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!!!)

Brilliant recipe. I’ve been baking pretty successfully for a few years but this was the easiest and best. Thank you Nagi
Can I use pumpkin for this recipe and how
I haven’t tried that yet, sorry! N x
Thanks, maybe I’ll try and let you know:)
My dough was not wet and sticky and I made it twice. 3 c. Bread flour for 1.5 c. Water. I’m letting it rise now but dough was not loose and sticky. Hopefully it will be ok.
I baked this tonight and it was so easy and delicious. One thing….the bottom of my bread was a little too crusty. Not sure how to fix that. Maybe the roaster was too hot when I put the bread in.
Mine did the same. I may try adding additional pieces of parchment to the bottom of the pan since it sits directly on it at a high temp.
If I don’t oil my parchment – the bread gets parchment bits stuck to it.
If I do oil the parchment – this bread is darn near perfect! 👍🏻
This recipe is so simple, and always turns out great, its great for trying out different variations on too! I find it beneficial to shape the dough once while it rises by folding for a stronger dough, but it turns out great regardless. This also speeds the rise time a little bit.
The top crust is great brushed with olive oil and salt before baking as well! Then you can cut the top right before baking to allow some extra rise.
I always use the same amount of flour but rather than ap mix in up to 1/3 wheat flour or whatever else I have on hand for flavor. Next up is sourdough, but I’ve been practicing baking breads while my starter takes off and this is a really great basic loaf!
I’ve made this recipe several times and the bread tastes great. I have a couple of issues I can’t figure out. My bread never gets the cracked top I see in the photos. The bottom crust is always very thick and tough. And finally, even though the initial rise is great and super bubbly, the bread doesn’t rise very much at all while baking. Any tips about what I might be doing wrong?
Best, easiest, most successful bread ever! I swapped 1 c. sourdough starter for the yeast and reduced flour/water by 1/2 c. each. Scrumptious!
No more $9 loaves of sourdough from the farmers market!
First time making yesterday and it turned out fabulously! Thanks so much! If I wanted to add cinnamon and brown sugar when would be the time to add it?
Super recipe. Made twice now, once with 50% gluten free flour. Both times were excellent. I’m going to try next time 100% GF. Anyone had experience with that yet? I’ll report back on how I go anyway. Top recipe. Thank you very much
Good day sir, I made this with 100% GF flour. Turned out incredible. I’ve had the best of luck with GF flour leaving it in more of a batter form then dough form (Too much GF flour won’t let the yeast rise and then becomes very crumbly/wont hold together.) This method is perfect, allows for the flour to be wetter, like GF flour likes, and gets a nice rise the second time in the Dutch Oven steamer while baking. No kneading kept the GF Flour from being over worked too. Ended up with fluffy GF bread that held together. My wife was very happy with it.
Thanks Noah. Rainy day here so time for some baking!! I’ll give it a try.
Thanks for that feedback Roger! Many readers are interested in how recipes work with g/f options! N x
Quick question. Made a couple of loaves for friends yesterday. In both cases after the prescribed baking time, the dough in centre of both was not fully cooked. I made with regular flour, not GF. Just wondering why that slightly uncooked centre? Not cooked long enough? Too much water in mix? Other thoughts? Thanks a lot, Roger
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! I was looking for an easy bread to make regularly. This is absolutely fantastic. It’s unbelievable how good it is. Love all of your recipes I’ve made so far.
I am still amazed at how wonderful this bread is; and how truly easy. Absolutely delishious. Wondering if I could use rye flour and or wheat flour instead plain flour as well.
Sorry, found my answer about whole grains above. Thanks, will let you know how it works
Fantastic recipe! Thanks Nagi x
Just made this and I am in love!! I have never made bread and this was so easy! I didn’t use bread flour or instant yeast, and it was still amazing
Hi! I tried this for the first time and after I let the dough rise, the top of the dough was a little hard and not sticky. What did I do wrong?
I think you didn’t cover it well. There needs to be plastic wrap over the bowl.
This is blooming brilliant. I made it yesterday, excellent result, so easy and tasty! Today I started but had only half the amount of plain flour left, so I added just over half the amount of yeast to that and then used self raising flour for the rest. I left it to rise for about 1.5 hrs and did the rest as before (the no Dutch oven method). I can safely say it even works like this! So don’t be deterred if you don’t have quite enough plain flour! We are confined with covid so it’s been very handy to be able to make this. Thank you!
I hate baking, but this was so simple to do. My kids loved it and already requested another loaf of bread. It is just rising now
This couldn’t be easier. First timeI halved the recipe for a small dinner loaf. Didn’town a proper Dutch oven but have a heavy duty stainless pot that can take the heat and has a lid. Used that instead. I should have just made the whole recipe and serviced it alone because that’s pretty much the thing everyone wanted to eat. Also, I only had time to rise for about an hour and a half, I didn’t refrigerate, probably rose too long on the hearth- basically there was very little Idid that was right, and it was perfect- soft and slightly chewy inside, bubbly but not too many holes, rust that was harder and crisp bot not like eating toasted shoe leather like some “artisan” breads.
I don’t usually review blog website recipes becaue the ads are again, but this is worth every pop up and the creator deserves the bump.Oh, if your husband bought you a kitchen aid, just pretend you used it for this so he doesn’t get bent he spent all that money and now you don’t’ need to use it!
Too funny!!! I am all for a bread meal too and I won’t tell about the Kitchen Aid if you don’t! N x
as per your ususal, Nagi, this was amazing. This was my first time experimenting with bread and won’t be my last. I have 2 questions. First my crumb was not as airy as I would like, though my dough looked like yours. How can I improve that? Second, Is there a way to make shapes other than boule (ie a loaf)? thank you!
God bless you! sometimes pulling out appliances not so accommodating. Turned out perfection, next time I’ll add herbs, garlic or onion for a bread climax ~ thank you!
Hi Nagi,
Will this recipe be as good if using the flour – would it need a longer cooking time?