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!!!)

Fabulous easy instructions as always. This was amazing! First time making bread and my household has gone through two loafs and have a third batch in the fridge. Thank you Nagi!
Hello, do you think there’s any place in this recipe to add sourdough starter (for flavour)?
my dutch oven doesn’t allow me to heat it up to 450 degrees only 400. will that ruin the recipe?
Have you considered replacing some of the water with sour cream? Or perhaps yogurt or whey?
Easy fantasy delicious 😋, did it yesterday and gone right away, making another one NOW, Five Stars ⭐️
So yum!
Partner, toy cavoodle and I finished this in one sitting.
Had to add more water too … next time I’d let it rise longer to get more flavour (did 2hour rise)
This is my family’s go-to bread. My kids love it. We have it often in the winter, especially when we make soup, as it pairs perfectly. However, here we are in a heatwave in the summer, and I’m making it because it’s my daughter’s birthday and she requested it. Thank you!
I have never been more happy with a recipe in my life! I’ve never made bread before so, to have found this super-easy recipe, was a blessing. I’ve now made it twice and, so far, it really is no fail. I have had to add a little more water using bread flour to get the consistency that is shown in the video. I hate to even share the recipe because I want people to be more impressed with my “skills” than they should be! 🤣🤣 this is definitely going to become a staple in my house!! Thanks for sharing!!!
This bread recipe is amazing and has become my go-to!! Definitely the best when left in the fridge overnight, crispy/chewy outside, fluffy soft inside that resembles sourdough. Have barely brought bread since!! I make this 1-2x/week.
**Mine seems to need almost an extra cup of water than the recipe says to get that same consistency as the video.
Have made this loaf many times (thank you, Nagi😊). I found I needed a touch more water when using bread flour to match video consistency. On occasion, the bottom of the loaf was a bit too stiff and hard. Like others, I reduced time in oven by 5 minutes. This bread is certainly very forgiving. 🇨🇦
Can you use this recipe for the cheesy pull apart garlic bread
Thank you
Luciana 🤍
Ps please answer
Great recipe, I have made it twice so far, cut the recipe in half for a smaller bread, worked good, happy to have found this bread recipe thank you.
I’ve made this 3 times and have finally aced it – looks just like the photo. I added a cup of wholemeal flour and about 1/3 cup extra water. It was mixed 18 hours ago, risen, stirred down and put back in the fridge. This morning it came out of the fridge and sat on the counter where it rose again, then I scraped it out, turned on the oven, shaped a vienna loaf, covered it with a tea towel while the oven came to temperature, about 10 minutes. Into the oven on a flat tray with boiling water in a square pan below. Baked for 40 minutes, left to cool for 20 and I have tried it – crusty, nice holes and delicious.
This is our go to bread now. I had a moment in the grocery store when I picked up a basic loaf of bread that was $4.99. Nope. I can make my own. I am not spend $5 on bread that isn’t even that good. Just plain. My husband and family love this. Tonight we’re trying it as pizza crust on our pizza stone. No idea how it will turn out but we’re excited!
We had a huge storm roll through here the other morning and all I felt like was soup & buttered bread. Defrosted some soup and jumped on here for bread inspo and boom; Nagi always has my back. Thanks girlfriend 👊
Absolutely amazing, easiest and most delicious bread recipe I have tried. Probably made it 15 times already, and I will keep on making it !
What witchery is this? My dough was very floopy and floppy and I was sure that it would be an epic fail but it actually baked up into a lovely loaf! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I made this bread for the first time this weekend. I just had a really disappointing experience with sourdough bread not working out how I wanted, so I thought I would try this. Not only did this work, it worked PERFECTLY. I let it sit in my fridge for about a day. My whole house smelled like delicious fresh bread. My husband and my son absolutely loved it. My son said it tastes just like Wegmans bakery Italian bread. I used regular unbleached flour, but I just bought some bread flour to try using this week when I make this again. Thanks so much for this easy, truly foolproof recipe.
Second time making and both times perfect so now I’ll try doubling and keeping half in the fridge so as to make one for now, one for later.
This is wonderful!!! So much flavour. Can’t wait to try it again with some added seeds and and maybe even some garlic??!? Mine was a tad dryer than the video (these are so helpful -Thanks Nagi) so I added a tiny dash more water. I manoeuvred mine with a silicone spatula on a silicone baking mat and then tipped onto the baking paper. It seemed a bit sticky on the paper, but all was good after the baking l. Turned out just like Nagis pics 😃
Hi Nagi, Just a question for the artisan bread, do you cover in cling wrap when refrigerating.? Actually 2 questions 🤭 Do you just bring it back to room temp and put back on paper, or do you have to leave it on the paper when refrigerated? Maybe another quick question😂? Do you have to reshape and rise again after taking out of the fridge.?
Thanx in advance and Love Love your book and recipes!!!!Cant get enough!!Hope Dover is doing well
You leave the risen bread dough in the bowl it raised in then refrigerate. When ready to bake bring to room temp per instructions and then empty bowl onto a floured service form roll onto and cook as per instructions. Thats what I did and it came out perfect. 3 mins prep time to make bread now I make my own bread all the time. Thanks Nagi for a superb recipe. Just need one for home made butter now!!
Homemade butter? Buy heavy cream and use a hand mixer to beat it until it becomes the consistency you want. Add sea salt to taste. Butter! (Beat it less and add powdered sugar and vanilla. Whipped cream!) Heavy cream is your best friend!
love your recipe , my crust on bottom continues to be too hard, any thoughts? thanks
I absolutely love this bread recipe! It’s fantastic for teaching my toddler the basics of bread making. I was wondering, could I skip the initial rise at room temperature and put the dough straight in the fridge to rise overnight?
This has become my go-to bread recipe. Once shaped and ready for the oven I moisten the surface and add sesame seeds. I also use a silicone bread sling and tuck an ice cube under each side which really helps with oven spring. I make 2 loaves each time since the dutch oven will already be heated up. The bread does well in the freezer so there’s no loss of taste or texture. It’s never in there for more than a few days.
Thanks so much for a great and easy bread recipe. We haven’t bought bread from the store in months.