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!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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.


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
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:
- 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.
Nutrition Information:
More bread recipes
Life of Dozer
Just keeping a close eye on it for me….

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!!!)

I have struggled with bread and was never completely satisfied. This is the easiest and best bread and is now my go to.
One of many recipes from your site that I use on a regular basis.
Thanks
I made this Artisan bread 4x’s in a cast iron dutch oven pot . 100% by recipe, It is doughy ?? Pleas tell me what I am doing wrong??
Mine too!
I tried this today and thought the dough looked too dry. I decided to add more water to the dough and i think I destroyed the rising and texture. I will attempt to try this again with no changes. sorry Nagi
Why is my bread doughy
Dough that’s too wet going into the oven will be doughy. I always err on the side of being a bit dryer. Doing a series of stretch and pulls will also help. If you cant stretch and pull it it’s too wet.
I had the same problem the first time I made this recipe. I left it in the oven in my cast iron to steam and extra 3 minutes and with the lid off for an extra 3 minutes and that solved the doughy issue. I am still experiencing a dense and spongy bread with very small air pockets. Anyone have any suggestions for fluffier bread?
I just made this for the first time and it was good. Just guessing but did you preheat your dutch oven and when it was done, did you remove your bread from the dutch oven to cool on a wire rack?
Bake it a little longer with the lid on, that will probably fix the issue. Also don’t slice it too soon…after taking it out of the Dutch oven let it rest a good 10 mins.
Absolutely amazing! Made this on a whim verbatim Sunday morning and 3 hours later had the most fantastic loaf of crusty bread. Have been stuck in the house for a solid week with icy roads and no way to get to the store. Exhausted the pantry but had just enough bread flour to pull this off. What a winner! I have some experience with pizza crust and get huge flavor boosts with dough aged in the fridge for a few days – definitely going to do that with this recipe. Thanks for posting this!
Lovely recipe! I mixed the dough at 11 AM and was cutting into the loaf at 6 PM for dinner when it was still slightly warm. I made 1.5x the recipe and baked it in one regular sized Dutch oven. 30 minutes with the lid on, 25 or so minutes with the lid off. It worked perfectly and fed 6 hungry adults and 1 child. The crumb was a little tighter, but the bread was soft and crusty in all the right places. The only thing I would have done differently to my approach would be to add the refrigerator step for flavor.
Wow. Not only was this super easy and with all things I already had, this may be the best bread I’ve ever had. I had to use active dry test abs all purpose flour and it still ended up being amazing. This bread is so good I’m writing a comment on a recipe for the first time ever
Did not disappoint. Very good
OMG. I had very low trust in myself as a baker coz I’m a great cook but at things that respond to wild experimentation. Not precise instructions. But you described this so perfectly that my bread came out like a little crusty piece of carb heaven. My life will never be the same again. Thank YOU!!! And I don’t even have a Dutch oven.
Could you fold in different flavors? Like fruit or cinnamon and it still comes out correctly?
I mixed some dry Italian herbs and grated Parmesan cheese into the dough after the proofing period. It turned out beautifully.
I’m guessing if you add dried fruit that’s been reconstituted (fresh might make the bread soggy) and cinnamon it would turn out seriously yummy
I successfully added jalapenos and cheddar cheese and still had a great result!
I put jalepenos and shredded cheddar today and it turned out AMAZING
Fun to make, yummy to eat!
anyone tried this with GF flour? I love the recipe, but the husband has to be gluten free
Spectacular 🍞❤️ This is THE bread recipe you need to save, write down and pass down to your children!! It couldn’t be easier to make and from few ingredients that many people already have in the pantry. The texture is so light, right amount of density and oh my goodness, that crust is phenomenal, I wish I could somehow just bake a load of just the crust!! Perhaps rolls! We cannot wait to make this again, I even have time to make it and we have a newborn haha. I do have one question, how do we clean the Dutch oven afterwards? That is the most labor intensive step of the whole process!!
I clean my Le Creuset with a Scrub Daddy sponge and a bit of Dawn dish soap. Having it bake on the parchment paper in the dutch oven should also help with the clean up.
Baking soda – boil a few tbsp of baking soda in the Dutch oven, then use sponge to rub off stain. May need to soak a few hours If stains are tougher. Easy peasy!
I made this for the first time & put a couple of ice cubes in behind the parchment paper for more steam. Nice crust on top. A lot easier than the sourdough I’ve been making.
Love this one. I have also used my microwave to rise dough. Heat a wheat bag up and place dough in bowl on top of warm wheat bag. Covered and tucked up in the microwave helps it stay warm. Mmm, hot buttered bread 🍞
Can you make soup bowls out of this recipe?
Baked it in my ninja 6 in 1. Came out awesome.
Made this today and it was so easy and so good! I don’t think I’ll buy fancy bread from the grocery again. I used all purpose flour and followed the recipe exactly and always will.
The most delicious bread. I have baked it twice a week for the last few weeks. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Amazing recipe thank you.
I’m making half the recipe and baking in my airfryer for 15 mins. Each time it comes out perfect.
I’ve also done the cheesy bread and that’s just WOW.
Best, tastiest, easiest bread to make, ever!! I will absolutely make this again!!
This recipe is beyond belief. I have baked many yeast bread recipes and this is the best by far and the simplest. It is delicious. What a find! Thanks for sharing.
As good as or better than any bakery loaf I’ve ever had! Super easy to make, smells amazing while baking and hubby has had 3 slices today already . Thanks for an awesome recipe!
I’m not one to leave reviews, but this is easily the best no knead bread recipe I’ve ever used!! The instructions were so thorough and so clear, and the bread came out of the oven like a restaurant-quality loaf! Currently sending to friends and family to bookmark as a go-to. Store bought bread who am I right?!
Great artisan bread recipe