This is a phenomenal bread recipe. The best, EASY yeast bread you will ever make, beginners love how simple it is while bread connoisseurs appreciate the Artisan bread qualities – the thick crispy crust and chewy crumb with big fat holes like sourdough!
No knead, 3 minutes active effort, very forgiving recipe. Make this today, then the Cheese Bread version tomorrow!
Phenomenal EASY yeast bread recipe
This is an extraordinary white bread recipe with outstanding results. While it’s easy and forgiving, making it suitable for beginners, experienced bakers will recognise and appreciate the Artisan bread characteristics – large holes in the crumb like your favourite sourdough bread with that signature chewiness, and a thick, crispy crust.
It’s a gold nugget recipe, and you may never buy bread again after trying this!
Here’s why it’s so easy:
No knead, no stand mixer
3 minutes active effort – you won’t even get your hands dirty
Dutch oven (cast iron pot) ideal but not necessary
Incredibly forgiving dough, with rise times ranging from 2 hours to 3 days (yes, really, you choose what works for you)
Easy but yet no compromise on quality of bread
What you need to make this homemade bread recipe
Here’s what you need to make homemade bread from scratch – yeast, flour, salt and water. Yep, really, that’s it!
No yeast?
Make this famous Irish Soda Bread instead, or this incredible No Yeast Sandwich bread based on the traditional Australian Damper!
Yeast – my base recipe uses Rapid Rise or Instant Yeast which does not need to be dissolved in water. But it works just as well with normal yeast (“Active Dry Yeast” or just “dry yeast”) – you just need to change the order of the steps and dissolve the yeast in water first. The bread comes out exactly the same!
Best flour for homemade bread – use bread flour if you can. Bread flour has more protein in it than normal flour which means more gluten, and this makes the dough more elastic and yields a more fluffy yet chewy texture inside the bread, as well as creating the big holes you see in the photos, like sourdough bread. However, this bread is still spectacular made with normal flour too!
How to make the world’s easiest homemade bread – Artisan style!
Here are process steps with tips, but also see the video below – super handy to see the dough consistency, and how to form the dough.
1. Make wet sticky dough
Mix together the flour, salt and yeast, then add warm water and mix. The “dough” will be very wet and sloppy, not kneadable at all – this is what you want! See video at 17 seconds for consistency.
2. Rise!
Cover with cling wrap then place it in a warm place (25 – 30°C / 77 – 86°F) for 2 hours. The dough will increase in volume by double or more, the surface will become bubbly and the dough will be wobbly, like jelly. See video at 24 seconds for consistency.
OPTIONAL – develop flavour: Once dough has risen, you can bake immediately. OR, for better flavour, refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours, up to 3 days. Time = better flavour development.
Bread in photos and video were baked immediately. I usually make this dough in the morning, refrigerate all day then bake in the evening. Or make the dough in the evening, refrigerate overnight and bake fresh in the morning! (10 – 12 hours in fridge). Beauty of this bread is that you can bake anytime!
No dutch oven? No problem! Just bake it on a tray – see the recipe notes.
3. Preheat oven & pot
30 minutes before dough has risen, or while refrigerated dough is coming to room temperature, place dutch oven (cast iron pot) in the oven to preheat at 230°C/450°F.
Hot oven + hot pot = bread rising boost!
4. Scrape dough out
Scrape dough out of bowl onto floured work surface. It will be wet and sticky and that’s exactly what you want – because we will not be kneading it! In fact, you won’t even touch it with your hand.
PRO TIP: Dough handling and shaping technique devised to minimise addition of flour. Less flour = wetter dough = bigger air pockets, fluffier bread and more moist.
5. Shape the dough very roughly
Use a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (spatula, cake server, or large knife) to fold the sides in so it roughly resembles a round disc.
Don’t get too hung up on the shaping – you’ll deform it in the next step!! This step is mainly to deflate the dough.
6. FLIP dough upside down onto paper
Slide a large piece of baking / parchment paper next to the dough, then flip it upside down onto the paper using the scraper so the seams from the step above are face down, and you have the smooth side up.
Slide/push the dough into the centre, then briefly reshape it into a round or slightly oval shape.
Do not get too hung up on a neat shape – this bread is supposed to be rustic! Besides, scruffier shape = more awesome crispy ridges
7. Prepare to bake!
Remove very hot pot from oven, then use paper to pick up the dough and put it in the pot, and put the lid on.
