Super Simple No-Knead Bread using just 4 basic ingredients and some time which makes a super chewy crust with a soft and fluffy middle.
Simple No-Knead Bread
Even if you think you fall in the "can't make bread" category, you have to give this super simple no-knead bread recipe a shot. I discovered this no-knead bread maybe 3 years ago and have been making it since with great success. I dare say this is a never-fail bread recipe even you non-bakers out there can make.
The secret is in the resting period. You mix 4 simple ingredients together and let them sit for anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. The gluten develops while the dough rests which means you don't have to do any kneading. The bread is extra wet, which means it gets nice and chewy in the middle. You cook it covered for part of the time and uncovered the rest, which results in an extra crusty crust. Chewy middle and extra crusty outside... pass the butter, I'm sold!
Here's what the bread looks like after its resting period. It will swell but still be bubbly looking and flat on the top. This recipe is so easy, and you have fresh bread ready for dinner. Who doesn't love that delicious smell and simple goodness? Trust me on this, homemade bread equals love.
Can I used half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour when making bread?
I've had great success with using half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour as well as using 100% whole wheat flour for this recipe.
Will this recipe work without a cast iron?
You don't have to use cast iron or enamel coated cast iron, though I highly recommend it. I love mine and use it all of the time. Anything that is oven safe with a lid will work.
Is instant yeast the same as rapid rise yeast?
Yes, they are the same. Using instant yeast shortens the rising time by as much as 50%.
Super Simple No-Knead Bread
- Total Time: 10 hours
- Yield: 1 large loaf 1x
Description
Super Simple No-Knead Bread using just 4 basic ingredients and some time which makes a super chewy crust with a soft and fluffy middle.
Ingredients
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ teaspoons Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Instant or Rapid-rise yeast
- 1 ½ cups water
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the flour, salt, and yeast. Mix to combine.
- Add the water and mix until it all comes together. The dough will be soft and "shaggy".
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and let it rest at room-temperature for 8 to 24 hours.
- When you are ready to bake your dough turn it out onto a well floured surface and shape it into a ball. Set the ball on a large piece of parchment paper. Place the parchment paper and dough in a large cast iron skillet with a lid (6 to 9 quart cast iron dutch oven work best). Let it rest for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the pot, with the lid on, inside the oven and bake the bread for 30 minutes.
- Carefully remove the lid and back for another 20 minutes until the top is dark brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven and then remove the bread from the pan by holding onto the edges of the parchment paper.
- Let the bread cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
- I've had great success with using half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour as well as using 100% whole wheat flour for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 8 hours
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 274
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Sodium: 408.6mg
- Fat: 0.8g
- Carbohydrates: 57.3g
- Protein: 7.8g
Keywords: Bread, No-Knead, Whole wheat
This bread would pair perfectly with any of these recipes:
- Simple Cream of Tomato Soup
- Homemade Butternut Squash Soup
- Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
- Quick, Easy, and Healthy White Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
Sometimes the simplest things taste the very best. I hope you love this Super Simple No-Knead Bread using just 4 ingredients.Thanks for stopping in. You are a bright spot in my day!
Roseann
I have a cast iron frying pan but not a dutch oven, or anything else with cover that can be put in oven at high heat. Can I put it in my frying pan and cover with tin foil?
Melissa
You could sure try it! Let us know what works for you.
Chelsea
First time baking bread from scratch! So easy and so delicious! Moving onto making a sourdough starter! Thank you!
★★★★★
Allyson
Amazing! Tastes like it's from our favorite local bakery. The easiest homemade bread to make. Once again great instructions.
★★★★★
Melissa
Isn't that one amazing how easy it is?!
Diane
So easy fir a fearful yeast baker! Made a dozen times so far, TY!
★★★★★
Jeannie
Thank you for the wonderful recipe! It was my first time making bread from scratch and it turned out perfect. Today I’m doing 2 cups all purpose and 1 cup light spelt flour. We will see!
★★★★★
Melissa
Ohhh that sounds wonderful, I think the spelt will work great!
