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    Home » Quick Bread » Fry Bread Recipe

    Fry Bread Recipe

    Published: May 4, 2022 · Modified: May 4, 2022 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Easy, 4-ingredient traditional fry bread recipe! This simple fry bread is so easy to make, and it makes a great base for so many toppings.

    Fry bread topped with lettuce cheese and tomatoes.

    Fry bread is sometimes called Navajo fry bread or Indian fry bread. It's made from a simple, 4-ingredient dough that's fried in oil, shortening, or lard.

    Fry bread can be eaten by itself, or it can be topped with sweet or savory toppings.

    What is fry bread?

    Fry bread began as a way to make use of the simple food from the rations that the U.S. government gave to Native Americans while relocating them. Different Native American tribes have different versions of fry bread, but it's often associated with the Navajo and used to make Navajo tacos.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for fry bread in dishes.

    The dough is made from four, simple ingredients. You'll just need

    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Salt
    • Water and
    • Oil to fry the dough in.

    How to make fry bread

    Flour baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

    Step 1: Stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.

    Water mixed into dry ingredients.

    Step 2: Gradually whisk in the water until incorporated to form a sticky dough. You may find that you need to add additional water.

    Step 3: Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 2 hours.

    Pieces of fry bread dough on a white plate.

    Step 4: Divide the dough into pieces the size of a tennis ball.

    A piece of fry bread dough stretched out on a plate.

    Step 5: Gently flatten out the dough as thin as possible without tearing it.

    Top tip >> You can use a rolling pin or your hands to gently stretch the dough. Just avoid overworking it as that will give you tough fry bread.

    Step 6: Pour 2 inches of oil into a large heavy pot. Heat the oil to 350 F.

    Top tip >> If you have a cast iron skillet with high sides (deep iron skillet) that will also work. However, regular iron skillets don't have high enough sides.

    Step 7: Make a small hole in the center of each piece of dough.

    A piece of fry bread frying in a pot of oil.

    Step 8: Fry one piece of dough in the hot oil until golden brown on one side. Flip and continue cooking until golden brown on the second side.

    A piece of fry bread on a paper towel lined plate.

    Step 9: Place the fry bread on a paper towel-lined plate.

    Step 10: Repeat with the remaining dough. Serve topped with desired toppings.

    A piece of fry bread with toppings next to a dish of tomatoes.

    Tips

    • Oil: You can use another oil with a high smoke point, like peanut oil, instead of vegetable oil.
    • Temperature matters! To make sure that your fry bread fries properly, it's important to have the oil at the correct temperature.
      I recommend using a deep-fry thermometer. If it isn't hot enough, the dough will take on too much oil as it cooks and become soggy and greasy. If it's too hot, the dough will cook outside before the inside has cooked.
    • The pieces of dough are pretty generous. Feel free to make smaller pieces of dough, about the size of a golf ball, if you'd like.
    A piece of fry bread being held in one hand.

    Serving suggestions

    Fry bread can be the base for a number of savory or sweet toppings. It can be topped with chili or taco-seasoned ground beef and lettuce, diced tomato, cheese, sour cream, and diced avocado or guacamole.

    For dessert fry bread, top a piece with butter and honey, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar.

    Storage

    It will keep in an airtight container for about 2-3 days, but it's best eaten when fresh.

    You may also like

    • Homemade Funnel Cake
    • Sopaipillas
    • No-Fry Fried Ice Cream
    • Baked Chocolate Donut Recipe

    If you’ve tried this fry bread recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can subscribe to receive my latest recipe newsletters or follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for even more delicious food.

    Fry bread topped with lettuce cheese and tomatoes.

    Traditional Fry Bread Recipe

    It's so easy to make traditional fry bread with this simple recipe!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: bread
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 minutes
    Resting time: 2 hours
    Total Time: 2 hours 14 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 376kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • Large heavy pot

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
    • 1 ½ cups hot water not boiling
    • 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
    • Gradually whisk in the water until incorporated to form a sticky dough. You may find that you need to add additional water.
    • Cover and let the dough rest for 2 hours.
    • Divide the dough into pieces the size of a tennis ball.
    • Gently flatten out the dough as thin as possible without tearing it.
    • Pour 2 inches of oil into a large heavy pot.
    • Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 F.
    • Make a small hole in the center of each piece of dough.
    • Fry one piece of dough in the oil until golden brown on one side.
    • Flip and continue cooking until golden brown on the second side.
    • Place the fry bread on a paper towel-lined plate.
    • Repeat with the remaining dough.
    • Serve topped with desired toppings.

    Notes

    • Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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