Name: World's Easiest Yeast Bread recipe - Artisan, NO KNEAD
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
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)); 1 1/2 tbsp flour (, for dusting)

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!

Close up of crispy crust of world's easiest yeast bread

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

Close up showing large holes in slice of artisan style bread made from scratch

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!

Ingredients in homemade No Knead Artisan style bread

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

How to make homemade bread so easy anyone can do it!

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!

Before and after dough rising for no knead bread - crusty artisan style

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

Preheating dutch oven in oven for homemade bread

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!

Artisan style no knead bread in a dutch oven, fresh out of the 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.

Close up of crispy crust of world's easiest yeast bread fresh out of the oven

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

Author: Nagi

Prep: 5

Cook: 40

Rising: 2

Bread, Sides

Western

4.97 from 1773 votes

Servings – 12 slices

Recipe video above. This super crusty homemade bread recipe is going to blow your mind! The world’s easiest yeast bread that’s just like the very best artisan bread you pay top dollar for, with an incredible crispy, chewy crust, and big fat holes like sourdough. Recipe is forgiving so don’t fret if things don’t go perfectly, it will be salvageable.

SEE NOTES for options like no dutch oven, different yeast, MAKE AHEAD up to 3 days! And tomorrow, make the Cheese Bread version!

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:

MAKE AHEAD/Storage:

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.

1. Flour – bread flour will give a more the crumb a more chewy, fluffy texture like bakery Artisan bread because it has higher protein, and bread stays fresher for longer. Plain / all purpose flour still works 100% perfectly, texture is just not quite the same.

Wholemeal/wholewheat flour – start with 30g/ 1/4 cup less flour and just add more as needed to get the consistency shown in the video (because wholemeal flour is a bit more absorbent than white, I find).

2. Yeast – use yeast labelled “instant” or “rapid rise”. If you can only find normal yeast (can be labelled “active dry yeast”) then dissolve yeast in water first (no need to let it foam), then immediately add flour and salt and mix. Proceed with recipe as written.

3. Salt – reduce to 1 ¼ tsp if using table salt (finer grains = less volume for same amount of salt) otherwise it will be too salty.

4. Water temperature – if it’s so scorching hot you wouldn’t bathe in it, it will kill the yeast. If it’s a lovely temp you could sit in for hours in a bubble bath, it’s the perfect temp.

5. Dough consistency can be affected by factors like different brands of flour, humidity in air. If dough is too dry, add touch of water. Too wet, add a touch of flour. Compare to video at 17 seconds and photos above.

6. Dough rising – time will vary depending on room temperature, humidity, flour you use etc. It’s fine if it rises faster or slower – you just need to achieve the dough rise as specified (double volume, bubbly surface, wobbly consistency, per video at 24 seconds). I told you – this recipe is forgiving!

If it’s coldish in your kitchen (22°C/70°F or less) OR it’s just not rising (check at 1 hour), then tuck the bowl somewhere warmer. Yeast loves warmth!

Simple method I use: in sink with warm (not hot) water, with ramekin to elevate bowl above water level. Or run dryer for a few minutes then place bowl in there. Do not put bowl in direct sunlight indoors – too hot. But in shade near sunlight is good!

If dough rises faster than 2 hours (eg super hot day), then put bowl in fridge to stop the rise while you preheat the oven. On super hot summer days, it can rise in 45 minutes!

7. Oven preheating – If baking immediately, start preheating oven when you can see dough is rising (at 1.5 hours) or if you refrigerated, while dough is resting to take chill out of it.

It’s also fine to shape the dough into a round, place it on parchment paper and leave for 30 minutes while oven preheats (I told you this is a flexible recipe!!)

8. Dutch oven (cast iron pot) creates a steamer effect, a home version of professional steamer ovens used by bakeries to make bread.

Pot size does not matter as long as it’s about 26cm/10″ or larger. Pot does not shape the bread, it’s to act as a steamer. Just need one large enough to give bread steaming space.