See recipe notes for no dutch oven method.
8. Bake!
Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on (this creates a steamer effect, allowing the bread to rise while it cooks before crust sets), then 12 minutes with the lid off to brown and crisp up the crust. The surface will crack – and you want this, for extra crispy ridges!! And it looks authentic, just like the Artisan bread you buy at bakeries. 😇
Cool for 10 minutes before slicing. This is important – to let the centre of the bread finish cooking (if you slice too early, it will seem a bit doughy. Patience was never my greatest virtue, so I learnt this first hand!)
Remember – you can make this bread recipe WITHOUT a dutch oven!
Why this bread recipe works – and TIPS!
Loose, sticky dough = easier to rise than firmer dough.
No kneading = rough dough, but because the dough is so soft, it puffs up enough to “smooth out” the roughness.
Super forgiving dough – too stiff, add water. Too wet, add flour. Dough not rising? Move it to a warmer place. Takes 45 minutes to rise or 5 hours? It will still work. As long as your dough is the same consistency as what you see in the video and you let it rise to double the volume, this bread recipe will work as long as the yeast is not past its expiry date!
Why you need a preheated dutch oven for no knead bread recipes – to create a steamy environment to give the bread a rise boost before the crust sets (which stops the bread from rising). Professional bakeries are equipped with steam ovens – the cast iron pot is the home method!
Don’t have a dutch oven? No problem! Recreate the steamy environment by placing hot water in a pan in the oven, and bake the bread on a tray.
Big holes in the crumb – loose dough from less flour, high oven temp and preheated pot allows the yeast to give the bread a great rise boost, creating big air pockets. Also the use of bread flour rather than normal flour helps – you get less large holes using normal flour.
Bake immediately if it’s a bread emergency….
…but you’ll be rewarded with tastier bread if you leave the dough 8+ hours in the fridge! I normally make dough first thing in the morning (it takes 3 minutes!) then bake that night. Or make dough at night and bake in the morning. (~12 hrs in fridge for both scenarios)
Why refrigerating the dough creates a better tasting bread – because the fridge slows down the fermentation of the yeast (ie dough stops rising, if it kept rising it would kill the rising power of the yeast), allowing the enzymes in the yeast to do their work, transforming starch into sugar which creates a more flavourful bread. So we let the dough rise first, then refrigerate it.
All the ways to eat this bread!
Everything you do with bread you buy, you can do with this bread. It truly has the structure of bakery bread, so there are no limits!
Eat it fresh out of the oven, slathered with butter. Make sandwiches, toast it, mop plates clean, dunk it in soups and stews. Make bruschetta, garlic bread, grilled cheese, CHEESY garlic bread or Cheese and Garlic CRACK Bread!
I hope you enjoy this crusty bread recipe as much as I do. This really is one of those gold nugget recipes that you’ll make once and treasure forever! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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World’s Easiest Yeast Bread recipe – Artisan, NO KNEAD
Ingredients
- 3 cups (450g) flour , bread or plain/all purpose (Note 1)
- 2 tsp instant or rapid rise yeast (Note 2 for normal / active dry yeast)
- 2 tsp cooking / kosher salt , NOT table salt (Note 3)
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) very warm tap water , NOT boiling or super hot (ie up to 55°C/130°F) (Note 4)
Dough shaping
- 1 1/2 tbsp flour , for dusting
Instructions
- Mix Dough: Mix flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add water, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to mix until all the flour is incorporated. Dough will be wet and sloppy – not kneadable, but not runny like cake batter. Adjust with more water or flour if needed for right consistency (see video at 17 sec, Note 5).
- Rise: Cover with cling wrap or plate, leave on counter for 2 – 3 hours until it doubles in volume, it’s wobbly like jelly and the top is bubbly (see video at 24 seconds). If after 1 hour it doesn’t seem to be rising, move it somewhere warmer (Note 6).
- Optional – refrigerate for flavour development (Note 9): At this stage, you can either bake immediately (move onto Step 5) or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Take chill out of refrigerated dough – if you refrigerated dough per above, leave the bowl on the counter for 45 – 60 minutes while the oven is preheating. Cold dough does not rise as well.