Oh Karyn
Hi,
It was one of the best no knead bread I ever tried, Thank you so much
by the way, Can you also give me the ingredients in grams please?
I am bit confused conversion chart, some says 125g some says 150gram.
Can we also add some nuts and fruits or oats in this recipe?
Thank you
Melissa
I'm not sure on the grams, but I don't think the 25 grams will make a huge difference either way. And yes, you can add cheese, herbs, nuts, dried fruit, orange zest, and more! It's a very flexible recipe.
Karin P
This is seriously THE best bread recipe and it is so easy! My family tried this for the first time a few months ago and it has become our staple homemade bread go-to! The chewy crust and soft inside is soooooo good!
★★★★★
Melissa
Can I make this in a bread machine? Thanks
Melissa
It's not going to cook up the same. I think the crust will be off and I'm not sure the middle will cook up the same as it does in that high temp oven. I'm going to say no, it wouldn't work but I'm also someone who's always trying things. So you might want to try it though it wasn't be that same super crust outside with a fluffy middle...
Krista
Hands down the most simple to make yeast bread. And most importantly, delicious! My family of five enjoyed it with our lasagna. Will be making this again and again.
★★★★★
Melissa
I'm so glad you like it as much as we do. SO good right?! And you can't beat how easy! Pro tip: use the dough for pizza crust sometimes, so chewy and delicious!
Susan Polum
The dough is very stiff. I did not get a wet dough. Is there something I missed?
Melissa
I'd add more water, it should be a loose and "shaggy" dough, you won't hurt anything by adding a bit more until it loosens up a bit!
Stephanie
I baked my first loaf of this this morning and I'm so excited to keep trying to get it to look just like yours! I didn't have any parchment paper, so I put olive oil in the bottom of the pan. I think it added some great flavor, but I also think it made it a little gummy? I'll take one for the team and keep trying! Thanks for such a simple, adaptable recipe. I feel so industrious baking it! 🙂
Melissa
If I don't have parchment sometimes I'll oil a piece of foil! And if it was gummy, I'd just cook it longer and let it sit for a few hours before slicing. You can cook it up to 50 minutes for sure (25 covered and 25 not)
Stacey
Is it too long if the fermentation lasts from 8 to 24 hours?
Melissa
Nope, just makes it better!
Rena
I love bread! going to try this
Melissa
This is a great one to try, you can't go wrong!
Jamie
I made bread for the first time ever thanks to this recipe! Whole wheat. It was awesome. Is it easy to dress this up? (IE: add herbs, cheese...)
Melissa
Yes! So easy to dress up, herbs, roasted garlic, cheese, and even things like nuts, dried fruit and orange zest!
Halide
I really want to try this- could I cover with foil if no pan with lid?
Melissa
I think so if you cover it really tightly so it traps it's own steam inside!
Makos(@thehungrybites)
Hey, Melissa!
I can't seem to get over how crunchy this crust seems!!!
★★★★★
rekha
This looks super simple bread to make and I love the texture and perfectly baked bread. I am sure going to try this !
Christina
I love homemade bread- nothing is better than a warm chewy piece of bread with butter on it.
Denis
Hello Melissa. I hope you are well.
This seems to be about as easy as it gets short of throwing the stuff in a bread maker and going for a walk and coming back to bread ready to go.
I do have a question about breads in general. I like soft crust on breads, more like the store bought stuff, or the soft bread sticks at some of the pizza places. How do I get soft crusts rather than the crunchy crusts that I get now?
I could use this recipe for buns for burgers and sliders and freeze them, couldn't I?
Thank you for your blog.
Denis
Melissa
If I want a really soft bread I look from something more like this : https://www.blessthismessplease.com/2013/07/whole-wheat-bread-recipe.html
Generally a dough with eggs in it will be really tender, milk also makes it softer. King Arthur Flour has a great white sandwich bread recipe that we love too. This recipes is definitely more of a soup bread, but you might light some of those other recipes for a really soft loaf!
Hannah
Just brush the crust with butter when you remove from pan, and after it cools, store in plastic versus paper for a soft crust.