No dutch oven method – use 20cm/8” square metal pan (or similar but NOT glass, may shatter). Place in oven on middle shelf where bread will bake (or shelf under if tray won’t fit on same shelf), preheat oven. Boil kettle. Place paper with shaped dough on a baking tray. When you put the bread in, work fast as follows – place bread in oven, fill pan with boiling water, shut oven door = makeshift dutch oven steamer effect! Bake for full 40 minutes until it’s a deep golden brown.

Heavy roasting pan with high lid should also work – preheat per recipe. Bread is about 8-10cm/3.2-4″ tall.

9. Fridge = slows down yeast rising = time to let enzymes in the yeast to do their work, transforming starch into sugar which creates a more flavourful bread. See notes in post for more info.

10. Different measures in different countries – cup sizes differ slightly between countries. The difference is not enough to affect the outcome of most recipes, but for baking recipes, it does matter. For this bread, as long as you use EITHER cups OR weights & mls for the flour and water, this recipe will work fine (I tested with US and Aus cups which have the greatest variance in size).

12. Source: Adapted from this recipe from New York Times (halved the recipe to make one batch, and added useful tips and tricks after much trial and error over the years).

12. Nutrition per slice

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 155cal (8%)Carbohydrates: 32g (11%)Protein: 5g (10%)Fat: 1g (2%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Sodium: 469mg (20%)Potassium: 65mg (2%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Calcium: 7mg (1%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

Keywords: artisan bread, crusty bread, easy homemade bread, no knead bread, No yeast bread

Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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Life of Dozer

Just keeping a close eye on it for me….

Dozer golden retriever no knead artisan bread

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!!!)

4,816 Comments

liani Saudin says

March 26, 2020 at 4:59 am

Nagi, you’re absolutely amazing! All your recipes are simple and delicious, will definitely try this, thank you!! Woof to Dozer too..

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 8:11 am
  
  Thanks so much!!! N x
  
mpotter says

March 26, 2020 at 4:13 am

This is right up my alley. I’m trying so hard to bake more breads in 2020, but I have more fails than successes….

I love how detailed your recipes are. The notes are always extremely helpful, so thank you for all of the effort you put into your site!

I do have a question about the dutch oven. I don’t have one, so would I use the water method for the total 42 minutes? Or remove the water after the 30, as if it were behaving like the lid? I would be afraid the middle wouldn’t be cooked after 30, although it very well could be after browning for that long…
(see? I’m SO new at this bread thing!)

Thanks again for your delicious recipes. We have enjoyed several!

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:13 am
  
  Thanks so much for the great feedback!! If you don’t have the dutch oven, you’ll need to cook for the full time – just watch the colour on the bread so it doesn’t get too dark 🙂
  
Rich says

March 26, 2020 at 2:51 am

Nagi…just finished making a sourdough starter from scratch. Now very active and in the fridge..can it be used for this bread as the yeast? If so, how much?

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:17 am
  
  Hi Rich, I haven’t tested with started on this one – would love to know if it works though! N x
  
Rita Lugrine says

March 26, 2020 at 2:38 am

Glad you can still get yeast in your country. None left in the USA. honest

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:18 am
  
  Oh no Rita! You need the Irish Soda bread then! N x
  
Nicole says

March 26, 2020 at 2:30 am

Can you use whole wheat pastry flour?

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:19 am
  
  Hi Nicole, you can but I still need to do some testing here – wholemeal flour will require a little extra water. N x
  
  - Nicole says
    
    March 26, 2020 at 9:49 am
    
    Thanks! I’m going to check my yeast and if it’s out of date, I’ll be making the soda bread. 😁
    
Angie says

March 26, 2020 at 2:05 am

I only have bread machine yeast on hand but would love to try this recipe, will it work with this type of yeast?

