No-Knead Bread 🍞—soft, rustic, and crusty, with almost zero effort. Perfect if you want homemade bread without the kneading.
No-Knead Bread
Ingredients (1 loaf)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp instant yeast
- 1¼ cups warm water
Instructions
1. Mix dough
- In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and yeast.
- Add warm water and stir until just combined (sticky, shaggy dough).
- Cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel.
2. First rise
- Let dough sit at room temperature 12–18 hours (overnight) until it doubles in size and bubbles appear.
3. Preheat oven
- Place a Dutch oven (with lid) in the oven.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) for at least 30 minutes.
4. Shape & bake
- Turn dough onto a floured surface, fold gently, and form a rough ball.
- Carefully remove hot Dutch oven, sprinkle lightly with flour or cornmeal.
- Place dough inside and cover.
- Bake 30 minutes covered, then 15–20 minutes uncovered until golden brown and crusty.
5. Cool
- Remove from Dutch oven and cool on a wire rack at least 1 hour before slicing.
Tips
- Use a Dutch oven for best crust; a heavy pot with lid works too.
- Don’t knead—the long rise develops gluten naturally.
- Optional: add herbs, garlic, or cheese for flavored bread.
Variations
- Whole wheat: replace 1 cup flour with whole wheat flour
- Cheesy bread: fold ½ cup shredded cheese into dough before baking
- Seeded: sprinkle seeds (sesame, sunflower) on top before baking
I can also give you a quick 4-ingredient no-knead bread that’s even simpler and ready to bake in under 2 hours.
Do you want that quick version?
