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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

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)
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt , HALVE if using 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 don’t have a dutch oven; can I use a heavy stoneware casserole with a lid?
Sure can Joanna – or a baking sheet is fine (directions are in the notes) – N x
Hi Nagi,
I’m making this recipe for the second time (first time was incredible) but both times I’ve made it I’ve really struggled to get it off the work surface (floured) and onto the baking parchment without it sticking to everything in sight. Would anything change if I scraped it out straight away from bowl to baking sheet to save from having to transfer?
Thank you!
That will be fine, just add a little flour and do the folding process on the paper instead – N x
I rate this a TDF….To die for!! Thank you so much for your detailed instructions. We are having it with your ham soup recipe. Another winner!
Thanks so much Priya! N x
I ❤️❤️❤️This recipe. This is the first time I have ever made bread and this recipe was not only easy but delicious. I used a instant sourdough starter (because with COVID-19 the stores didn’t have any other) and I refrigerated for 5 hrs., cant imagine what 3 days would do. Look forward to making again.
That’s great to hear Carrie! N x
Easy. Quick. Tasty! Even for a first timer like me.
Perfect Erica! N X
Hi Nagi,
Thanks for this recipe. I’ve made this twice, and really love it. I’ve added jalapeno and cheddar on the 1st one, and rosemary on the 2nd one. I love the taste and the crust on the outside. But my loaves (both of them) were much denser than yours. It was not as “porousey” (larger pores as yours). There were much smaller pores on mine. Both of them definitely doubled in size. Do you know what may cause this?
Hi Yeny, the holes just depend on the yeast activity – there are so many variables (outside temperature, type of yeast, rising time etc). Try letting them rise a little longer before baking and see if that helps – but obviously if you use add ins, it will affect this and you’ll have a loaf that’s more dense. 🙂 N x
Thanks Nagi!
I’ll try different yeast next time, I used the instant packet one. what do you mean by add ins?
Hi,
I was wondering if there is a way to incorporate oatmeal? If not, would you happen to have a recipe for Oatmeal Bread?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Carolyn
This is awesome. My dough is rising as we speak! I’d like to ask why wax paper is not recommended.
Hi Emi, it will stick to your dough and wont come off! You need parchment paper here 🙂 N x
I can’t stop making this bread! I gave a loaf to my brother in law, my neighbor and I made soup two days in a row just so we could have another yummy taste. This is so simple and quick. I have 1 question – could I use self rising flour in place of yeast?
Hi Kitri, I’m so glad you love it!! This recipe wont work with self raising flour sorry! But try this one instead: https://innovate-pulse.news/no-yeast-bread-irish-soda-bread/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I am making this for the first time today. This morning I mixed everything and let rise on counter 3 hrs. I want to cook it tonight for dinner, that will inly be 5 hrs in fridge before cooking. Will that make a difference if I don’t wait the minimum of 12 hrs?
Hi Carrie – you can cook it straight after the first rise – in fact the loaves pictures are cooked straight away. It’s only the flavour that develops when you leave it in the fridge 🙂 N x
Nagi, Wow, I am very impressed. This was a hit at the dinner table tonight. I have never made any kind of homemade Bread. This was my first time, I do not even cook/bake much but after making this bread I am going to be the next top chef. Lol jk. Anyway if i could go e 10 ⭐️ I would. This bread taste so much better than store bought and so easy..trust when I say if I can make it anyone can. I will never buy store bread again. Just Amazing! Nagi, Thank you for sharing with us.
Also, how do I follow you so I can see all the great Recipes you have to share?
I’ve been trying to make great bread for the last three weekends. Results have been mixed, to say the least. This recipe is brilliant. I used the boiling water in a baking pan method and it’s worked brilliantly. Thank you very much.
You’re so welcome, I’m so glad you love it! N x
The best! Super easy and delicious
Thanks Lou! N x
Hi Nagi, does this bread taste like sourdough? I really want to try it but my family and I don’t like the sour taste of sourdough bread…so want to be sure before I try. If it does, do you have another easy yeast bread recipe?
Hi Zoya, no this doesn’t have that traditional sour taste as it’s not made with a starter (although it develops flavour the longer you leave it) I’d suggest not refrigerating and baking as per the recipe – you’l love it Zoya! N x
Is it okay to half the ingredients to make a smaller batch?
Hi Vanessa, sure is – cook time will be slightly less to – I’d say 20 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered. N x
I am Japanese, baked so many bread in my life. Love sourdough bread but it costed a lot…..I won’t go to bakery to get these anymore! I can see how much you tried to make this recipe to be perfect from original. It is your recipe now!! You are ROCK. This is amazing recipe.
Thanks so much!! N x
This is a great recipe Nagi, I’ve made it successfully a few times but the last two, the dough after rising isn’t firm enough to shape. It’s runny and oozy. What could I be doing wrong? When baked it won’t bake through and top doesn’t crack? I can’t think of anything I’ve changed between the first few times that were perfect! And these less than perfect attempts!
Hi Tamea, sorry you’re having issues – and you’re definitely using 450g of flour? N x
I’ve been using cup measurements – I’ve made it again today and measured grams! Will see if this works 🙂 thanks!!
Dying to make this today. How would you add cheese, like asiago? Thanks
Hi Boo, you could add it through the dough – I haven’t tested it though so I’m unsure how much it could take. N x
I have never had luck with bread, but this one turned out just great. And it’s got good flavor too. I cannot wait to make this again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Debra!! N x
Has anyone tried making two small loaves with this recipe?
Hi Sydney, yes you can make small loaves, the cook time is less though, stay with 20 minutes covered then 10 uncovered. N x
Can I make crusty baguette shaped loaves with this? If so, how many do you recommend with this recipe? 2? 4? I prefer more crust to inside ratio.
Hi Dina, depends on how big you want it – just shape the final dough into a baguette and cook on a baking try – it will be perfect! N x