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This no-knead bread takes only 15 minutes of your time and does the rest on its own! You’ll have freshly baked homemade bread with no hassle!

bread slice with butter in background

No knead easy bread has proven itself time and time again in our family. I’ve made it over 5,000 times because of how quick, simple, and tasty it is. Over the years, I’ve learned how to perfect the recipe and now I’m sharing all my secrets with you. Instead of putting lots of effort into kneading, the yeast works its magic in the dough during the overnight rising time. Plus, we love how this bread is chewy on the inside, but still has a deliciously crispy crust on the outside.

Do you love no-knead recipes?You’ll love these no knead cinnamon rolls. It’s a super simple way to get your sweet fix!

No-Knead Bread Video

How To Make No-Knead Bread

This recipe for no-knead bread is “no-hassle” and “no-worries”. Set aside 15 minutes the night before to start the dough, shape it in the morning, and you’ll have a freshly baked loaf in no time.

  • Mix the dough: To make the bread dough, combine the flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Then, stir in the water. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise for 12-24 hours at room temperature. A sticky dough with tons of bubbles will develop when it’s ready.
  • Shape the dough: Generously flour your hands and a baking sheet. Form the dough into a round shape, then place it on the baking sheet. Add more flour to your hands if the dough sticks too much.
  • Allow the dough to rise again: Sprinkle flour on the top of the dough, then cover it with a kitchen towel and set in a warm area. Allow the dough to rise again for about an hour.
  • Bake the bread: Preheat the oven to 450°F and fill a deep baking dish with two cups of water. Once the oven is preheated, slide the dish with water onto the bottom rack and place the baking sheet with the bread onto the top rack. After 10 minutes, remove the water, but continue baking the bread for another 30 minutes or until it is golden brown.

No-Knead Bread Tips & Tricks

Are you ready to make your very own “artisan bread”? Check out these tips and tricks to make sure the bread turns out perfect the very first time.

  • Use two baking sheets/pans: Instead of using a cast iron pot or a Dutch oven to make a bread loaf, use two baking sheets instead. To mimic the steam that a Dutch oven provides, place a deep baking sheet filled with water on the lower rack for the first 10-15 minutes of baking.
  • Allow the dough to rise for 12-24 hours: If possible, allow the dough to rise for at least 12-24 hours. If baked too early, the resulting texture of the bread will not be as fluffy and airy.
  • Opt for high-quality flour: We love King Arthur unbleached all purpose flour or Bob’s Red Mill flour for this recipe, but any flour that is higher in protein is a good choice. For a substitute, check out this whole wheat flour.

Troubleshooting Dense & Flat Bread

Several factors may contribute to a flat or dense loaf. To help you avoid the common pitfalls and provide a bit of troubleshooting, here are a few directed tips.

  • Be careful with the amount of flour: Adding too much flour results in a dense bread. It’s important to take measurements seriously when baking. Avoid packing the measuring cup with flour — instead, carefully spoon the flour in.
  • Ensure the yeast is fresh: No-knead bread relies heavily on fresh active dry yeast (instant yeast may be used as well). If the yeast is old, the bread will be flat and dense. To check if it’s fresh, mix it with a bit of warm water and sugar, then let it sit for 10 minutes. If the yeast rises and foams, it’s fresh. If not — you’ll need to buy fresh active dry yeast.
  • Allow the bread to ferment/rise adequately: Ending the fermenting process too early results in a more dense loaf. No-knead bread saves your arms some work, but it does take a good chunk of time to rise — 24 hours is the sweet spot.
  • Rise the bread in a warm place: It is essential for the bread to rise in a warm place. Yeast works best in warm (not hot) temperatures. So, here’s a trick — heat the oven to the lowest temperature for a couple of minutes, then turn it off and let the dough rise inside the oven. Leave the light on to keep the temperature at a consistent ~80°F the entire time.

Serving No-Knead Bread

We likely don’t need to give any ideas on how to serve fresh no-knead bread. Use it as a side of salads, soups, creamy entreés, and even with a cup of milk and jam. But — if you happen to have day old bread, we love chopping it up and making croutons to enjoy on a Caesar salad. Or, use the bread to make a grilled cheese sandwich, mushroom and cheese sandwich, or chicken bacon canapés.

Storing Bread

Correctly storing bread is almost as important as baking it the right way. To keep the texture and flavor consistent for days to come, check out these storing guidelines.

  • Room temperature: If you plan to use the entire loaf within a day, keep the bread uncovered at room temperature.
  • Refrigerator: Store leftover bread in the fridge for up to a week. Keep the bread in a bag or airtight container to keep it from drying out.
  • Freezer: Store a cooled loaf for up to three months in the freezer. Tightly wrap the loaf in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then freeze in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw the loaf at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy it again.

Other Easy Bread Recipes to try:

Recipe

Easy Bread Recipe on a towel on a table

No Knead Easy Bread Recipe

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Servings
12 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This no-knead bread requires only 15 minutes of your time and does the rest of the work on its own! That’s right, you can have fresh baked bread on the table without the hassle.

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • The night before baking the bread, combine the flour, salt, and dry yeast. Then, add the water and mix until the dough comes together. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 12-24 hours at room temperature.
    Easy bread recipe, no knead bread dough
  • When the dough is wet and bubbly, you are ready for the next step. Generously flour your hands and a baking sheet. Remove the dough (if it sticks, flour your hands more) and form it into a round shape.
    Dough formed into 2 oval balls on a floured surface
  • Place the dough on the baking sheet and sprinkle a generous amount of flour on top. Cover with a towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about an hour.
    easy bread recipe dough
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F, and make sure there are two racks in the oven. Pour two cups of water into a deep dish or rimmed baking sheet and place it on the lower rack. Place the baking sheet with dough on the upper rack. Remove the water from the oven after 10 minutes.
    2 loaves of no knead bread baking in the oven
  • Continue baking the bread for another 30 minutes or until it is golden brown and crispy on top!
    Easy Bread Recipe on a towel on a table
Nutrition Facts
No Knead Easy Bread Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 124 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 195mg8%
Potassium 36mg1%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 4g8%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted May 15, 2024

About Author

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Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.