- Preheat oven (Note 7) – Put dutch oven in oven with lid on (26cm/10" or larger). Preheat to 230°C/450°F (220° fan) 30 minutes prior to baking. (Note 8 for no dutch oven)
- Shape dough: Sprinkle work surface with 1 tbsp flour, scrape dough out of bowl. Sprinkle top with 1/2 tbsp flour.
- Using a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (cake server, large knife, spatula), fold the sides inwards (about 6 folds) to roughly form a roundish shape. Don’t be too meticulous here – you’re about to deform it, it’s more about deflating the bubbles in the dough and forming a shape you can move.
- Transfer to paper: Slide a large piece of parchment/baking paper (not wax paper) next to the dough, then flip the dough upside down onto the paper (ie seam side down, smooth side up). Slide/push it towards the middle, then reshape it into a round(ish) shape. Don't get too hung up about shape. In fact, lopsided = more ridges = more crunchy bits!
- Dough in pot: Remove piping hot dutch oven from oven. Use paper to place dough into pot, place lid on.
- Bake 30 minutes covered, then 12 minutes uncovered or until deep golden and crispy.
- Cool on rack for 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipe Notes:
- Fridge up to 3 days – Rise dough per recipe, then leave in bowl and refrigerate up to 3 days. Flavour gets better with time. Dough will stay bubbly for a day or two, then will deflate – that’s fine. Shape into round and place on paper per recipe, then leave for 45 – 60 minutes to take the chill out of it, then bake per recipe. Cold dough won’t rise as well.
- Bread in photos & video is 2 hr rise, immediate bake.
- Cooked bread – great fresh for 2 days, then after that, better warmed or toasted. Keep in an airtight container or ziplock bag. This stays more fresh than usual homemade bread, especially if you use bread flour.
- Freeze cooked bread for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information:
More bread recipes
Life of Dozer
Just keeping a close eye on it for me….
Good job Dozer. Here’s your treat. Look, I even buttered it for you! (PS He’s in his robe because it’s a rainy day yet I still took him to the beach!!!)
Anansi says
Hi! Tried this and it turned out really good. Just wondering how long the leftover will last if it is in the fridge?
Thanks!
Nagi says
It will last a day or two in the fridge but will dry out Anansi – I think freezing it would be the better option! N x
Lyndon West says
I made artazan bread… and before it got cool, I ate the whole loaf… it was fabulous…
Nagi says
Woo hoo!!! That makes me smile Lyndon!! N x
Lyndon West says
How good it will be used as garlic bread with cheese, garlic in oil and real bacon bits… wicked…
Dannon says
Mine is in the oven now. I brushed it with garlic then added Italian seasoning, everything bagel seasoning and parmesan cheese! It is excellent dough for toppings!!!
Nagi says
That’s a great tip Dannon! N x
Anansi says
Hi. Tried this recipe for the first time and I love it. Definitely going to do this more often. How long do you think the bread will last if leftover stays in the fridge?
Thank you.
Pam says
Would this work with gluten free flour ?
Would I have to add anything else to the recipe.
Looking forward to your book, it must be almost ready ?
Sam says
I made it with gluten free flour! It was delicious! It doesn’t brown the same, but the taste is spot on!
The only thing I did different was use gluten free flour and I added a tablespoon of sugar. Soooo good
Pam says
Hi Sam
Could you please let me know which brand of gluten free flour you used.
I have heard some are good others not so good.
Thanks
Pam
Pam says
Thanks Sam, will try it
Pam
Nagi says
I can’t recommend that Pam – sorry! N x
Pam says
Hi Nagi, thank you for forwarding a message from Sam, stating she made it with gluten free flour with a tbl of sugar.
Thanks to both Sam and you Nagi.6
Bec says
Nagi, could I put the dough in the fridge for 6 hours? Or does it need to be 8 for the flavour to develop properly?
Nagi says
Six hours would also help to develop the flavour Bec so that’s fine! N x
Sarah says
This was amazing! Too amazing that only 3 cups of flour didn’t last too long in our family 😅 … if I double the ingredients, so I still bake for the same amount of time? Or do I increase? Abs if so, how much longer do I keep the dough in the oven? Thank you!
Nagi says
I haven’t tested a double of it in my Dutch oven so I can’t say for sure regarding bake time. I suspect you will have to increase it and it will depend on the size of your dutch oven whether or not it’s large enough to hold it. You could bake it in 2 separate pans to be safe! N x
Cindy says
I’m wondering if I could add garlic to the recipe, if so, how much garlic powder would I add?
