Easy No Knead Bread – Crusty Artisan Bread

This no knead bread is one of our favorite homemade crusty breads. It is easy to make and nothing beats the taste of fresh homemade bread. This recipe makes enough for 2 fresh baked loaves – make them at the same time or make one loaf today and another later in the week – yup, you can refrigerate this dough!

golden crusty half bread loaf with slices and oven mitt on cutting board
Beautiful artisanal loaf of crusty bread – no kneading required!

Also Read: No-Knead Cottage Cheese Dill Bread, Pizza Dough, Sandwich bread, Sourdough Bread

How Does No-Knead Bread Work?

When I first discovered no-knead bread many decades ago – I was blown away by the amazing results and wanted to know HOW it worked! In very general terms, here’s why it works:

  1. Long Rest/Rise Time – The long fermentation or rise time allows the enzymes in flour to break down and the gluten to develop automatically, without the mechanical action of kneading and with less yeast. That’s why, the longer you let it rise, the more flavor and better structure you’ll get.
  2. Higher Hydration – No-knead dough uses more water than kneaded doughs. This additional water helps gluten develop better during the fermentation process. Well-developed gluten contributes to a better structure and texture in the final bread. More water also makes the bread crust crispier and leads to a lighter and chewier texture. But more water also makes the dough sticky and a little more challenging to shape. You can experiment with the amount of water a little bit – less water for easy to work with dough – more water for crispy crust and lighter, crispier texture.
  3. Steam – Baking the bread in a heated closed Dutch oven creates steam which allows the bread to rise before the crust develops. Even if you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can create steam and have delicious bread – see below.

If you love kneading as much as I do and have time up front try this sandwich bread.

no knead bread sliced
Beautiful loaf made in an oval Dutch oven.

Benefits of No-knead bread?

  1. Easy & Beginner Friendly: No-knead bread recipes are incredibly simple. You don’t need to figure out kneading techniques or the correct temperature for proofing dough. The longer fermentation means there’s more wiggle room and less obsessing! Use less yeast and let the dough rest at a cool or room temp.
  2. Efficient Use of Time: Active, hands-on time is minimal. All the work is done when you let the dough rest and ferment. Make it in the morning before you start work (3 minutes of your time), let it ferment and do its thing during the day then bake it at the end of the day. The prolonged resting time means you can go about your day while the dough does most of the work.
  3. Artisanal Texture and Flavor: If you love in a chewy interior, an open crumb structure, and a crusty exterior—characteristics often associated with artisan-style bread from professional bakeries – you’ll love this bread.
  4. Minimal Equipment Required: No-knead bread can be made with basic kitchen tools. While a Dutch oven is commonly recommended, see below for alternatives.

Want to add more flavor to your no-knead bread – make this Cottage Cheese Dill No Knead Bread

golden crusty half bread loaf emphasising flaky, golden brown crust
Check out that beautiful crispy crust!

Tips for No-Knead Bread Success 

Use high-quality ingredients:

Choose high-quality flour, fresh yeast (the best before date actually matters on yeast!), and filtered water for the best results. The simplicity of no-knead bread means that each ingredient plays a crucial role in flavor and texture.

Be patient with fermentation:

Allow the dough to ferment for an extended period, typically 10-18 hours, to ensure optimal gluten development. This slow fermentation process contributes to the bread’s unique taste and texture.

REALITY – I typically make the dough first thing in the morning and bake my first loaf for dinner that day. So the rise time is about 10 hours. The bread is FANTASTIC even if it’s not the full rise time. I store the other half of the dough in the fridge (well wrapped and sealed) and bake it later in the week – this loaf is a littler lighter and airier – perfect! Both are mind blowing compared to store bought bread.

Experiment with hydration levels:

Adjusting the hydration level (amount of water) of your dough can lead to different textures. Play around with the ratio of water to flour to find the perfect balance for your taste preferences. You’ll notice the difference in the chewiness, how big the air bubbles are and how crispy the crust is. The more water the chewier, airier and crispier – but the more challenging it will be to shape.

Invest in a Dutch oven:

If you’re going to make no-knead bread on repeat, I do recommend getting a Dutch oven. I’ve made many loaves on sheet pans and in my cast iron pan and they were all great – but the Dutch oven is definitely easier and makes a prettier loaf.

no knead bread in dutch oven
A heavy pot (Dutch Oven) with a lid is a game changer. This loaf is half whole wheat and half all purpose flour.

