Air Fryer Homemade Naan Recipe

This air fryer homemade naan recipe is simple, delicious, and can be cooked in several different ways including in Ninja foodi air fryer, Cosori or on the stove too! Delicious flat Indian bread.

Ninja Foodi Naan

If you love baking homemade bread recipes with yeast this will be right up your alley. Not as labor or time intensive as some others you’ve made, naan bread is more like a pita.

Air Fryer Naan

Now you can use any brand you may have at home, there are a variety of looks and brands out there. I have a few and they all work the same but some have a larger basket so you can make more food all at one time.

What is the difference between pita and naan?

They are not the same. Pita bread is a dryer leaner dough that has very few ingredients, with a pocket in the center, more similar to an air fryer tortilla. This one adds egg and yogurt to the base of ingredients so it has a richer flavor and texture.

There is a difference between Roti vs Naan if you have tried the two. Both are great but this has more oomph. To make the dough you will need a few basic items you probably already have in your pantry. To add flavor to the outside you’ll want a bit of butter and cilantro. Seasonings such as garlic salt work well too.

Naan Bread Ingredients

1. All purpose flour is the base of the dry ingredients
2. Milk or some prefer warm water
3. Sugar gives it a bit of sweet
4. Salt for flavor
5. Yogurt, plain flavor is best
6. Active dry yeast for leavening a bit
7. Water
8. Nigella seeds are what you typically see on the outside, the black dots you see in the final product above
9. Melted garlic butter is great for dipping when done

If you have ever made homemade bread before you are familiar with yeast and what is necessary to make it “work”. There is no need for a stand mixer as you can just use your hands.

Known as an Indian bread served in every Indian Restaurant around the world, Naan used to be the breakfast for the royals accompanied by nalli nihari or keema.

Traditionally it is cooked over or in tandoor ovens or earthen ovens which basically work on the same principle as our modern ovens. The wood fire aroma and texture won’t be present when cooking in an air fryer, but is a great alternative.

Since everyone cannot have access to tandoor at home, naan can be prepared in your oven, in an iron skillet, over a gas stove and also this way. This Naan in air fryer is super delicious, easy, and gives the same result as the oven.

Traditional Naan Recipe

Once you have the dough prepared as stated below you are ready to shape it to your liking and cook to perfection. Many just use a skillet over medium high heat with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.

Use whichever method you like but we will share how to make it in a Ninja Foodi or other brand you have.

I like using this because it gets the insides done nicely while getting a bit of crispiness on the outer edges.

Of course you can sprinkle whatever you’d like as far as seasonings and/or fresh herbs. What you see is traditionally seen and served with it.

If you love batch cooking you could make a large batch and freeze some to enjoy later too.

Can you freeze homemade naan bread?

Yes. If they are already cooked allow them to come to room temperature first. Then portion out how many you think you’d eat in one sitting. Wrap those in foil and then seal inside a large freezer bag.

When reheating allow them thaw out completely first. Then wrap in a dishtowel and heat in microwave for 20 seconds or so. You could alternatively put back into your Cosori for a minute at 400 F.

Can you freeze raw naan dough?

This is a great option too. You can put it in a ball inside a thick plastic bag sprayed with oil so it doesn’t stick. When you’re ready allow to come to room temperature first before shaping into balls and flattening, then cooking.

How Long do You Air Fry Naan?

You will need about 4 minutes or so to cook this all the way thru without flipping until lightly browned and puffed up just a bit. It will remain fairly flat and the texture/look is like pita bread basically.

Full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post, here is a quick step by step for this naan bread recipe.

How to Cook Naan in Air Fryer

This is what they should look like when they’re done. I mean they are pretty darn amazing if you ask me.

What do you serve with naan bread?

I mean the options are endless but seriously this comes with just about every single dish if you visit Indian restaurants. Do you have a favorite spot? We do and theirs is out of this world melt in your mouth.

• Most curry dishes have this as an easy side dish.
• For a vegetarian option many people love red lentils in Instant Pot which is great.
• Any sort of protein like air fryer fish works but curry is usually the most commonly served with this Indian flatbread.

Naan with melted butter brushed over the top is incredible with Tikka masala or our Instant Pot butter chicken recipe.

How do you store leftover naan?

Once they are room temperature just slide them into a freezer bag. Suck all the air out of it so they don’t dry out. Store on your countertop for up to 3 days. Beyond that they may start to mold because they are so very fresh.

• Warm them in the air fryer again for just 1 minute. Or use your microwave for 45 seconds so it gets tender again and enjoy with another meal.

They’re great served slightly warmed but that is not always possible if you are serving a larger crowd. It’s a fun snack for my kids too with just a bit of butter on the outside and eaten as is.

What do you serve Naan bread with at your house, or what do you eat it with when you go out to eat? We are always up for suggestions to try next time we make these babies.