Easiest No Knead Bread Recipe (2024)

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This easy no knead bread recipe has my been my favorite for years and years! It’s simple to make in a dutch oven using only 3 ingredients and a few basics steps to get it ready for the oven. We love it!

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Sara Lee announced today that they will be raising bread prices again. (According to Reuters) Bread, of course, is a basic staple, so what is a thrifty person to do? Bake your own!!!! It’s a frugal option and mom approved.

Learning how to make your own bread can be a key step in frugal living, especially if you go through a lot of loaves! With just a few basic ingredients, the price per loaf adds up to just a few pennies.

My key to keeping the cost low is to buy yeast in bulk. If you buy your yeast in the little yellow packets at the grocery store, your price per loaf will be much higher.

Easiest No Knead Bread Recipe (3)Red Star Active Dry Yeast 32 OZ (2 lbs)Easiest No Knead Bread Recipe (4)

I buy bulk packages of Red Star Active Dry Yeast at Costco, but I have found you can also buy it on Amazon. You can get TWO POUNDS of yeast for the price of just a few of the small packets.

The good thing about yeast is that it freezes really well! Stored in the freezer it lasts for months after its expiration date (I have used it over a year past that date.)

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So, I usually freeze at least half of the yeast package when I buy it and then keep the rest in a small mason jar in the fridge to measure out each time I make bread.

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When it comes to flour, you may want to use different types of flour for different types of bread. For my no-knead bread recipe I use your standard all purpose flour. But, when I’m cooking in a bread machine I always use bread flour to get the best results.

(And yes, you can also use bread flour for this no knead bread – it’s just not a requirement.)

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For years and years I would buy 50 pound bags of bread flour at Costco. I was so sad to find out that they stopped carrying it. I was very excited to learn recently that you can still buy Ardent Mills Harvest Bread Flour at Costco, but you have to get it via a Costco Business Center.

You can use your regular Costco membership card to shop at a Business Center, so if you have one near you and you have a standard Costco membership, you’re in luck!

There are a few ways to make your own bread, but my favorite is the Easiest No Knead Bread Recipe below. (Which also happens to be the bread I use in this sandwich recipe.)

How to Bake Bread at Home:

  1. There are a number of ways to go about this. First, and probably the easiest is to use a breadmaker. If you don’t have one already, the investment will pay off. The Zojirushi Bread Machine is a great option (and the breadmaker I use when not baking bread in the dutch oven). But if you’re not up to buying a bread maker, you may find one cheap or free through Craigslist, Next Door, Facebook sale groups, Freecycle or garage sales.
  2. The second way, which is the most work, is to make bread by hand the old-fashioned way. This involves preparing dough, needing it, letting it rise, and baking in traditional rectangular bread pans. This is definitely the most difficult and takes the most skill. I personally have a heck of a time getting this type of bread to raise properly.
  3. The third way, and probably the thriftiest is to use this no-kneading recipe. Sure, it takes about 24 hours to turn out a loaf, but the bread is delicious and the actual “work time” is minimal.

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This is the most delicious and easy homemade bread. I have been making it for ever and it has become a staple in our house.

I love it because it only uses 4 ingredients, is the cheapest bread you can make since it uses only a tiny bit of yeast, is fat-free, looks great, has fantastic texture and tastes delicious!

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I bake this in my Orange Rachel Ray 7-Quart Round Cast-Iron Dutch Oven, which I really LOVE! I won this from a sweepstakes and it has quickly become my favorite cooking/baking piece.

Unfortunately, this particular model has now been discontinued and is now even pricier through 3rd party sellers, but this dutch oven from Zelanico is very similar!

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Another tool that is definitely not a necessity, but makes measuring so much easier since the bread requires an unusual 1 5/8 measurement for water, is a top view measuring cup.

It’s very easy to see exactly how high the water is and choose the half-way point between the 1/2 and 3/4 marks to know you’re hitting 5/8. This Good Grips 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup is the one I use.

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This is a great loaf of bread to bring when invited to someone’s house for dinner. Every time I have brought it, everyone has raved over it and it has quickly disappeared! (Yes, these are all my loaves in the pictures!)

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If you want to change things up a bit, I also use this same basic recipe for my No Knead Garlic Cheese Bread pictured above, which is also fantastic and packed with flavor.

Easiest No-Knead Bread Recipe

No Knead Bread Ingredients:

3 C all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. instant yeast
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 5/8 C water

How to Make No-Knead Bread:

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Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir in water until well blended. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise for at least 12 hours (16-18 hours is better).

To make this easy and to avoid having to use a new piece of plastic wrap each time, I cover the bowl with a plastic shower cap.

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Next, place the dough on a generously floured work surface, sprinkle with flour, and fold it in on top of itself two to three times. Turn the bowl you were using at first upside down over the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes.

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After 15 minutes, shape the dough into a ball. Coat a smooth cotton towel with flour and put the ball seam side down, dusting the top with more flour. Fold sides of towel over top of ball and let rise for 2 hours. The dough should double in size.

(I admit I have usually skipped the towel and just continued to let rise under the bowl on the counter and it still works, but it has to be a BIG bowl.)

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30 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees and put a 6 to 8 quart heavy pot with a cover (pyrex, cast iron, enamel or ceramic work best) in to heat.

Remove the pot from the oven and dump the dough ball seam side up into the pot.

Cover the pot and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes or until the loaf is nicely browned. Remove from oven and cool on rack.

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For another variation, you can also make my Garlic Cheese No Knead Bread Recipe.

How can I make no knead bread without a dutch oven?

I was asked by a reader how to make no knead bread if you don’t have a dutch oven. The reason a dutch oven works so well is because it can withstand the high heat and the tight lid creates steam, which makes for the crusty loaf.

