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Homemade Fry Bread – Easy Bread Recipes Anyone Can Master

We all need one of those easy bread recipes tucked away in our kitchen arsenal—the kind that doesn’t ask for a bread machine or a PhD in baking science. This homemade fry bread hits that sweet spot. It’s got that crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside thing going on that makes you tear into it before it even hits the plate. We’re talking the golden ticket of quick bread recipes, and yes, it holds up to honey drizzle, taco toppings, or a simple pat of butter. When I first made this, I was just trying to avoid the sad store-bought stuff and maybe sneak in a little kitchen win. Spoiler alert: it worked. No yeast drama, no dough mysteries—just a warm, golden round of comfort. If you’ve got a few cups of flour and a frying pan, you’re halfway there. So whether you’re craving something sweet and simple or you’re making Navajo tacos for the crew, this fry bread is your new go-to. It checks all the boxes from sweet bread recipes to even pretending you’re mastering Portuguese sweet bread. Let’s fry.

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Table of Contents

  • 1) Key Takeaways
  • 2) Easy Homemade Fry Bread Recipe
  • 3) Ingredients for Homemade Fry Bread
  • 4) How to Make Homemade Fry Bread
  • 5) Tips for Making Homemade Fry Bread
  • 6) Making Homemade Fry Bread Ahead of Time
  • 7) Storing Leftover Fry Bread
  • 8) Try these side dishes next!
  • 9) Homemade Fry Bread Recipe
  • 10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

  • This fry bread has a golden, crispy edge and soft center.
  • No yeast, no waiting hours. Just mix, shape, and fry.
  • Perfect base for savory taco toppings or sweet butter drizzle.
  • Great for first-time bread makers or old pros who love simplicity.

2) Easy Homemade Fry Bread Recipe

I grew up with store-bought bread that could survive a tornado and still taste like cardboard. When I tried fry bread for the first time, it was warm, fluffy, and honestly, it felt like the bread had a soul. You know that moment when something tastes like home, even if you’ve never had it before?

This recipe is one of those easy bread recipes you don’t need to psych yourself up for. You grab a bowl, stir a few things, shape the dough, and in minutes, you’ve got something golden and hot that begs for butter. I like mine with honey. My husband loads his with taco toppings. My kid just eats three in a row, plain.

The best part? This isn’t one of those sweet bread recipes where you wait three hours and pray to the yeast gods. It’s fast. And it works. Whether you’re craving a Portuguese sweet bread recipe vibe or looking to expand your list of the best bread recipes, this one’s a keeper. Simple, forgiving, and delicious.

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3) Ingredients for Homemade Fry Bread

All-Purpose Flour: This is your base. It holds everything together. I’ve tried whole wheat once—don’t. Stick with the classic here.

Baking Powder: This is where the puff comes from. It’s the rise without the wait. Kind of a miracle, really.

Salt: Just enough to balance things out. It makes the dough taste like something, not just flour and water pretending to be food.

Warm Water: Not boiling, not cold, just warm. Like bathwater you’d give a baby. It helps the dough come together without being sticky or dry.

Vegetable Oil: You’re not deep frying, but you want enough to give each piece of bread that crisp, golden hug. Think of it like tanning oil for dough.

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4) How to Make Homemade Fry Bread

Step 1. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a big bowl. I use a wooden spoon and an old bowl that’s seen better days—it’s part of the charm.

Step 2. Add warm water a little at a time while stirring. You want it shaggy, not sticky. Like a dog that just ran through the woods.

Step 3. Knead it gently for a couple of minutes. Don’t overthink it. Just press and fold until it stops being lumpy and starts being doughy.

Step 4. Divide the dough into eight balls. Let them rest under a towel for about 10 minutes. They’ve earned it. So have you.

Step 5. Flatten each ball into a rough disk. Not too thin, not too thick. Perfection isn’t the goal—deliciousness is.

