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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

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!!!)

Nagi, I am not much of a bread eater or maker, but this looks too easy and yummy to resist! What about adding 1/3 cup of molasses? Do you think that would inhibit the rise?
Hi Robin, it will definitely affect the end result, it would need some testing unfortunately – N x
Love, love, love it! Wow!
Wahoo, that’s great Cathy!! N x
Will there be a huge difference to the process or cooking time if i added cheese or nuts? Thanks!
Hi Barb, would love to know if this works!! N x
Thank you soooo much for this recipe, Nagi. The whole family loves your bread! This will be a regular item in our home now. Thanks too for all your other wonderful recipes. Everything I have made always turns out & I always look forward to trying something new from your site. Take care and keep well. xxx
You’re so welcome Traci, that’s so lovely to hear!!! N x
Hi, I want to make this bread.Can i bake this bread in an air fryer? Thanks!
Made this today and it was bloody brilliant! Well done!
If I next want to ‘jazz it up with olives or herbs etc when should I add them in?
Hi Rita, add them in with the flour – it will taste great!! N x
Rita, did you experiment with herbs for the bread?
Naggi didn’t respond and your question is the same as mine.
I’d like to add rosemary and sea salt. ??
Hi Ronda,
Yes Nagi responded saying to add them in with the flour at the beginning. I haven’t experimented yet. If you do, let me know how you go!
All the best,
Rita
Hi Nagi! This looks amazing! At the moment, mine is cooling its heels in the fridge post-rise. I had a quick question before I bake it this evening: could I use an earthenware pot instead of the tray or the Dutch oven?
Btw, my family is eternally in your debt; we constantly make and devour your recipes and love them all! So, THANK YOU!
Yes 100%! Keep me posted on how it goes Aarti! N x
This could be the isolation, but I welled up seeing you bother to respond! 😂 The bread was absolutely brilliant. But I’m going to oil my parchment because it stuck to the bread. There wasn’t a crumb leftover. I made the dough again right after dinner, and will bake it tonight for dinner again. Among the family favourites here are your self-saucing puddings, chocolate cake, the oriental-style stir-fries, and Dozer! My little daughters love him, and actually go through your site (both here and Instagram) just to ogle at Dozer! Nagi, you are an absolute star, and I’m so glad I stumbled on to your genius sitting all the way here in Bombay, India! Loads of love!
Hi Naggi. Thanks for the great recipe. i am looking forward to making this one ( i need a break from sourdough 🙂 ) does instant yeast not need sugar to activate? hugs to Dozer
Hi Kim – it’s not needed here 🙂
If only I had some / could get some flour to make this. Its looks so good 🙂
It’s so worth it Karen!!! N x
Thank you for such lovely recipies. I also love Dozer so much I could eat him. He is beautiful !!!
He’s not meaty enough to eat all that fur hides a lean frame 😂
Made this tonight, and family loved it. During this pandemic being stuck at home it’s good to know that I can whip up a loaf of bread with ease. Thanks Nagi, your recipes are the best!
Thanks so much Sheri, that’s so nice to hear! N x
Thank you so much for such an easy, crunchy, tasty bread. I never thought I could make a good bread. patval
You nailed it Pat!!!
Your bread recipe looks great, but I’m writing to say that I’m still laughing over that picture of Dozer in his bathrobe That is the silliest, cutest photo of all the photos you post of him I always scroll down first to see what he is up to now. LOVE DOZER!!!!!!
I’m so glad you love him as much as it do 😂
Always something good.
Thank you very much!
You’re so welcome Elena! N x
Hi Nagi, love today’s recipe, but think perhaps converting from cups to grams isn’t quite right. Using Aust cups (150 mils)or (US125mils), the water is only 225mls Au, or 188 US.??
Hi Caroline, if you’re ever unsure – go off the grams and mls listed as thats a standard no matter where you are located 🙂
I had the same problem: 390 grams are 1 5/8 US Cups. I was wondering why my dough was so dry….
Homemade bread, never easier, but you will learn as you go adjusting ingredients. Bread has a brain that connects to your hands.
YES!! Great words Martin! N x
Hello Nagi, so glad you are out there with your good recipes and cheery thoughts.
Dozers robe is a winner. Just the thing !
Thanks so much for the kind words Mary! N x
Amazing bread. Nagi have you tried the cold start method. No oven pre heating required, it works! Sylvia Colloca posted “Overnight bread baked in a cast iron pot”
I will try your recipe using this method.
I’ll have to try this out Lyn!! N x
I been making the No Knead Bread for about 4 years now and it really is an absolute genius method.
In the past when I’ve had a sourdough starter on the go I’ve used that (70 g) instead of the instant yeast and it makes it even better.
Occasionally I fiddle around and replace some of the white flour with fine wholemeal, spelt, etc and that’s always good too. I made one once with jalapenos and cheddar cheese after seeing the idea online and that turned out brilliant as well
Makes excellent toast too and the best base for avo on toast.
Yes! So many possibilities here Timothy!! N x
Hi Tim, do you have any good tips on getting a starter for sourdough?
Making it from the beginning is quite a process.
Thanks Jenny
Hi Jenny,
I’ve made sourdough starters twice and both times I’ve made them with this method:
https://www.weekendbakery.com/posts/rye-sourdough-starter-in-easy-steps/
Both times it’s worked brilliantly and it’s a piece of cake to do, not a hassle at all. It’s a fun process too and being a sourdough it’s better for the gut so healthier too.
I actually have been meaning to get another one going and now in these times of “home isolation” it’s probably the perfect time!
Hope that link above helps.
Best,
Tim
Do you think I need to make any changes to this recipe since I live in Denver, Colorado at an altitude of about 5,500 ft.?
Leave this with me Karen – I’ll look into it 🙂 N x
I live in the US. Knowing that different countries have different nomenclature for everyday products I’d like to clear up some yeast terms for your yank followers who might want to tackle this bread recipe.
1. CAKE YEAST: That’s the stuff found in the cooler at the grocery store, has a very short shelf life and must be proofed.
2. INSTANT YEAST: This was the successor to cake yeast. It’s dry yeast granules and must be proofed.
3. INSTANT ACTIVE YEAST: Also known as ACTIVE DRY YEAST. It also consists of dry yeast granules but they are smaller and need no proofing.
4. RAPID RISE YEAST: This is like active dry yeast on steroids. It does exactly what the name implies it reduces the rise time as well as reducing the flavor of the final product.
For this recipe I would use instant active (active dry) and avoid the rapid rise. As you so correctly stated, long rise time means better flavor. Rapid rise yeast defeats the purpose of the long rise. Also, your explanation of long refrigeration time spot on and I’d venture to say that the loaf shown in your picture was given a long, cool rise due to it’s reddish colored crust. Happy baking.
Hi Don – that’s so useful, thank you!! Interestingly though, the loaf in the pictures were a 2 hour rise, no refrigeration 🙂 Just gave it a good blast with lid off for 12 minutes at 450F at the end for that awesome crust! N x