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!!!)

Hi Nagi…OMgosh butter dripping to our elbows..although my slices were quite crooked unlike yours.What is in very short supply here is instant or quick yeast.Would I get a similar result if I proof traditional yeast?
Also my interior wasn’t quite as holey (holy?) as yours. Delicious and there really is something calming about baking bread..I am no longer scoffing! Cheers Jay
Hi Jennifer – I talk about different yeasts in the recipe notes. You may need to leave yours to rise a little longer to get those bigger holes 🙂 N x
I missed that in the notes,thank you. Black olive variation. next
Thank you Nagi
Hi Nagi…I wonder if the quantity of water varies depending on the humidity of the place like I live in a tropical country and where I am so warm. I noticed that the dough feels more wet and limp. Should I lessen water? Thanks
A crispy delicious loaf thanks to you and all the tips. I used plain flour, active yeast in 40 degrees water and the warm oven to rise and bubble took 45 mins.
Perfect Frances!! N x
NAgi is a Pyrex bowl good enough instead of a Dutch oven?
Thought should clarify to rise the oven was off and oven an ambient temp between 0 and 50 degrees
If baked on a cookie sheet does that mean you don’t have to cover it?
That’s correct Sheils 🙂 N x
Oh dear Lord – if Lovin’ Carbs is Wrong, I don’t Wanna be Right….
That is the BEST loaf of bread I’ve ever made – and I’ve tried lots of recipes over the years. Never found one so simple with the beautiful chewy, holey texture of this little number.
Used normal plain flour, baked on a baking tray and the crust was so crunchy and rustic. Amazing.
I had mine in the fridge for 2 hours, let it sit on the bench for about 45 mins to come back to room temperature then baked. Next time going to bake immediately (now that I know how good it is I will be too impatient to wait haha).
Thanks Nagi – definitely a keeper and I’m going to try it with different flavours. Me thinks some juicy jalepenos scattered through might be worth an experiment!
😂 I love this Sharon!!! I’m totally a carb monster too!! N x
Is it possible to make this with almond meal? My partner is gluten intolerant
Hi James, no it’s not unfortunately – almond meal changes the texture of the bread entirely. N x
What do you do if you don’t have a Dutch oven
Hi Victoria – instructions are listed in the recipe notes. Enjoy! N x
Hi Nagi,
Any tips for using multi grain flour?
Thanks x
I’ll need to test this Fatima! Love to know if you try it 🙂 N x
OMG! My first attempt at making bread and it was a hit with the family. My husband had his reservations when the dough first went into the cast iron pot but then he was amazed when the bread was cooked. Absolutely love this recipe and the video is a must to watch. I did need a little more water too. Just love your recipes Nagi. They always work out well. Thank you
I love hearing this – you’ll be converted now, no more store-bought bread! N x
I don’t have parchment or waxed paper. Is it crucial??
Hi Sarah, you can place it onto a baking tray that has been listed with flour/semolina, however parchment paper makes it easy to transfer the dough from the bench into the oven – N x
We recently discovered your recipe’s and have made and loved everything we have made.
I want to try the easy yeast bread recipe but my Dutch oven is about 9” diameter – can I cut the dough in half? Cook one smaller loaf today and refrigerate the other half to cook tomorrow?
If so should I reduce cook time and by how much?
Hi Denise, you can definitely do a half loaf or you can cook it on a baking tray (directions are in the notes) – N x
Thank you! I baked in on a tray and it turned out great!! All of your recipes are so good!!
Next time I would like to cut dough in half and bake it in my smaller Dutch oven. Should I reduce rhe cook time?
Have you been able to make this with Gluten Free Flour ? I’m dying for a good gluten free bread recipe , using psyllium husk or xanthum gum ?
Hi Heather, this one wont work as written with GF flour sorry! N x
Hello from Santiago de Chile.
My Australian foody friend, Tam, from Perth, sent me this link. I have made it twice, and both times with incredible success.
I have now forwarded the link to this recipe to several other people in Chile and the USA.
My second batch I added 1 teaspoon of dried onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried garlic powder, and 1 large tablespoon of dried oregano to the dry mix before adding the water. Also, for the 450 grams of all-purpose flour, I substituted 100 grams with 75g of whole wheat flour and 25g of ground flaxseed to bump up the fiber and Omega-3 content. (I did choose the overnight refrigerator option, FYI). All worked perfectly!
Thanks for such a great recipe. This is now on my weekly routine! So simple, beautiful, tasty, perfect crunch, and impressive as a gift to accompany a nice clam or smoked salmon chowder and coleslaw!
Sounds great Bruce, I’m so glad you love the recipe!! N x
Can this be made with brewers yeast
Hi May, I haven’t tried sorry!! N x
This bread far exceeded my expectations – it is just so delicious. I made it this afternoon – there are only 4 people in my house and it’s all gone! I can’t wait till I can share this with my extended family.
I’m so glad you loved it Diana!! N x
I make this bread and use my targine to cook it and it always turns out wonderful.
So good I don’t use my bread maker any more!
That’s awesome to know a targine works too! N x
I haven’t finished the bread yet, but 1 1/2 cups water is only 350 ml. When I added the additional water it looked like the video. So for the people that found they needed to add water that could be the problem.
Hi MX, 1 1/2 cup is 375ml. If in doubt, always go by the gram/ml measurement as this is standard no matter where you are located. N x
After 2 tries the 3rd loaf finally worked, then it took 3 more tries to replicate it. Loaf #6 is actually the best and is delicious. I think I’ve got it now. Thank you
Hi Hope, I’m so glad you stuck with it!! N x
Ok soo oh my gosh I made this for the first time today did three different loafs to experiment one with just Parmesan, one with Parmesan and fresh garlic inside and on top Parm and a bit of sea salt and the third one I cubbed cheddar mixed it in and grated on top I can’t tell you how yummy it was. Oh and I used cornmeal on the bottom for an extra crisp. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe ❤️
Sounds delicious Sabrina! N x
Absolutely love this recipe. Fantastic bread every time. The notes at the end of the recipe are very helpful (needed the yeast note and the note about adding extra water) and the video is a must watch to get the right consistency for the dough.
Thanks so much Annie! N x