If you don’t have a dutch oven, however, you can try one of the following:

  • Use a heavy, deep pot with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Use a heavy, deep pot with a cookie sheet placed upside down on top of it.
  • Place your dough on a pizza stone and add a small casserole dish filled with hot water to your oven to help create the steam effect.

To see more recipes from Thrifty Jinxy, click “Recipes”at the top of thepage!

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Easiest No Knead Bread Recipe

Chrysa

This easy no knead bread recipe has my been my favorite for years and years! It’s simple to make in a dutch oven using only 3 ingredients and a few basics steps to get it ready for the oven. We love it!

4.45 from 54 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Additional Time 14 hours hrs

Total Time 14 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Servings 10 Slices

Calories 137 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 C all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. instant yeast
  • 1 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 5/8 C water

Instructions

  • Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir in water until well blended.

  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise for at least 12 hours (16-18 hours is better). To make this easy and to avoid having to use a new piece of plastic wrap each time, I cover the bowl with a plastic shower cap.

  • Next, place the dough on a generously floured work surface, sprinkle with flour, and fold it in on top of itself two to three times.

  • Turn the bowl you were using at first upside down over the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes.

  • After 15 minutes, shape the dough into a ball.

  • Coat a smooth cotton towel with flour and put the ball seam side down, dusting the top with more flour.

  • Fold sides of towel over top of ball and let rise for 2 hours.

  • The dough should double in size.

  • 30 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees and put a 6 to 8 quart heavy pot with a cover (pyrex, cast iron, enamel or ceramic work best) in to heat.

  • Remove the pot from the oven and dump the dough ball seam side up into the pan.

  • Cover the pot and bake for 30 minutes.

  • Then remove the lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes or until the loaf is nicely browned.

  • Remove from oven and cool on rack.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1SliceCalories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 4gSodium: 60mgFiber: 1g

I am not a nutritionist. These values were calculated automatically with the Spoonacular Food API.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easiest No Knead Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you know if no-knead bread has risen enough? ›

What bakers call the “poke test” is the best way to tell if dough is ready to bake after its second rise. Lightly flour your finger and poke the dough down about 1". If the indent stays, it's ready to bake. If it pops back out, give it a bit more time.

Why is my homemade no-knead bread so dense? ›

Why is my bread dense: Usually bread will be too dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be pretty sticky, do not add more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour. Little yeast, long rise, sticky dough are keys to a good, light loaf.

Why does no-knead bread use so little yeast? ›

No-knead bread uses a very small amount of yeast to extend the rising time to many hours. Not only does gluten develop over that long time, but enzymes in the flour activate and convert some of the wheat starches into sugar, which feeds the yeast and adds to the flavour of the bread.

What is the trick to soft bread? ›

One of the easiest ways our bakers follow to make bread soft and fluffy is by using 1-2 tablespoons of lubricant/fats such as vegetable oil to wet the ingredients. This will prevent the formation of excess gluten, as excess gluten makes bread chewy.

Should you stretch and fold no-knead bread? ›

In side-by-side tests, we discovered that 90 seconds of extra work is all it takes to transform no-knead bread from good to great. Three simple folds, each taking about 30 seconds, will do the trick.

What happens if I don't knead my bread dough enough? ›

The bread won't develop enough gluten to hold it up. You'll get a low, maybe flat bread. Unless of course you just put your dough in the fridge for a few days using a non-knead recipe. You don't need to knead if you let time do its work.

How can I make my bread fluffier instead of dense? ›

If you want a lighter fluffier bread loaf just add 2 Tbsp of dry milk to the flour per loaf of your bread. Vinegar has a very similar effect to the dough as the ascorbic acid. It helps hold the dough together and strengthens the bubbles so they won't pop.

Will adding more yeast make bread fluffier? ›

Use a good-quality bread flour that has a high protein content, as this will give your dough the structure it needs to rise and become light and fluffy. Make sure to use the right amount of yeast for your dough. Too much yeast will cause the dough to rise too quickly, resulting in a denser texture.

How to make homemade bread less dense or more light & fluffy? ›

Dense or heavy bread can be caused by not kneading the dough enough, not letting the dough rise enough, or using too much flour. To fix this issue: try kneading the dough for longer or allowing it to rise for a longer period. You can also try adding a little more liquid to the dough or using a higher protein flour.

What is the no knead bread theory? ›

The method uses a long rise instead of kneading to align the dough's gluten molecules with each other so as to produce a strong, elastic network, resulting in long, sticky strands.

Is instant yeast better than active dry yeast for no knead bread? ›

ACTIVE DRY YEAST is best for artisan or no knead doughs that proof in the refrigerator for extended periods of time. Don't skip the “proof” step. INSTANT YEAST is best for quick rising breads.

Is it better to use oil or butter for bread? ›

The spongy texture and moist flavor that oil creates can be a boon to certain recipes. Not to mention oil is cheaper and easier to work with. Butter will always provide superior flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture. In many recipes, combining the two gives the best of both worlds.

What do bakeries put in bread to keep it soft? ›

Commercial bakeries use two types of ingredients to slow spoilage — emulsifiers and enzymes. Emulsifiers keep bread from going stale by preventing oil and water from separating.

What does egg do to bread? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

How do you know if your bread is rising? ›

Lightly flour your index finger and press it gently into the dough, about to the bed of your fingernail. If the indentation remains and doesn't spring back/fill in, then the bread is well risen and ready for the oven. Have no fear, the "belly button" will rise and bake out just fine in the oven.

How do you know if bread is over risen? ›

What to look for in an over proofed loaf. Similar to the signs of over proofed dough, an over proofed loaf will be very flat, without much rise or retention of shaping. Over proofing destroys the structural integrity of the bread, so loaves that have gone over are unable to hold their shape in the oven.

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