This easy, healthy fried bread recipe uses baking powder instead of yeast, so there’s no rising time required—making it quick to prepare and perfect for busy days.
If you’d like to use this fry bread to make Navajo tacos, see the Healthy Navajo Tacos recipe mentioned by the author.
One of the best parts of summer is visiting fairs and farmer’s markets where you can smell and taste fresh fry bread and Navajo tacos. Traditional fair-style fry bread is delicious but often uses a lot of oil and takes longer because of yeast-based dough. This version keeps the flavor and texture while simplifying the process and reducing the amount of oil needed.
I fry these with just enough oil to coat the bottom of the skillet, though you can use more if you prefer. Because this recipe relies on baking powder rather than yeast, you mix and cook it right away—no waiting—so prep time is short and the dough is easy to work with.
My kids love rolling out their own pieces of dough; I fry them while they argue over who gets the first piece. They disappear quickly because each piece only takes a short time to brown and become crisp on the outside and tender inside.
I’ve tested this recipe with several flours: white all-purpose, spelt, and einkorn. All work well but require different amounts of milk. Standard white flour typically uses about 1 cup of milk, though that varies with altitude and brand. Spelt needs slightly less, and einkorn often needs about 1/4 cup less liquid. I usually adjust by feel—adding milk slowly until the dough holds together without sticking to your hands.
I personally prefer einkorn for its light, easy-to-handle texture, but you can use whole wheat if you like. If using whole wheat, plan to add a little more liquid and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes (rather than 5) so the flour fully hydrates and the finished bread won’t be dry or gritty.
If you’d rather use a machine, you can pulse the dry ingredients in a food processor on a dough setting and slowly add milk until a ball forms that pulls away from the sides. It’s a fun and convenient method that reduces hands-on time.
Easy Healthy Fried Bread Recipe with Baking Powder
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5 from 2 reviews
- Author: Rebecca Baron
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Clean Eating
Description
This clean-eating fry bread is quick to make because it doesn’t require rising. It comes together in minutes and can be fried with only a small amount of oil, yet still delivers a light, satisfying result that kids and adults enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 Cups white einkorn flour
- 1 Tbl baking powder
- 1 tsp Real Salt
- 1 Cup whole milk
- 2 Tbl oil for frying (avocado oil recommended for its high smoke point)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir in milk gradually until the dough comes together. Amounts are approximate—add milk slowly. Einkorn will typically require less liquid, perhaps around 1/4 cup less than all-purpose.
- If the dough is sticky, add a little more flour. On a floured surface, knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes (increase to 10 minutes if using whole wheat).
- Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet to about 365°F (180°C). Oil depth can range from just coating the pan to 1 1/2 inches, depending on how much frying you prefer.
- Pinch off pieces roughly 3/4 cup in size and flatten into discs about 1/4 inch thick, pressing the center slightly thinner. Fry until golden on both sides, turning once. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.
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