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!!!)
nicola says
Hello, made this bread once and loved it! thankyou so much for posting it. Do you think I could add some cracked wholegrains in next time? I wasn’t sure if the dough is too soft and they’ll all sink to the bottom
Looking forward to hearing from you! 🙂
Andrea Mead says
This bread was amazing and easy to make! My family loved it:) thank you Nagi
Belsy says
Made this tonight and cooked in the pizza oven. To die for. Thanks Nagi your recipes never fail!!!
Ren says
No exaggeration when I say this has never failed and is always such a hit. Love this recipe so much, it is the only one I use.
JJ says
Will it work if I bake it in a cast iron frying pan & make a tent with tinfoil for a lid?
Leli says
I’m so glad I found your recipe. It’s truly easy and fun to make. I love your detailed instructions, it really helped me out. Thank you so much Nagi!
Rachel R says
How easy is this bread! Wish I could share a picture. I was so impressed with the golden crust, nice and chewy and soft in the centre. Served warm with lashings of butter and alongside your Minestrone soup. Amazing!
Priya says
Hi Chef, great recipes, I followed step by step with the same temperature but why I dough is not fully cooked inside. Please advise. Thank you
Susan Patterson says
Hi Nagi. I was so impressed when I made this bread the other day. It was so easy that I wondered if you think with sweetening the dough I could add raisins and cinnamon to make a breakfast loaf, even with the high hydration. Any thoughts?
Ann Marie Shannon says
THIS BREAD IS AWESOME… I HAVE MADE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND NOW IT IS FERMENTING IN THE FRIDGE FOR 3 DAYS. THANKS FOR GREAT IDEAS!
…
Sarah says
When is a good time to add a bit of herbs to give it more flavor?
Sarah says
Hi Nagi, this bread looks amazing and simple to do 🙂 Just a question for those without a Dutch oven, when you say to place the bread into the metal 8″ pan and pour hot water, do you mean that the baking pan should be placed on a wire rack, then we fill another tray at the lower rack with hot water?
Or is it that we place the baking 8″ pan directly onto another tray and pour water around it? Meaning the 8″ pan is surrounded by water, by sitting on another pan?
This would be my first attempt at crusty no knead bread, and I’m so eager to try it. Really appreciate any advice you could share. Thank you!!
Nagi says
You’ll have two trays Sarah – one for the water and one for the bread 🙂 N x
Sarah says
Hi Nagi, thank you for the advice! 🙂 I just baked this bread, and it’s awesome! So easy, fuss free and absolutely delicious. However, I had to bake it for about an hour to get that lovely golden brown colour and I guess to make sure it’s fully cooked. Thanks again!
Heidi says
This was great! Could you do this with wholemeal flour and gluten free? Would it work the same?
Nagi says
No sorry – the rations would be completely different. You can use a mix of wholemeal flour though – I mention this in the notes. N x
Jayne says
I use 2 cups white bread flour and 1 cup of stone ground whole wheat flour. I add in 1 tbsp of herbs , perfect. I also use a deep stainless steel pot with lid.
Susan Patterson says
Ive been making bread for 15 years with a bread machine at first then my kitchenaid. All kinds of bread. Never have I ever made a loaf better and prettier than this. The crust. The crumb. The taste. Thank you thank you thank you
Nagi says
Wahoo, that’s great to hear Susan!! N x
iris says
Hi Nagi, is it alright to use a half packet leftover instant yeast which I’ve refrigerated. I tend to experiment with smaller bread loaves since I haven’t had much luck with bread making, so I usually end up using half a pack of yeast, and it would be a pity to throw the rest of it away.
Nagi says
Hi Iris, as long as it’s kept in the fridge and is fresh, it should be ok to use. N x
Milan says
Brilliantly simple recipe! It came out as fancy loaf from a local bakery. I love it.
Kerry says
Fantastic bread – cooked Sunday gone Monday morning! Super easy & love all your notes, hints & tips so thank you so much.
Do you have hints on how to store to keep the crusty exterior of the loaf?
🙏🤗🌻
Kerry
Nagi says
Hi Kerry, you can store in a paper bag to keep the crust nice and crispy – or you can just place in a hot oven to re-crisp. N x
Sally Louise Smith says
Hi Nagi, have made several loaves of your no-knead crusty bread, as per your ingredients. Remains moist in the centre – any suggestions?
Sally
Nagi says
Hi Sally, sorry you’re having issues here, sounds like it may just need another 10 minutes in the oven – N x
Jenny says
Would it hurt this recipe if I added a little sugar? My hubby likes a little sweet in everything :/
Martika says
I do it with a 1/2 tsp sugar and it comes out great! What I do that I put the sugar, yeast and warm water together and let it bloom for 5-8 mins. Should help give you that little bit of sweetnesses your hubby is after
Jac says
Love it, I just can’t get the baking paper to not stick… I’ve tried the other side. I have had to chop the bottom crust off both times I’ve made this haha.
Susan Patterson says
Jac…I made this for the first time the other day and I lightly sprayed the parchment with cooking spray. I didn’t have any issues with sticking. Maybe just lucky. 😊