Homemade Pita Bread: Oven vs. Stovetop - Elle & Pear (2024)

By Lauren | Updated: | Published: | Leave a Comment

Pita bread is easy to make at home and takes less time and effort than you might think. Unlike making a typical loaf of bread, you don’t have to knead the dough, and the dough only needs 45 minutes to rise. Each pita takes 1-3 minutes to bake, so you can really finish the whole process pretty quickly (you can do multiple at the same time) and it’s not totally out of the question to make these to go with dinner if you have a little extra time on your hands.

You can either make them on the stovetop or in the oven. If you make them in a Dutch oven or griddle on the stove top they are soft and chewy and a thousand times better than store bought. If you make them in the oven, they are also fantastic, but instead of being super soft and chewy a bubble forms in the dough creating the pita “pocket” effect. I prefer the ones made on the stovetop that are spongy, but the ones in the oven are great too and you can use them to make pita sandwiches.

Homemade Pita Bread: Oven vs. Stovetop - Elle & Pear (1)

The other plus is it’s a really good activity to get kids involved in. They can roll out the balls of dough into rounds, and if you’re baking them in a Dutch oven the kids can brush olive oil on them too. We now keep several of these in the freezer and pull them out for easy lunches for the kids with hummus and chicken or vegetables depending on what we have on hand.

I had never tried to make Pita bread at home (and never really like store-bought - it was always dry) until a friend of ours made some along with an incredible dinner that they brought over after we brought our third baby home from the hospital. It was so SO good that once we had our feet back under us, I asked for her recipe and tried my best to replicate it. She made hers on a griddle, but since we don’t have one, I tried it in the oven on a pizza stone. They turned out really well, but not as good as hers. They had a bit of a different consistency than the ones she and her husband had made. The next time I tried it, I made them in our Dutch oven, which gave them that fantastic chewy texture.

I took my friend, Christen's recipe and converted it into cups and tablespoons/teaspoons, which is less precise, but easier for me to streamline in my kitchen.

I decided that I would do a mini experiment and make both variations at the same time: on the stovetop and in the oven. The big difference is that the ones on the stovetop are chewy and almost buttery in consistency. The ones in the oven develop the pita "pocket". They both take roughly the same amount of time. The ones on the stovetop take about 1 ½ minutes each, but you can only fit two or so in the Dutch oven at the same time. The ones in the oven on the pizza stone take 3 minutes each, but you can usually fit three on a pizza stone at once. All in all, I prefer the ones made on the stovetop, but if I was to make pita pocket sandwiches I would do them on the pizza stone in the oven.

Homemade Pita Bread: Oven vs. Stovetop - Elle & Pear (3)

Homemade Pita Bread

Pita Bread is easy to make at home, no kneading required and taste soft, spongy, and way better than the store bought version. You can make them on the stove top or in the oven.

4.20 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 24 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 39 minutes mins

Author Lauren

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 16 pitas

Calories 151 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 package instant yeast
  • ¼ cup olive oil plus extra for brushing on
  • 4 cups flour
  • teaspoon salt

Instructions

Making the Dough

  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the warm water, sugar and yeast, and let sit for 5 minutes.

  • Add the olive oil, flour, and salt. Using a spoon, combine until roughly the shape of a ball.

  • Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let rise for 45 minutes. Usually, I’ll leave the bowl on the kitchen counter but if it’s really cold out and therefore a bit cold in the house, I’ll put it on the back of the oven and turn the oven on so that the area is warm, which helps the dough rise.

  • Punch the dough down and divide into 16 balls. Place on the counter and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise for another 15 minutes.

On the Stovetop in a Dutch Oven or the Griddle

  • Bring a Dutch oven or griddle to medium to medium-low Heat. On my stove, this means that I set the dial to a “#4” out of “#10” for the burner. This may vary on your stove.

  • Roll out one of the balls of dough to ⅛ inch thickness. It should be fairly thin. It will puff up while baking.

  • Brush one side very lightly with olive oil. Place oil side down in the Dutch Oven or on a griddle. Let cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until lightly browned. Flip and let cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute on the other side

  • On my stove I cook them for 45 seconds on each side. I set a timer so I know when to flip them and take them off. Remove and repeat with the remaining balls of dough. If you can fit more than one in the Dutch oven or on a griddle at once, add as many as can fit. Do not roll out all the balls of dough ahead of time, only roll out what can fit in the Dutch oven/griddle at one time. Otherwise, it will start to rise before you get a chance to bake it.

In the Oven on a Pizza Stone

  • Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500° F.

  • Roll out 2 or 3 balls of dough at a time to ⅛ inch thickness. Thinner is better since they rise while baking.

  • Place the rolled-out rounds of dough on the pizza stone and bake for 3 minutes.

