I’ve been making bread several times a month for my family for 20 years, and this is the easiest bread recipe I’ve ever made. I find it easier to get this no-knead bread recipe right than even making bread in a bread maker. It only takes 4 simple ingredients and about 5 minutes to throw together. It doesn’t need an all day rise, just 2-3 hours and you’re ready to bake. You don’t need a mixer or any special tools to make it, and it turns out a delicious, crusty artisan bread every time.
I truly believe that bread making is a lost art in our society. I think there are a lot of people who would like to try their hand at making bread but feel intimidated by the complicated process that most breads are to make… (I’m looking at you, sourdough.) And while I love sourdough as much as the next carb-obsessed girl, it’s a bit high maintenance to make often, especially if you have a busy family life. What I love about this bread is that it’s so accessible to anyone. Even if you’ve never made bread before, or even baked before, I promise you can make this easy no-knead bread. You don’t need to have a sourdough starter, and the ingredients, tools and process are super simple.
Ingredients for this easy no knead bread recipe:
One of the things I love about this bread recipe is how simple it is to put together and how simple the ingredients are. The no knead bread takes only four ingredients: flour (I always use King Arthur flour), water, yeast and sea salt.
Tools you need for this easy no knead bread recipe:
You can get by mostly with tools you should already have in your kitchen for this bread, but the one thing you will definitely want is an enameled cast iron dutch oven. If you don’t have one, you can bake the boule on parchment paper on a cookie sheet but it won’t turn out at quite as crusty, and the crust makes this bread.
For this recipe you’ll need: an enameled cast iron dutch oven, a large mixing bowl, parchment paper, a spoon or danish dough hook (I prefer to use a dough hook), and a sharp knife or lame (I use this lame).
Easy No-Knead bread recipe
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1 package yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1/2 Tablespoon sea salt
Directions
- Combine water, yeast and salt. Allow yeast to completely dissolve and bloom a little. (about 2 min)
- Add flour all at once and stir by hand to combine (I use a dough hook to stir) Dough will be rough and sticky. (see image)
3. Cover bowl and place dough in a warm spot to rise 2-3 hours. Dough should have doubled in size and be “bubbly” (see image)
4. During the last 30 minutes of the rise time, preheat the oven to 450º and place your enameled dutch oven into the oven to heat up.
5. Turn dough out on a floured parchment paper and form into a round boule, pinching the dough on the underside to form it. Gently roll dough over so the top floured side is up.
6. Score the dough using a sharp knife or a lame.
7. Carefully lift parchment paper with boule in it and place into the preheated dutch oven. Cover and bake for 35 min.
8. Remove dutch oven lid and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until loaf is golden and crusty.
9. Allow loaf to cool for 30 minutes before slicing into it, then enjoy!
If you love this easy no knead bread, try these:
Neapolitan pizza crust recipe.
Looks delicious! What size Dutch oven do you use?
Thanks for sharing this recipe! Can this be made with a normal Dutch oven, or does it have to be enamel?
yep! I use our normal one to bake this when I’m using my enameled one for making soup. they work exactly the same!
Thank you! It came out perfectly!!!
I made this bread this afternoon. It’s delicious and SO easy. Thank you for helping me to bring home made crusty bread to my home!
I am so happy! thank you!
Hi Cory, I can’t wait to try this recipe. It looks so easy.
Thanks for sharing
Looks delicious. I have to add I miss your cute Christmas outfits.
thank you! I’ll do more of them next year!
Which yeast do you use? Quick rise or active dry yeast?
I just use regular active dry yeast, but you can use quick rise too.
Hi! I’m excited to try this. I’m wondering which yeast packet to buy. Rapid rise instant yeast?
any kind of yeast will work, I use a classic yeast. Rapid rise will give you a shorter proving time so it’s up to you!
Can this be baked in a loaf pan?
Thank you.
Leslie
yes, but it will bake best in a cast iron dutch oven