This soft and fluffy Cherokee fry bread is a delicious treat that means a lot to me. This indian deep fried bread is versatile, filling, and so easy to make!
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What's remarkable about Indian fry bread recipes is their diversity across families and tribes. Some incorporate water, sugar, or fats like shortening or lard. Most rely on estimations rather than precise measurements, often using the palm of the hand as a guide.
This traditional method adds to the challenge of replicating fry bread's unique flavor and texture. Each batch varies based on the cook's interpretation of measurements.
This Native American fry bread recipe offers measured quantities, departing from the traditional hand-measured approach. I hope you like it!
Pair your fry bread with taco meat using my DIY Taco Seasoning and Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce. Alternatively, serve it with chili and cheese, my Tomato Soup Chili and 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Chili would be perfect accompaniments.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Buzz From Readers
"I loved reading the backstory and history of this delicious recipe! This is a family favorite around our home!"
- Beth
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. You only need four basic ingredients, plus oil for frying, and they're likely already in your pantry.
- Budget friendly. Fry bread became popular because it was inexpensive and made from simple ration ingredients, making it an affordable option even today.
- Easy to make. The dough is simple to mix and shape, and kids can help with prep while an adult handles the frying.
🛒 Ingredients
Flour- The gluten structure and base of this fry bread recipe is all purpose flour.
Water- You will need water or milk to moisten the dough. Water is more traditionally used, but milk adds a richer flavor.
Baking powder- To help the fry bread puff and rise as it cooks, you'll want to use baking powder.
Oil- For frying the fry bread, you'll need some vegetable oil, canola oil, or similar. You'll need at least 1 inch of oil in a large pan.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Water works just fine. Using water instead of milk keeps costs down with no major texture change.
Fry in batches efficiently. Heating oil once and cooking the full batch saves energy and oil waste.
Serve as a base meal. Fry bread can replace more expensive breads or shells for both sweet and savory meals.
🥄 Instructions for Cherokee Fry Bread
Step 1: Preheat a large pot of oil over medium heat. The oil should be 1 inch deep (or more).
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Step 3: Whisk together to combine.
Step 4: Slowly add in your milk or water, just until the dough comes together (you may not need all of the milk).
Step 5: Take a ball of dough and knead it a little between your hands to make it smooth and elastic. It helps to have your hands covered in flour or to use a lightly floured surface depending on how sticky the dough is.
Step 6: Make the dough into a round ball and then press it flat. Make it as big as you can without getting the dough to tear or "become so thin that you can read through it."
Step 7: Slowly lay your dough into a prepared pan of oil starting with the end closest to you and working away from yourself to avoid any oil splashing in your direction.
Step 8: When you see the bottom edges of the fried dough turn a golden brown, flip it over and repeat until that side is cooked too.
Step 9: Remove the frybread and place it onto some paper towels to rest while you finish the rest of the batch.
Serve as desired and enjoy.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Forgiving dough. This dough is flexible. If it's too wet, add a little flour. If it's too dry, add a splash of liquid until it comes together.
- Handle with confidence. Fry bread dough doesn't need kneading and can handle being worked without affecting texture.
- Fry gently. Lower the dough into hot oil slowly to prevent uneven puffing and browning.
- Drain well. Place fried bread on paper towels to absorb excess oil while you finish the batch.
- Why it matters. As a Cherokee tribal member, fry bread is more than food. It's a connection to pow wows, family, and culture, and a way to bring those traditions home when I can't be there in person.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store cooled Cherokee Fry Bread in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Make Ahead: Dough can be mixed a few hours ahead and kept covered at room temperature until ready to fry
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Cherokee Fry Bread pairs well with taco-style toppings for Indian tacos, soups and stews, beans and rice, or served simply with honey or jam for a sweet option.
- Fajita Taco SaladRecipe $16.91 / Serving $2.82
- 5 Ingredient Instant Pot ChiliRecipe $11.26 / Serving $1.88
- Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada SauceRecipe $8.49 / Serving $1.70
- How to Make Strawberry Jam (for Canning)Recipe $9.62 / Half-Pint $1.60
❓ Cherokee Fry Bread FAQs
Popping the air bubbles that come up is an optional choice. You do not have to, but you can if you want. Fun fact: Some tribes will purposefully pierce a hole in the center of their fried dough after putting it in the oil because they believe that it will help to let the evil spirits out.