  • I usually use a pizza peel with a tiny bit of flour on it to prevent sticking. Using tongs, I slide the dough off the pizza peel onto the pizza stone in the oven. I work in batches only rolling out two to three balls of dough at a time and placing them immediately in the oven. You do not need to flip the dough or put olive oil on them, just bake them on one side only for 3 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 0.001mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Have you tried this recipe? Leave a comment below and share a photo on instagram and tag @elleandpear or #elleandpear. I'd absolutely love to hear from you and see what you're making!

More My Favorite Sweet and Savory Dishes

  • Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
  • Banana Bread without a Loaf Pan
  • Lasagna without Ricotta
  • Sausage Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

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Homemade Pita Bread: Oven vs. Stovetop - Elle & Pear (2024)

FAQs

Is pita better on the stove or oven? ›

If you make them in a Dutch oven or griddle on the stove top they are soft and chewy and a thousand times better than store bought. If you make them in the oven, they are also fantastic, but instead of being super soft and chewy a bubble forms in the dough creating the pita “pocket” effect.

What is the difference between Greek style pita and regular pita bread? ›

Greek pita bread is one of those lesser-known flatbreads that is often referred to as “Mediterranean Pita” or as “pocket-less pita”. Whereas the more common pita bread (sometimes called “Arabic pita”) has a hollow “pocket” that is usually stuffed, Greek pita bread is soft, slightly thicker and has no pocket.

Can you heat pita bread in oven? ›

How to Warm Pita Bread in the Oven. An oven will help you achieve the perfect consistency for your pita bread without requiring a lot of work. The temperature you'll want to set the oven to should be between 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the best range to avoid burning the bread.

What are the two types of pita bread? ›

In Greek, pita (πίτα) is understood by default to refer to the thicker, pocketless Greek pita, whereas the thinner khubz-style pita is referred to as aravikí pita (αραβική πίτα, lit. "Arabic pastry").

Why is my pita not fluffy? ›

If the round of dough is too thick, the dough is too dry or the oven temperature is too low, pita breads will struggle to puff. That's because the puff is steam-powered.

Why does my pita bread always break? ›

You know those pitas that crack when you try to open them up, making them impossible to stuff properly? It's because they've dried out too much. To prevent that, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel as soon as they come out of the oven.

What is the healthiest pita bread to eat? ›

Choose whole wheat varieties, which contain more fiber and nutrients. Choose lower sodium options, especially if you are watching your blood pressure. Select pita bread with higher fiber and/or protein content which will help keep you full.

Why is pita bread healthier than regular bread? ›

Pita bread is a light, delicate bread that is less dense, low-calorie, and has fewer carbohydrates than many other types of bread. When made with whole-grain wheat flour, it also contains more fiber and antioxidants than regular bread (especially white bread).

Is gyro bread the same as pita bread? ›

What is the difference between gyro bread and pita bread? The main difference between by pita bread recipes and this Gyro Bread is that this bread is much easier to wrap. It is less thick so you can easily wrap up whatever you want into your Gyro Pita Wraps.

How do you keep pita bread soft after baking? ›

One tried and try method is to keep in an air tight container with a slice of bread. Amazing how well this works! How do I make pita bread at home? Place a pizza stone or large cast iron skillet in your oven and preheat to 500°.

Do you cut pita bread before or after heating? ›

Heating up the bread in the microwave tends to warm it up and make it easier to cut because it puffs up more than before.

How do you make pita bread moist again? ›

Microwave Method: Dampen a paper towel, wrap the pita, and microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Skillet Method: Sprinkle water on the bread, and heat it over medium heat until it regains softness. Oven Method: Brush with olive oil or butter, wrap in foil, and place in a preheated oven for a few minutes.

Is pita healthier than naan? ›

Simply put, naan is more nutrient-dense than pita or white bread. While it may contain more carbs and sugars, it earns its reputation as a healthy alternative with its relatively generous amounts of protein and fiber.

Is naan flatbread the same as pita bread? ›

Naan bread is soft, fluffy, and chewy, whereas pita bread is denser with a slightly crispy texture on the outside. Naan bread also has a buttery flavor due to the ghee and buttermilk in the dough, which adds an extra dimension of flavor compared to pita bread's more neutral taste.

What is the thin pita bread called? ›

Lavash Bread - This is a thin, unleavened flatbread that is popular in Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. It is typically served with meze or used to make wraps and sandwiches.

Should pita bread be toasted? ›

Pita bread is used to make pita wraps and sandwiches, but it is also wonderful as a bread on an appetizer tray for dips. I remember the first time I had toasted pita triangles and how simply delicious they were served with hummus. To use it for appetizers, it does need to be toasted or crisped.

Do pitta breads have to be heated? ›

Each pitta has been carefully baked to create a scrumptiously soft texture, perfect for opening and filling the tasty centre. Delicious when served cold or toasted, the Soft Pittas can be enjoyed with a whole host of tasty flavour combinations.

Is pita healthier than normal bread? ›

While similar in calorie content, one slice of wheat bread (29g) is higher in sugar and lower in dietary fiber than one small pita bread. It is also slightly higher in sodium and fat content. Since most people eat two slices of bread in one sitting and only one pita bread, pita bread may be a healthier option.

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