Nagi says
Try 2 teaspoons added to the flour and then you can add more the next time if that’s not enough! N x
Stacey says
Love this recipe, bread turned out great. Have you tried doubling the recipe to make a larger loaf? I have 3 boys so a loaf doesn’t last long.
Jeanie says
Did you try this yet? I’m thinking I will need to experiment , would love a bigger loaf.
Stacey says
Yes! Doubling the recipe works great! We make a few loaves several times a week. My boys love it!
Jeanie says
Thanks, I actually made it up double yesterday and was eating some when I saw your message! It’s v good. I cooked mine for 40 minutes and ten with lid off
Stacey says
Next I want to try it as a sour dough. Been making my starter for a week now. It will take some experimenting!
Nicola Brierley says
Help! My bread stuck fast to the paper and couldn’t get it off. What did I do wrong 😔
Nagi says
Was it baking paper Nicola? If you used baking paper it should not stick! N x
Dilys says
My boyfriend and I made this over the weekend and honestly, it was the BEST homemade bread ever, perhaps event the best bread ever. We love the crunchy crust so much and the chewy bread inside!
We didn’t have a dutch oven but used a metal saucepan with a metal and glass lid which worked just as well.
I ended up taking it out of the pan after the 12 minutes with the lid off and leaving it on a hot baking tray that had been in the oven throughout the baking. This meant it got a gold and crunchy crust all over!
Nagi says
Woo hoo I am glad you liked it Dilys!! N x
Wayno says
Do you reckon this could be adapted to use sourdough starter instead of yeast?
Chris says
My family loves this recipe. Make it once a week. I recently added a touch of molasses to the yeast mix and it seems to finish of even better!!
Nagi says
Thanks for that feedback Chris!! N x
Donna T says
First timer making this bread the NON-dutch oven way. Used a round pie tin for the prepared dough (on the parchment paper) and an 8″ pan for the boiling water next to it. Proofed the dough in the oven for about 2.5 hrs. We loved it. What about adding cinnamon or spices? Do we add it in the dough stage after it rises? What is suggested? Looking to make it this way the next time.
Donna says
Just a quick correction. I used a cake tin not a pie tin to bake the bread in. All worked well and my husband said it was some of the best bread he’s had.
Signe says
I made this today around making choc chip cookies, added a little sour dough starter and cut back on the dry yeast also adding some instant potato powder and rosemary. Slightly tighter texture but outstanding flavour probably the best artisan bread I’ve made. Great recipe thanks Nagi.
Btw 6doz choc chip cookies in the cookie barrel turned out a treat also. So glad i found your site.
Nagi says
Welcome Signe!! Happy baking!! N x
Lisa says
Absolutely amazing!! So easy!! One question; it seemed a bit dense would over working during shaping cause that?
Grace says
One thing I’ve learned is to sift the flour. I weigh flour, instead of using a measuring cup, then sift it into bowl. It makes all the difference. I love this recipe and have used it a ton. I generally have to add a couple tablespoons of water to get it as loose as it should be. The first few times I made it, I followed the recipe exactly, but it was always at bit dense at the center. I learned to keep it in the oven longer than my instincts told me. I thought it was too dark at first, but it’s perfect. Only parts are super-done, but this makes certain the center is fully-cooked. SIFT that flour and cook well! I give loaves to friends and share this recipe all the time. xoxo
Nagi says
Yes Lisa it could or maybe your yeast is a bit old. N x
Annissa Walker says
I just made it, and it came out amazing!! I didn’t even have to but butter on it, because it tasted amazing without it! Thank you!
Lucille says
This is the best and easiest bread to make. I make it all the time now & have given the recipe to several friends who also have made it and loved it.
Nagi says
I am glad that you enjoyed it so much Lucille – thanks for sharing!! N x
Sue says
It says to preheat oven to 230, do I cook at that temp as well, thanks.
Nagi says
Yes Sue, that’s the correct temp! N x
Sue says
It says to preheat the oven to 230 do I cook at that temp for 40 mins as well? Just seems very hot. Thanks
Katie says
I love this recipe! I make it twice a week and we no longer need to buy bread. It’s amazing.
I wonder if it’s possible to use this recipe for bread rolls? I’ve made your dinner rolls (which as also brilliant) but found them a bit decadent for a humble Vegemite sandwich. Any suggestions for adapting the recipe?