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:20 am
  
  Hi Angie, this type of yeast is typically instant yeast so it should work fine 🙂
  
  - Angie says
    
    March 26, 2020 at 11:10 am
    
    thanks for quick response, will let you know how it turns out, ty
    
- Angie says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 11:09 am
  
  thanks for quick response, will let you know how it turns out, ty
  
Nancy says

March 26, 2020 at 2:05 am

Anxious to try this version of No Knead bread to see how the increased amount of yeast and refrigeration compares to the well-known recipe that I usually use.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:22 am
  
  Love to know what you think of this recipe Nancy! N x
  
Anne W says

March 26, 2020 at 1:15 am

Nagi, I absolutely love all your recipes and this is a definite keeper! I’ve also used a pyrex dish with a lid for baking (using same method) and it turns out great. Be safe in Oz from a fellow Aussie (now living in the US).

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:25 am
  
  That’s great to hear Anne!! N x
  
Lisa Cupp says

March 26, 2020 at 12:33 am

Could you add herbs to the dough to give it a special taste? I like Italian seasonings. How much and when do you suggest that I add them? Love your posts. Hugs to you and Dozer.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:26 am
  
  Hi Lisa, you definitely could! I’d say a tablespoon added into the dough would be great! N x
  
Fernando Balboa says

March 26, 2020 at 12:20 am

I have a Miele oven with steam function, how can I use it for this recipe?

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:28 am
  
  100% Fernando!! N x
  
  - Fernando Balboa says
    
    March 27, 2020 at 5:57 pm
    
    Thank you, but is necessary to use a Dutch oven? I don’t own one, what else I can use to bake it? Greetings from Mexico!
    
Nic says

March 25, 2020 at 11:55 pm

Dozer undoubtedly eats better than me! Stay safe and positive everyone!

Nicole- Madrid, Spain

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:29 am
  
  He eats better than a lot of us I think!! N x
  
Barbara Hart says

March 25, 2020 at 10:49 pm

ohhh, I was drooling when you were cutting the bread on the video—–yummmm

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:34 am
  
  How good is it?! Nothing beats fresh bread Barbara! N x
  
Andrie says

March 25, 2020 at 10:49 pm

I forgot to add, I didn’t have a dutch oven when I first started making this bread, so i used my Grandma’s vintage pyrex. It’s a rectangle shape, so great for a loaf shape. Works fantastic.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:34 am
  
  Perfect Andrie! N x
  
Andrie says

March 25, 2020 at 10:48 pm

I’ve been making this bread for a long time now and i always get complimented on it.It’s delicious! The best bit is, people think I’ve been slaving away in the kitchen, when it is really so simple. I also add flavours to it. Cinnamon /raisin is a favourite, and so is olive bread. Just add them in at the beginning.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:34 am
  
  Sounds divine Andrie!! N x
  
Megan says

March 25, 2020 at 10:08 pm

Sounds like a good recipe! Does it matter if your dutch oven is not cast iron? I have a dansk enamel one and i think it’s oven safe.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:36 am
  
  That will be fine Megan! N x
  
Felicity says

March 25, 2020 at 9:55 pm

If one has a steam combination oven, how would one bake this bread?

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:36 am
  
  Hi Felicity, I have only tried with the regular oven setting- let me get back to you on this! N x
  
Amalia says

March 25, 2020 at 9:39 pm

Very nice and easy

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:36 am
  
  Thanks so much Amalia! N x
  
Marisa Franca Stewart says

March 25, 2020 at 9:25 pm

I’ve been making this bread for years – and it is everything you say and more. We love the bread and it does freeze beautifully. I can see that Dozer has great taste – he appreciates a great bread.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:37 am
  
  Wahoo, that’s great to hear Marisa! N x
  
Niall says

March 25, 2020 at 8:58 pm

Ah here….this looks amazing,can’t wait to try it…

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:37 am
  
  I hope you love it Niall! N x
  
Nancy says

March 25, 2020 at 7:50 pm

Looks wonderful. What size ditch oven works? Mine looks smaller than the one in the video.

- Nagi says
  
  March 26, 2020 at 9:42 am
  
  Hi Nancy, I’ve just updated this in the notes – N x