This no-knead Dutch oven bread recipe is simple to make using only four ingredients and bakes up a delicious, chewy artisan loaf. Learn how to make a rustic bread using this easy no-knead bread recipe.

baked no knead bread in a red dutch oven on a table

We rely on homemade bread often, and this no knead bread recipe has been a favorite since in was published in the NY Times back in 2006. In the article, Mark Bittman introduced us to Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery, and his clever way to produce a rustic artisan bread that works for the home baker.

Just about every food blogger has a version of this bread recipe on their website. It is popular for a reason… It’s simple and comes out great every time even for those who don’t bake bread regularly.

The recipe is simple, but the trick is to use a long fermentation to develop flavor and texture, and to bake in a preheated Dutch oven to mimic commercial bread ovens.

Why Make No Knead Breads?

The best things about no knead breads is it is less work, only requires a very small amount of yeast, and then relies on fermenting time to develop the gluten strands that give the bread its texture. The result is a delicious, rustic round bread with a fluffy and moist interior, surrounded by a dense and chewy crust.

Uses Less Yeast

No-knead breads rely on fermenting to help leaven the dough, so you’ll use less yeast in this recipe…just 1/4 teaspoon per loaf to get the fermentation started! The long fermentation of 12 to 18 hours develops a superior flavor and texture in the bread. The gas produced during the fermentation process causes the bread to rise.

Less Work, No Kneading

Simply combine the ingredients and rely on time to ferment the dough to develop the flavor and texture. There is no extensive time and labor spent kneading the dough, or wondering if you kneaded enough.

Extremely Forgiving

I was in the middle of making this bread when we experienced a power outage that ended up lasting for two days. We had a generator keeping our refrigerator operating, but baking in the oven was impossible. I simply placed the bowl of dough in the refrigerator, and pulled it out once power was restored. The chilled dough was much easier to handle and form into a loaf. It took a bit to warm up, but once it doubled in size, it was baked and came out perfect!

Tips for Making No Knead Bread

This no-knead bread is made from flour, water, salt, and a small amount of yeast to get the fermentation going. It is fermented overnight, and baked in a preheated covered Dutch oven that mimics commercial stone hearth bread ovens.

Flour

You can use bread flour or all-purpose flour, or a combination of both flours. I recommend going with bread flour for your first few loaves. Both so you can see how the dough comes together, and because it has a higher level of protein that will give your bread a nice rise and texture.

Once you have mastered your first few loaves, go ahead and try using all-purpose, or even adding a little whole wheat to the bread flour. I don’t recommend more than 1/4 cup of whole-grain flour though. Breads that are not kneaded rely on fermentation to form the gluten strands in the dough. Whole grains interfere with the bonding of the gluten strands and will result in a slightly denser loaf.

Water

Use non-chlorinated water for fermenting. Chlorine is a chemical used to treat city water to eliminate bacteria. Chlorinated water will slow or prevent the yeast from growing and fermenting. If your tap water has chlorine, fill a container with water, leave it open, and let it sit out at room temperature for several days. The chlorine will evaporate from the water.

Salt

Salt plays several important roles in making bread. It slows yeast activity, strengthens the gluten, improves the color of the crust, and balances the flavor of the bread. I use kosher salt for all my baking because it has no additives.

Yeast

Just a small amount of yeast is needed to get the fermentation moving. You can use regular, active dry yeast for this recipe. Even though you are mixing the yeast directly into the flour, you won’t have to activate the yeast first. It will start multiplying once combined in the wet bread dough.

Which Dutch Oven to Use?

A heavy, lidded Dutch oven is the key to giving this bread that crispy, crunchy crust and soft interior. The thick, cast iron provides ample thermal mass to keep the temperature steady. While the dough bakes, it releases steam that is contained in the Dutch oven. This helps keep the dough moist, allowing the bread to rise fully before the crust crisps over and darkens in color.

Any heavy, 5-quart or 6-quart Dutch oven with oven safe cover will work. I have used a Lodge cast iron Dutch oven for many years for making bread. I have also used an enamel-coated cast iron Dutch oven that I scored at a thrift store. Check the manufacture’s instructions. Some Dutch ovens can’t be preheated while empty as it may cause the enamel to crack.

Steps for Making No Knead Bread

This no-knead bread is a delicious way to make a rustic artisan bread. You do need to start the bread the day before baking, but it doesn’t take a lot of hands on time.

Here are the illustrated steps for making no knead Dutch oven bread. Follow the fully detailed, printable recipe at the bottom of this article.

Step 1: Gather Your Kitchen Equipment

Kitchen scale
Large prep bowl
Whisk
Rubber spatula
Beeswax wrap or plastic wrap
Large cutting board
Parchment paper
5-quart Dutch oven, or heavy ovenproof pot with a lid
Heavy-duty oven mitts or pot holders
Kitchen towels
Cooling rack

Step 2: Mix the Ingredients

Begin by combining the flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl. Add the water and stir with a rubber spatula. The dough will be very wet.

Step 3: Ferment the Dough

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or reusable bees wrap, and let the dough sit for 12 to 18 hours overnight to ferment.

Step 4: Shape and Let Rise

Lightly flour a large cutting board and use a rubber scraper to scoop the dough out and on to the floured surface.

Dust the top of the dough with flour, and use the rubber scraper to pull the dough from the sides and fold it over about 3 or 4 times. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to rest.

Spread a square of parchment paper on the counter. Dust your hands with enough flour to keep dough from sticking and shape the dough into a ball. Place the dough in the center of the parchment paper.

Grab the four corners of the parchment paper and lift the dough back into the bowl. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.

Step 5: Bake the Bread

About 20 minutes before the dough is finished rising, place the Dutch oven into the oven and preheat to 450˚F.

When the dough is ready to bake, slip on a pair of heavy-duty oven mitts. Carefully remove the hot pot from the oven, place it on the stove, and lift off the cover. Place the dough into the Dutch oven by grabbing the four corners of the parchment paper, lifting the dough out of the bowl, and lowering it into the pot.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake another 15 to 20 minutes until the loaf is nicely browned. Remove the loaf from the pot, and let it cool before slicing. Recipe makes one 1-1/2-pound loaf.

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