Homemade Artisan Bread without a Dutch Oven

It is possible to bake no knead bread or other artisan bread without a Dutch Oven. The Dutch oven is a popular choice because it creates a steamy environment, which helps develop a crispy crust. Without a Dutch oven, you might experience differences in texture, color and rise. The bread is a little more uneven and rustic but equally delicious! Not having a Dutch oven doesn’t mean you can’t make delicious no-knead bread, try these alternatives:

Note: Use less water in your dough when baking on a baking sheet. The dough will hold it’s shape better when formed.

  1. Baking Stone or Baking Sheet:
    • Shape your dough on a piece of parchment paper.
    • Place the parchment paper with the dough on the hot baking stone or baking sheet in the preheated oven.
    • About 10 minutes before placing the bread in the oven, put a metal or oven-safe tray on the lower rack. Just before you put your bread in the oven, fill this tray with water or ice cubes to create a steamy environment in the oven. Just be careful – there will be hot steam, don’t get steam burn!
    • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  2. Cast Iron Skillet:
    • Preheat a cast-iron skillet in the oven.
    • Carefully transfer the shaped dough onto the hot skillet.
    • Bake, covered with foil for the first 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden.
  3. Loaf Pan:
    • Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a well-greased or parchment-lined loaf pan.
    • About 10 minutes before placing the bread in the oven, put a metal or oven-safe tray on the lower rack. Just before you put your bread in the oven, fill this tray with water or ice cubes to create a steamy environment in the oven. Just be careful – there will be hot steam, don’t get steam burn!
    • Bake for approximately 40-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Keep an eye on the bread towards the end of the baking time to ensure it achieves the desired color and doneness.

You can even flatten the dough on a big pizza pan to make the best crust for pizza!

Refrigerating Bread Dough:

Don’t want to make two loaves today? You can save and refrigerate the dough to make another day. Here’s how:

  1. Divide the Dough: After the initial fermentation, divide the dough in half before the shaping and final rise.
  2. Use an Airtight Container: Place the divided dough in a well-sealed, airtight container. This prevents the dough from drying out and absorbing any odors from the refrigerator.
  3. Refrigerate Immediately: Place the container in the refrigerator as soon as the dough is divided. The cold temperature will slow down the fermentation process, allowing you to extend the time before baking.
  4. Use Within a Week: For optimal results, use the refrigerated dough within a week. The flavor will continue to develop, and you’ll enjoy the convenience of having freshly baked bread on demand.
  5. Bring to Room Temperature Before Baking: When ready to bake, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 1-2 hours before shaping and baking. This ensures a good rise and a flavorful loaf.

How to Freeze Homemade Bread:

If you want to freeze a fully baked loaf for future consumption, follow these steps:

  1. Cool Completely: Allow the baked loaf to cool completely at room temperature. This prevents condensation from forming inside the packaging.
  2. Wrap Well: Wrap the fully cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Ensure that the wrap is sealed securely to prevent freezer burn.
  3. Place in a Freezer Bag: For extra protection, place the wrapped loaf in a freezer-safe plastic bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.
  4. Label and Date: Clearly label the package with the date and type of bread to keep track of freshness.
  5. Freeze Quickly: Place the wrapped and bagged loaf in the freezer as soon as possible to maintain its quality.
  6. Thaw Before Serving: When you’re ready to enjoy the bread, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature. Reheat in the oven for a few minutes to restore its crustiness.

No Knead Bread Recipe

golden crusty half bread loaf emphasising flaky, golden brown crust
Print Recipe
4.60 from 5 votes

Easy No Knead Bread – Crusty Artisan Bread

An easy, no knead crusty bread recipe you'll love! Mix and let the dough do all the work! Refrigerate the dough and make several loaves during the week. MMM fresh bread on demand! Revised Jan 2024.
Prep : 5 minutes
Cook : 45 minutes
Resting Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 12 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 2 loaves
Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups lukewarm water
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 6 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • cornmeal optional

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix yeast and lukewarm (100°F/38°C) water. Let rest 3-5 minutes.
  • Stir in flour and salt, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be difficult to stir, but too wet to knead or work with hands.
  • Cover dough with beeswax or plastic wrap and a clean cloth and let rise at room temperature for 12 -18 hours (overnight) for beautiful, airy bread. The longer you let it rest the lighter and airier the bread – but if you need to – you can sneak some dough within 8-10 hours!
  • After the rising period, dough can be baked or stored, covered in the fridge for one week (see article for details).