Again, this is a personal choice. That said, soft and fluffy has always been a winner in my books. It makes it easier to convert into a sweet treat, Indian tacos, and more.
You will flatten the dough before cooking, and it will puff up while being cooked, so as long as you don't make it paper thin while you're flattening it you will still get some natural puff to your fry bread.
After making your delicious Cherokee fry bread you can use it however you want. Serve it with honey, butter, jam, cinnamon sugar, or even powdered sugar if you're looking for a sweet treat.
You can also top it with seasoned taco meat, lettuce, cheese, and your other favorite taco toppings for an Indian taco (basically an open-faced taco). My school served it with chili and cheese once a week.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Chicken Broccoli Rice CasseroleRecipe $7.99 / Serving $1.00
- Chicken Divan CasseroleRecipe $8.50 / Serving $1.06
- Southern Baked SpaghettiRecipe $6.70 / Serving $0.55
- Honey Mustard Pork ShoulderRecipe $15.13 / Serving $1.51
🐝 If you tried this Cherokee Fry Bread Recipe, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Cherokee Fry Bread
Ingredients
For Frying
- Oil - for frying (about 2 inches deep in skillet)
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour - ($0.39)
- 2 tablespoons baking powder - ($0.30)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt - ($0.01)
- 2 cups water or milk, you may not need all of it - ($0.00)
Instructions
- In a large skillet with tall sides, heat about 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Slowly add in the water or milk, mixing as you go. You may not need all of the liquid. Add just enough for the dough to come together.
- Take a piece of dough about half the size of your palm. Roll it between your hands as if kneading until smooth and elastic. Lightly flour your hands or work surface to prevent sticking.
- Roll the dough into a ball one final time, then gently flatten it between your hands, stretching it as large as possible without tearing.
- Carefully place the dough into the hot oil one piece at a time (unless your pan is large enough to avoid overlap). Lay it into the oil starting closest to you and working backward, as if tucking it into the oil.
- When the bottom edge turns golden brown, flip using tongs and cook until the second side is golden.
- Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain.
- Repeat with remaining dough and serve as desired.
Notes
- This fry bread dough is very forgiving. If it becomes too wet, add a little more flour; if too dry, add a splash more liquid.
- When placing dough into the oil, do so slowly to prevent air bubbles from forming underneath, which can cause the bread to puff into a bowl shape. This doesn't affect flavor but may leave lighter spots.
- Allow fried bread to rest on paper towels until the entire batch is finished to absorb excess oil.
- Popping air bubbles is optional. Some tribes pierce a hole in the center, believing it helps release evil spirits.
-
Serving Ideas:
- Sweet: honey, butter, jam, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar
- Savory: seasoned taco meat, lettuce, cheese, and toppings for an Indian taco (open-faced)
Nutritional Information
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Thresa Johnson says
I have made this frybread several times and can't get enough of it! It's so so good. If you haven't tried this recipe, you definitely should. You won't regret it. It's so versatile and yummy that my husband and I actually crave this fry bread a lot. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Love love love it!!
Evelyn says
My mother in law used to make a bunch of these when she was alive,when my husband and I had our children, I started making them,kids loved them,and always a big hit especially when you are out of regular bread,used them for alot of recipes
Pamela J. Bell says
I Love Love Love fry bread with honey!! We my husband and I are in Cherokee I always have to get a fry bread. I'm so happy you shared this recipe. I'm going to make it .
Tamra says
Can they be frozen after cooking for later? I do meal prep and freeze some of my meals.
Nicole Durham says
Hi Tamra, glad you asked. I have had success at freezing frybread in the past. I recommend letting it cool completely before placing into an airtight container and freezing for up to 3 months. I usually let it sit at room temperature for a few hours to thaw, but you can leave them in the fridge overnight. then the following day pop them in the air fryer for a minute or two at 350F or use the microwave instead. Of course frybread always tastes best when freshest, but reheated is still pretty delicious! 🙂
Kechi says
Making this recipe was my first time making fried bread, and we all devoured it! I loved it with homemade orange jam!
rika says
I have everything I need to make this fry bread! I love simple recipes like this!
Bintu says
This sounds so delicious - I've never tried it before but you've got me intrigued, I think I might have to now!
Beth says
I loved reading the backstory and history of this delicious recipe! This is a family favorite around our home!
Jeannette says
What an incredible treat! Love how I can add anything on top, including leftovers from the fridge. Win-win, I say!
NicoleDurham says
It really is great with anything <3