, small bubbles should begin to appear on the surface. Let it cook for approximately one minute until these bubbles expand.
6) Flip and Finish Cooking: Gently flip the naan with a spatula and let the other side cook for about 45 seconds until golden and puffed.
7) Press Gently: While cooking, gently press the naan with the spatula to ensure even heat distribution and uniform cooking.
8) Check for Browning: The underside should develop a golden-brown hue with a few characteristic charred spots. Once achieved, remove the naan from the skillet and transfer it to a serving plate.
– Choose a Cast Iron Pan:
A cast iron skillet works best for achieving that signature crisp and slightly charred texture in naan, thanks to its excellent heat retention. Make sure it’s heated thoroughly on medium-high heat before use.
– Proper Skillet Preheating:
For beautifully blistered naan, your pan needs to be piping hot. Wait until you see faint wisps of smoke before placing the dough—this intense heat helps the naan puff up quickly and develop those classic golden spots and airy bubbles.
9) Drizzle Garlic Ghee: Once the naan is cooked and still hot, spoon or drizzle the warm, aromatic garlic-infused ghee generously over the surface. The heat from the naan allows it to absorb the rich flavors instantly, adding depth and a glossy finish.
10) Brush for Even Coating: Use a pastry brush to gently and thoroughly spread the garlic ghee over the naan. Make sure it reaches every corner and edge for an even flavor distribution. This not only enhances the taste but also gives the naan a beautiful sheen and inviting aroma.
11) Final Garnish and Serve: Top the naan with a sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro or coriander leaves for a pop of color and freshness. Serve immediately while warm, so the naan remains soft and aromatic—perfect to pair with your favorite curry or enjoy on its own.
What To Serve With Garlic Naan?
1) Serve with Rich Curries or Lentils: Garlic naan pairs beautifully with a variety of flavorful Indian dishes. Enjoy it alongside creamy curries like Palak Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala, Saag Paneer, Shahi Paneer, or Malai Kofta. It’s also a great companion for hearty lentil-based dishes such as Dal Makhani or Dal Tadka.
2) Transform Leftovers into Naan Pizza: Got leftover garlic naan? Turn it into a quick and delicious pizza! Bake it until extra crispy for the perfect thin crust base, then top with your favorite sauce, cheese, and veggies.
3) Make Tandoori-Style Wraps: Roll out the naan a bit thinner before cooking, then use it as a wrap. Fill it with flavorful fillings like Paneer Tikka or Aloo Tikka, and add mint chutney and sliced onions for a street-food-style delight.
4) Bake Naan Chips for Snacking: Slice the leftover naan into small, bite-sized triangles, lightly brush or spray with oil, and bake until golden and crunchy. These crispy naan chips are perfect for scooping up dips like jalapeño popper dip or everything bagel dip.