Step 6. Heat oil in a skillet until it sizzles when you flick a drop of water in. Then fry each disk until golden on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes each.

Step 7. Drain the fry bread on paper towels and resist the urge to bite into one immediately. Actually, no, go ahead. You earned it.

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5) Tips for Making Homemade Fry Bread

I’ve burned a few. I’ve undercooked more. Here’s what I figured out. Keep the oil hot, but not smoking. If it’s too cool, the bread soaks it up and gets greasy. Too hot, and you’ll char the outside while the inside stays raw.

Flatten the dough evenly. If one side’s thin and the other’s a brick, it’ll cook unevenly. Use your fingers, not a rolling pin. This isn’t pie crust. It’s easier, friendlier.

And don’t crowd the pan. Give each piece room to breathe. Overlapping leads to soggy spots. Keep ‘em separated, like your third-grade teacher did with you and the class clown.

6) Making Homemade Fry Bread Ahead of Time

If you’re prepping for a gathering, you can make the dough in the morning and keep it covered at room temp for a few hours. I’ve done this on Sunday mornings while making coffee and trying not to wake the kids.

Fry them up just before serving if you want the full crispy-soft effect. But if you’re short on time, go ahead and make them earlier in the day. Pop them in a warm oven for a few minutes before you serve.

This is one of those easy bread recipes that plays nice with your schedule. It doesn’t throw tantrums or dry out the minute you turn your back.

7) Storing Leftover Fry Bread

Wrap leftover fry bread in foil or stash it in an airtight container. It’ll hang out in the fridge for up to three days without complaint.

Reheat in a toaster oven or a dry skillet. I don’t recommend the microwave—it turns magic into rubber. And nobody wants rubber bread.

You can even freeze them. Just separate each piece with parchment and reheat straight from frozen. That first bite still crunches. That’s all that matters.

8) Try these side dishes next!

9) Homemade Fry Bread Recipe

Homemade Fry Bread – Easy Bread Recipes Anyone Can Master

We all need one of those easy bread recipes tucked away in our kitchen arsenal—the kind that doesn’t ask for a bread machine or a PhD in baking science. This homemade fry bread hits that sweet spot. It’s got that crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside thing going on that makes you tear into it before it even hits the plate. We’re talking the golden ticket of quick bread recipes, and yes, it holds up to honey drizzle, taco toppings, or a simple pat of butter. When I first made this, I was just trying to avoid the sad store-bought stuff and maybe sneak in a little kitchen win. Spoiler alert: it worked. No yeast drama, no dough mysteries—just a warm, golden round of comfort. If you’ve got a few cups of flour and a frying pan, you’re halfway there. So whether you’re craving something sweet and simple or you’re making Navajo tacos for the crew, this fry bread is your new go-to. It checks all the boxes from sweet bread recipes to even pretending you’re mastering Portuguese sweet bread. Let’s fry.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keywords: best bread recipes, Bread Maker Recipes Sweet, easy bread recipes, Italian bread recipes, Portuguese Sweet Bread Recipe, Quick bread recipes, Sweet Bread Recipes
Servings: 8 pieces
Author: Eleanor

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water (add more as needed)
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
  2. Gradually pour in the warm water, stirring until a dough forms. Add more water a tablespoon at a time if needed.
  3. Once the dough comes together, knead it gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth—about 2 minutes.
  4. Divide the dough into 8 equal balls and let them rest under a kitchen towel for 10 minutes.
  5. Flatten each ball into a disk about 1/4 inch thick. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly round—neither are mine.
  6. Heat about an inch of oil in a skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, fry each dough disk until golden on both sides, about 1–2 minutes per side.
  7. Place the fry bread on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  8. Serve warm, with your favorite toppings or just a slather of butter and jam.

10) Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 piece, Calories: 220, Sugar: 0.5g, Sodium: 390mg, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Carbohydrates: 38g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 5g, Cholesterol: 0mg

Written by Eleanor at Eleanor Cooks

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