no-knead grilled naan
I know you’re probably all sorts of excited about this bread you see here (as am I, always), but let me first call attention to the fact that I GRILLED AGAIN. (!!!)
I know this may seem like no big deal, as grilling is one of the easiest ways to cook things, but to me it’s always been a bit of a battle. How hot is too hot? Are the burners even on? How do I not accidentally drop any vegetables between the grates this time? Why does the steak always stick to the grill? There has been much hand-wringing by yours truly around a grill, as you may imagine.
But one of my goals this summer was to master the grill. And I don’t mean just plopping some hot dogs on there and calling it a day — I mean learning how to make a decent kabob, or not fear the idea of grilling bread. So far, both have been accomplished with ease (and with seriously delicious results, too).
This grilled naan recipe is a favorite for two reasons: One, it’s no-knead. You mix the dough together in a bowl, let it sit and suddenly, it’s ready. That’s really it. You can thank the crazy-talented folks of Artisan Bread in 5 for that. Two, it’s technically no-bake, too, because you’re cooking it on the grill. And even that cooking time takes less time in your life than it does to, say, run to Target to buy the storebought version of naan.
And for someone like me who a) is working toward being an accomplished grill master, b) loves bread, c) doesn’t love baking in the summertime and d) doesn’t want to drive to the store to get naan when she can make a tastier version at home (and also doesn’t want to drive to Target because she inevitably will buy a pillow or dress or chair she didn’t plan to buy but now suddenly NEEDS, thanks Target), this recipe is perfection.
It’s also perfection because even with all this minimal effort, the end result is a flavorful, ever-so-lightly tangy, chewy naan dough that I want to brush with ghee and garlic and chopped herbs and munch on all the days of my life. When I visited India in college, I was terrified of eating any of the food there (which is a sincere regret, now that I know how tasty Indian food can be) but I did love the naan, and I really did subsist on it. Naan for breakfast, naan for lunch, naan for dinner, naan for midnight snack because I can’t sleep because India is noisy 24/7 (if you’ve been there, you know). It was a temporary way of life that I didn’t hate because hello, naan is delicious.
And this version is, too, all puffy and slightly charred from the grill. It’s great plain or topped with all the toppings I mention above, but it’s also great to eat as a pita bread stuffed with sandwich toppings, or as a pizza with all the tomato sauce and melty cheese your heart desires (and my heart desires a lot of both). You can even double the recipe and keep some of it in the fridge all week long so you can have fresh grilled naan any time you want. You can also freeze the dough to keep it for even longer. Naan all summer long! That’s my new motto.
This is the good life, you guys, this bread-grilling life. I also include all no knead recipes in this good life — so try no knead dutch oven bread along with no knead sourdough bread too!

No-Knead Naan
Description
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water about 110 degrees F
- ¾ cup milk about 110 degrees F
- 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine water and milk. Add yeast, salt, yogurt and honey and stir to combine. Add flour and, using a wooden spoon, stir mixture until just combined and all flour is incorporated into dough.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rest about 2 hours until it rises and then collapses or flattens on top. Once collapsed, use dough immediately or transfer dough to a lidded, non-airtight container and store for up to 7 days in fridge*, or 3 weeks in freezer in four 1/2-lb portions. Once frozen, thaw dough in refrigerator overnight before using.
- On baking day, heat grill to high for 5 to 10 minutes, covered, and use a grill brush to scrape any residue from grill grates. Reduce heat to medium; keep covered.
- Meanwhile, punch down dough and, on a lightly floured surface, divide into 4 equal pieces. With floured hands, stretch and press each piece of dough to a 1/8-inch thickness.
- Quickly but carefully transfer dough to grill, using tongs if needed, then cover grill and cook 3 minutes until grill marks appear on bottom and top of dough is puffy. Use tongs to flip dough and cook on other side 3 minutes until grill marks appear and bread is cooked through. Repeat with any remaining dough.
- Serve immediately with toppings of your choice (butter, ghee, garlic and fresh chopped herbs are some tasty examples).
- *NOTE: It is easier to handle the dough once it's refrigerated, so I usually let mine rest overnight in the fridge before using. There tends to be a more developed flavor, too, when it chills overnight.
Ooh I love this! It looks so yummy! I’ve been doing a similar thing recently with a recipe which is only self raising flour and yoghurt – it turns out really good! I’ll definitely give this one a go too!
You are my new bff for sharing this recipe! I have to try this, they look so good!
p.s. I get distracted by all of the goodies Target dangles in my face too!
Naan is my favorite! This is so great!! 🙂
Looks like it freezes well so I’ll be expecting a transfer from your freezer to mine in the near future. Grilling is soooo good on sooooo many levels. Keep it up! I need new ideas.
Btw, stay away from the pillows! ????
Naan all summer long is a wonderful motto!!!! And one I could certainly adopt!
I love that you wanted to master the grill. I seriously have yet to totally master mine but this looks fantastic!
This naan is perfect!! Love that you grilled it.
Lorraine — Lol! We have a pillow problem. 😉
hahhaha!! I just had to laugh at the pillow troubles. I have like 7 on our couch and they always seem to be right at the end of the aisle and i can’t help but grab them. Oieee, I am not alone 🙂 I need to man the grill more and try this amazing naan recipe.
I love naan! I’m happy to see an easy recipe that doesn’t heat up the house. So excited to try it. 🙂
Given my latest episode with the grill (last night), I’d say I face all the same grill challenges. I charred the crap out of some zucchini and half of them fell through the grate, never to be seen agaaaaaain. Ai, but grilled food is so good. Togezza, we will be come zee grill masters! P.S. I love naan and must grill it pronto!
We are having naan for dinner tonight with our chickpea curry! I love the idea of making my own. I can’t say I am the best baker around but I should try this out.
Hello gorgeous, I need this naan in my life!
Oh my god this is a game changer. No knead!? Yes yes yes!
Grilln’ like a villain!! I’m all for no knead, and grilled to boot? You are after my own heart!