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! How much water do I need if I have to dissolve yeast in water first (using active dry yeast)
And after I dissolve it ,immediately I will add flour and salt into the dissolved yeast with water ?
Hi Jen, dissolve it into the water that’s going into the bread mix 🙂 N x
I was reluctant to try this as it seemed too easy and I had previously tried no-knead breads with little luck, however I can honestly say this is one of the best bread recipes I’ve tried! It’s perfectly crusty, chewy and delicious. I baked mine straight away but am looking forward to trying the refrigeration method (if I can demonstrate a little self-control!).
Thank you for this recipe!!
I’m so glad you loved it April – I too have issues with self control 😂
Im so happy that this recipe is successful. I used other recipe before but if failed as it was too densed and no steam as there is no instruction.I throw it away .I thought if this fails again, I would never bake any breads anymore. But…whow….it turns out to be great😊
You’re totally converted!!! N x
Help! What did I do wrong. Mine turned out very dense and doughy. It seemed to be rising well and i followed the recipe exactly. This is the first Recipe Tin Eats fail 🙁
Hi Karen, sorry you had issues – what type of yeast were you using? N x
Hi Nagi
I used Tandaco brand instant yeast.
Just one question – how do i stop the paper from sticking to the bottom of the loaf?
Hi Vibs – are you using parchment and not waxed paper? If so, just sprinkle a little flour on it first. N x
OMG Nagi i love this recipe! its so easy and quick! and perfect! I have made 5 loaves in the last 31
hours!!! I don’t have a dutch oven and use the tray method… turns out fantastic still.
I’m new in bread making. I don’t have a Dutch oven, the do have a steam oven. Do you know what kind of moisture level would I need to bake this bread?
I also notice other similar recipes use less yeast (1/4 tsp), but need to wait for the dough to rise for 12-18 hours (your recipe says 2-3 hours) Can you explain?
Hi Ada, sorry I don’t have a steam oven so can’t give you accurate directions there. The other recipes you’re looking at, do they contain sugar by any chance? By upping the yeast, you’ll get a quicker rise time, hence not needing to wait an extended amount of time. N x
There is no sugar in the other recipes. I was comparing a few, including ever popular the New York times one. I was just curious… thanks for your reply!
An absolute winner Nagi!!!! I have one question, if I double the recipe ingredients how long do I have to bake it for? Thank you
Hi Violeta, I’d just need to test this and confirm rise time too! Leave it with me N X
Thanks for the great recipe. I tried this today and my bread was a bit dense and not airy. It was still yummy though! Do you think I put too much flour or maybe didn’t let it rise enough?
Hi Maryann, sorry you had issues here – sounds like it needed to rise a little more! N x
This was so easy and DELICIOUS!!! How much yeast should be used if using a yeast starter?
Hi Patricia, I haven’t tried with a started for this recipe – would love to know if you try it though! N x
This was so easy and DELICIOUS!!! I used yeast packet, but will be starting a yeast starter. How much of that should I use for this recipe?
This recipe is crazy good, AND crazy easy! It took me right back to my childhood with my gramma’s homemade bread that she slaved over…I almost feel a little bit guilty,… almost😁
This makes my bread machine obsolete (rarely used it because it was more hassle than value), and I am now making delicious homemade bread several times a week! Thank you so much! ❤️
I LOVE hearing this Val!!! N x
Hi Nagi,
Turned out perfect! It was hard to wait 10 minutes to cool. I will be making another one today. Thanks for another full proof recipe.
You’re so welcome Mary Ann!!
Hi Nagi
Just pulled this winner out of the oven. Asked my chief taster what she gives it out of 10, her answer? 6497. This recipe, like every other recipe of yours, is a winner. Thx so much. Tania
WAHOO!! Nailed it! N x
I made this yesterday & baked it this morning for Sunday breaky. Was SO easy & tasted absolutely delicious. Thanks Nagi 😀
Hi Nagi. I’ve been following your recipes for three weeks now and they are such a hit at home. Thank you so much for making me a better cook 😘. One question I had what brand of Dutch oven do you use. What size and are they any cheaper brands you’d recommend. Given I’m so new in my cooking journey doubt hubby will want to splash $500 on a le creuset for me.
Hi Serene, try Chasseur – much cheaper than Le Creuset and exactly the same. I’d go for at least 26cm 🙂 N x
Thank u so much 🙂 this recipe is amazing btw. So so so delicious. I’m not the biggest fan of bread but even I find myself going back for slice after slice.
Great recipe. Turned out perfectly! How do I add herbs and at what point, such as fresh rosemary?
Hi Nagi – many,many thanks for your wonderful recipes, that have both inspired me to cook and improved my cooking! 🙂 Have made this Artisan bread recipe a few times – it ALWAYS turns out fabulous. I’d like to add rosemary to the dough, and top the bread with butter, rosemary, and sea salt. What’s the best way to successfully add these ingredients? Best to your sous-chef Dozer!
Hi Nagi – this recipe is fabulous! I’ve successfully made it several times and shared with friends. Last time I added 1.5 tbs fresh chopped rosemary to the water before adding to the dry ingredients. I also brushed the top with melted butter and topped with more fresh rosemary and pink sea salt – baked per your directions. Turned out perfectly! THANKS for your wonderful cooking!
I would add it at the very beginning with the flour, etc.
Making the bread now but had a problem with the amount of water. Had to almost double the amount of water to get it to the consistency. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Regina, that doesn’t sound right at all! Did you use 450g flour? N x
I thought it was strange too. I rewatched your video and saw you use a measure cup for the water. I had used a measuring 1/2 cup scoop. I compared the two and the scoop wasn’t accurate in measuring the water. I think it did use too much water in the end but the bread turned out reasonably well. I am going to try it again and may never go back to buying bread, Thanks for your reply!
Hi Nagi
Another great recipe, the crumb, the chew OMG heaven!!! I will make this again it was so good, thank you for the detailed instructions. my family was so impressed.Hugs to Dozer
Well, wow! It doesn’t seem quite right that you can get such incredible, fancy bread for less than a dollar’s worth of ingredients and literally 3 minutes of work. But you can. This recipe is an absolute gem!
Followed the recipe to a T, used my oval cast iron casserole to cook, which worked perfectly.
Thank you, Nagi – you deserve a medal for this one!