This no knead bread is perfectly crusty on the outside, with a fluffy interior that’s just begging for some creamy butter. Try it with your dinner tonight!
If you think crusty artisan bread is only available from the bakery… get ready to think again! This no knead bread is made incredibly easy, and is easy to customize with add-ins for different flavor combinations!
Are you a fan of those breads from the bakery, you know, the one’s with that deliciously crunchy crust and soft, fluffy inside? Yep, this bread tastes just like that. Personally, I think it tastes even better!!
It sounds fancy and complicated, but trust me on this one, it’s not. In fact, there’s no kneading whatsoever!
I always thought homemade breads were complicated… involving a bunch of steps and rises. Granted, there are some breads like that… but this bread just isn’t one of them.
BUT SERIOUSLY… NO KNEADING??
Absolutely none! No stand mixer needed… just a bowl and a wooden spoon.
The night before you want to make the bread, you mix up your flour, salt, yeast and water with a big spoon. I like to make this a Parmesan and rosemary bread, so I also stirred in some minced rosemary and a handful of shredded Parmesan cheese.
Now just cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit out on your counter overnight and throughout the next day. So there is a bit of prep with this bread, in that you have to plan ahead and make it the night before. But that’s the only “work” there is with this bread. Seriously.
After it’s rested for a good 18 hours or so, flour your hands and cutting board really well. Turn out your dough onto your cutting board and roughly shape it into a ball. Drop the ball into a preheated dutch oven and bake. That’s it!
WHAT OTHER FLAVORS CAN I MAKE?
The sky is really the limit here! It’s great plain, and obviously with the parmesan and rosemary, but here are some additional flavor options!
- Cheddar cheese and crumbled cooked bacon
- Roasted garlic cloves
- Sun-dried tomatoes (diced up) and basil
- Diced olives
- Cheddar cheese and jalapeños
Look at that amazing texture! All those little nooks and crannies are just begging for some creamy salted butter or to be dipped in a soup/stew!
Here are some great recipes to go with this no knead bread:
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese Sauce
- Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili
- 10 Minute Shrimp Scampi
- Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
- Guinness and Coffee Irish Beef Stew
The next time you’re craving a loaf of homemade crusty bread, give this no knead bread recipe a try… I really think you’ll love it!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups room temperature water
- 1/3 cups grated parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp minced fresh rosemary
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add flour, salt, yeast, cheese and rosemary. Pour in water, use a wooden spatula to combine. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit on your counter for 12-18 hours (I've even done up to 24 hours).
- When ready to bake your bread, preheat oven to 450 F degrees. Add cast iron dutch oven (with the lid on) to the oven, so it preheats along with the oven itself.
- Flour your hands, counter/cutting board, and sprinkle some flour over the top of the dough itself. Remove dough from bowl and shape it into a rough ball shape. Drop ball of dough into the preheated pot, cover with lid and return to the oven.
- Bake, with the lid on, for 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
- Bread should remove easily from the pot, so take bread out and let cool completely before slicing.
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Chef Tips
- Dough will be sticky, and unlike any traditional kneaded bread dough.
- Preheating the dutch oven is important, as it makes sure the dough doesn't stick to the bottom. If you want a little extra assurance, sprinkle a bit of flour or cornmeal on the bottom before adding the dough.
- I like to use a smaller dutch oven, about 3.5 qt, so the dough rises upwards and yields a higher loaf. Using a larger dutch oven means the dough will spread out more and won't be as high, although still just as tasty. It's all about how you want the bread to look.
- Make sure your yeast is not expired. Even if you've never opened the yeast, it can lose it's effectiveness over time. I like to buy smaller packets of yeast so I can use them before they go bad.
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Lynley Byrd says
Just found your site when looking for a jalepeno cheese bread recipe. I make a no knead bread in my house several times a week, almost daily as my family devours it for dinner. It only takes 4 hours rise time, no having to wait overnight. It is almost identical to your recipe except for it uses 2 tsp of dry active yeast instead of 1 1/2 and I use bread flour instead of all purpose.
Try it and see you won’t need to leave it out overnight at all only 4 hours of rise time and turns out exactly like this. I only do mine an extra 10 min after I take my Dutch oven top off cause if not it will burn.
The Chunky Chef says
Yes I have a jalapeno cheddar dutch oven bread that doesn’t need to rise overnight, which works well for some people. But others wanted a recipe where the bread took it’s time, so that’s why I posted this one the way I did 🙂
Abbi Day says
So easy and it turned out great! I did not add the Rosemary or Parmesan and it was delicious. My go to bread recipe now!
Jeannette says
Hi. I am anxious to make this, but I don’t want to add the rosemary or the Parmesan. When I make spaghetti or something else similar, I want to add the Parmesan. And when I make soup,I don’t want to add either one. Do I add extra flour or yeast as a result?
I just found your corn chowder last night and I’m making it today. I’m looking forward to making other of your delicious looking recipes.
Thank you for your help and for the recipes.
The Chunky Chef says
I’ve only made this recipe as written, so I can’t say for certain. I suspect you can just omit them with no changes, but if you do some experimenting, I’d love to know how it goes!
Timmi says
This recipe only needs half teaspoon of yeast???
The Chunky Chef says
Yes, no knead recipes like this one don’t need as much.
Shelleyb says
Love this bread easy and so good!
Martie says
I love this recipe, I don’t have a Dutch Oven so I used my crockpot instead, I preheated it then left it in for 2 hrs and 15 minutes. It was delicious with the fresh rosemary’s, Parmesan cheese and I also exchanged everything but the bagel seasoning for the 1/2 tsp of salt. Just Perfect!!!
Magilicutty says
I made this today. It was amazing! Everyone raved. And it was soooo easy! Yippee!!
Amy says
I was looking for a basic, delicious, crusty bread recipe and this didn’t disappoint! Didn’t even add any cheese or herbs as it was for dipping in a seafood boil dish, and it’s truly delicious on its own. The easiest bread I’ve ever made.
Fawn says
Half a tsp of yeast? Is that right? Also you don’t need to dissolve it in water first?
The Chunky Chef says
Yes, the amount is correct and the instructions are also correct. This type of dough doesn’t need the yeast to be proofed.
Karen Briski says
I was a bit nervous making this as I didn’t even own a Dutch oven until today but the bread came out great! I’ll be making more loaves to give out as gifts.