Baking on Baking Sheet

  • Preheat oven to 450°F/232°C.
  • Sprinkle flour on dough and cut off half the dough.
  • With floured hands, turn dough in hands to lightly stretch the surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Use as much flour in your hands as needed and form into an oval artisan bread shape.
  • Place on lightly greased baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal (if using) where dough will be placed. Repeat with remaining dough, or leave in fridge for another day.
  • Dust dough lightly with all purpose flour. Use a serrated knife to make three diagonal slashes on top of the dough.
  • Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 205°F/96°C.
  • Cool on wire rack.

Baking in Dutch Oven

  • Place dutch oven with lid in oven and preheat to 450°F/232°C.
  • Tear a piece of parchment paper just slightly bigger than your dutch oven. You will use this to move your bread from the counter to the very hot dutch oven.
  • Sprinkle flour on dough and cut in half with a serrated knife.
  • Using as much flour as needed on your hands and on the dough, lift out half the dough. Gently shape the dough to roughly match the shape of your dutch oven. Stretch the surface and tuck dough underneath to create a smooth rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Place on parchment paper
  • Use a serrated knife to make three diagonal slashes on top of the dough.
  • As quickly and safely as possible, pull hot Dutch oven out of oven and move the bread and parchment paper into the Dutch oven. Cover and quickly return to oven.
  • Bake covered for 30 minutes.
  • Remove lid, reduce heat to 425°F/218°C and bake another 15-20 minutes. Use an internal thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 205°F/96°C.
  • Cool on wire rack.

Notes

Using a Dutch Oven gives a shiny golden crust and helps shape larger loaves.
Make it a blend of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour. Use half whole wheat and half all purpose flour. 
Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 1487kcal | Carbohydrates: 308g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 3578mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 1g | Iron: 19mg
Course: baking, breads
Cuisine: European
Keyword: artisan bread, bread, no knead

Extra Tips for Making No Knead Bread

Mixing and Handling Loose, Sticky Dough

You’ll find that when you mix the dry and wet ingredients for this dough, it will be tough to stir, but too sticky to knead. That’s exactly what you want! Just keep stirring with a sturdy wooden spoon until all the flour has been incorporated.

When it comes to shaping the dough, you’ll need flour to cover your hands and the dough. You could also try using a bench scraper covered with flour to rotate your dough and form a loose ball shape.

handling the no knead bread dough
Use as much flour as you need to handle and shape the dough.
shaping small loaves
I used half whole wheat flour and a little less water for these loaves baked on a baking sheet.
dough on parchment in dutch oven
Shape the dough on parchment paper then use the parchment paper to lift it into the super hot, preheated Dutch Oven. The parchment paper stays in the Dutch oven. Cover with lid and place in hot oven right away.

How to Tell When No Knead Bread is Done

You can judge based on cooking time, color, and a hollow sound when you knock on the bread. Or, you can do it the easy way and use an internal thermometer to check the temperature of your bread. Because we’re using whole wheat bread, this bread is done when the internal temp is 205°F/96°C.

no knead bread slices
No knead bread baked with half whole wheat flour and baked on cookie sheet. Not quite as airy – but super delicious!

Other Bread Recipes to Try

You may also want to try these bread recipes:

50/50 Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

Whole Wheat Soft Hamburger Buns

Sourdough Bread A Beginners Recipe

No Knead Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

Rosemary Focaccia

If you make this no knead bread recipe, let me know what you think. Leave a comment or take a photo and tag #getgettys so I can see it and like it!

Sign up to get articles by Getty delivered to your inbox. You’ll get recipes, practical tips and great food information like this. Getty is a Professional Home Economist,  speaker and writer putting good food on tables and agendas.  She is the author of Manitoba’s best-selling Prairie Fruit Cookbook, Founder of Fruit Share, a mom and veggie gardener.

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