Miracle No Knead Bread! this is SO UNBELIEVABLY GOOD and ridiculously easy to make. crusty outside, soft and chewy inside – perfect for dunking in soups!
Miracle No Knead Bread
There’s a reason we are calling this MIRACLE NO KNEAD BREAD.
Featured comment
I have made this several times now and it always comes out great!! I am so nervous about cooking with yeast but this recipe is a piece of cake.
Merideth
This is a fan favorite recipe that’s part of our Fall 2022 SOS Series! View the full series.
Let me paint a picture for you. It starts with a golden and ragged-looking crusty loaf of piping hot white bread being roughly torn into chunks, steam escaping, crumbs flying everywhere across the table, and it ends with that swift swooping motion as its hot n’ chewy little self dives deep into the bowl of thick soup and delivers a bit of chewy carbs sopped with flavor to your hungry, happy mouth. Honestly. The pure bliss of this moment.
Welcome to fall, bread lovers.
I have some really good news for you today.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO MAKE BREAD LIKE A BOSS.
In This Post: Everything You Need For No Knead Bread
- Watch How to Make No Knead Bread
- The Bread for Non-Bread Makers
- Ingredients for This Bread
- Make No Knead Bread
- Variations on This No Knead Bread Recipe
- No Knead Bread: Frequently Asked Questions
Prefer To Watch Instead Of Read?
The Bread For Non-Bread Makers (SOS-Friendly!)
You are going to serve this bread with your rocked-out homemade soups and the praise will come flowing from family and friends and neighbors alike, and people are not going to be able to stop. This is your moment for Martha-Stewart-level domestic greatness within the normalcy of a regular person life, and we are going to milk it.
Please scan your brain right now for these lurking thoughts: “I don’t make bread.” “Bread baking takes too long.” “Yeast-y recipes scare me.”
Friends, let the record show that I am in your club. I am on that team. I have less than zero percent patience for bread recipes and therefore I do not make bread, at all, ever, and I only have two teeny exceptions:
- I make brioche from Artisan Bread in 5, like, three times per year, because it makes for perfect tea rings and homemade French toast bakes and cinnamon rolls and for the times that the baking diva within comes alive. Also it’s VERY EASY.
- I make this Miracle No Knead Bread, inspired from my friends, fellow bloggers, Jim Lahey, and people of the internet, and I make it a minimum of 250 times every fall and winter because it is the opposite of fancy. Which is confusing because it FEELS fancy to pull a loaf of homemade bread out of the oven, especially when it is tucked into that rustic and beautiful Laura-Ingalls-Wilder-esque red Lodge Dutch Oven (affiliate link) that we swoon over every year when the leaves start turning, but seriously – I would, and do, on a regular basis, make this bread for weeknight dinners. We don’t call this Miracle No Knead Bread for nothin’.
What Is No Knead Bread Exactly?
Well, it’s exactly as it sounds!
While many bread recipes involve a lot of kneading and proofing and rising and proofing again and Great British Bake-Off levels of stress, this one requires no kneading. The most effort you’ll put in is the quick mix you’ll do to get the flour, water, yeast, and salt combined, and the strength it takes to transfer your dutch oven into the oven (but seriously, why so heavy?).
After a hands-off overnight rest on the countertop, and quick bake, the result: perfectly crusty outsides, soft and warm insides. It is, to put it simply, heaven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Okay, are you ready for how short of a list this is?
- all-purpose flour (bread flour can work, too!)
- salt
- instant yeast
- water (but we’re guessing you have that on hand)
That’s it! That’s literally it!
How To Make No Knead Bread
Pillowy, golden-crusted, perfectly baked homemade bread is in your future! Let’s make it happen.
- Mix. Whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Stir in a bit of room temp water until the dough starts to form. It’ll look a little bit weird at first, just try us when we say it’ll all come together.
- Let the dough rest. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it just sit on the counter at room temp overnight. Just forget about it until morning.
- Form the dough. Remove the dough from the bowl and shape it into a ball.
- Bake. Line your Dutch oven or big oven-safe pot with parchment paper. Warm it up in the oven for a half hour or so (without the dough). Add your dough, add the lid, and bake for 30 minutes. Lift off the lid and bake for another 10ish minutes until the top gets a beautiful golden brown.
- Dunk away! Get ready to tear into this warm homemade bread and dunk and scoop it in all the things!
Variations On This No Knead Bread Recipe
Obviously we prefer this in its original, perfect form, but if you’re looking to make some changes, there are always OPTIONS.
- How to make it gluten-free: We tried this flour (affiliate link) and the results were great. A hard crust formed on the outside and the inside was soft, airy, and a teeny bit spongy – close to the real thing. Some downsides: the bread didn’t rise as much as the regular version and, of course, it didn’t have quite the same flavor.
- How to make it whole wheat: This is very similar to the original version. The texture of the dough was the same, it rose the same, and it looked the same coming out of the oven with its hard crust. The inside texture was denser with not as many air pockets. The flavor was a little bitter and texture was a bit gritty, but to be expected with whole wheat flour.
- How to add some flavor: Use whatever herbs that sound delicious to you! Mix them in the beginning to avoid kneading later.
- How to make it CHEESY: We’ve got a recipe for that! Check out our No Knead Cheese Bread.
It’s worth saying again that my motto for Pinch of Yum is RECIPES THAT REAL PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE. I pass all recipes that hit your eyeballs through this very practical and very important filter.
And this bread? This no knead bread that can be mixed all in one bowl with a wooden spoon in five minutes flat? This bread is on-brand. Nailed it. If you’ve never done this before, buckle up.
You’re so gonna love it in all its crispy, air-pocketed glory.
No Knead Bread: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this if I don’t have a Dutch oven?
You will just need an oven-safe pot or pan with an oven-safe tight-fitting lid. Please check instructions on whatever you use to ensure it can be heated to 450 degrees (empty for instruction #2).
Will active dry yeast work for this bread?
Yep! Just make sure to activate the yeast first according to package instructions.
Why didn’t my bread rise?
We’d recommend using fresh yeast for this recipe. Expired yeast can lead to bread that won’t rise.
Miracle No Knead Bread
- Total Time: 18 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Miracle No Knead Bread! this is SO UNBELIEVABLY GOOD and ridiculously easy to make. crusty outside, soft and chewy inside – perfect for dunking in soups!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 1/2 cups room temperature water
Instructions
- DOUGH PREP: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and yeast together until mixed. Stir in the water until a chunky, thick dough forms. If it needs a little more water, add a few more tablespoons, just enough to get it barely wet throughout. It’s gonna look scrappy and weird and you’re going to question me on whether or not this will work, but it will. Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for 12-18 hours at room temperature. Overnight is ideal here, kids.
- PREP FOR BAKING: When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 450. Stick a 6 quart enamel coated cast iron Lodge Dutch Oven (or similar) in the oven for about 30 minutes to heat. At this point, the dough should be big and puffy and pretty loose, with little bubbles in it. Gently scrape the dough out onto a well-floured surface. (Remember: NO KNEAD.) Gently shape it into a ball with flour on the outside, set on a piece of parchment, and cover with plastic while your pan heats up.
- BAKE: Remove the plastic from the dough. Lift the dough and parchment together into the pan so the parchment lines the bottom of the hot pan (be careful not to touch the pan since it’s very hot). Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake another 10-15 minutes to get the exterior nice and golden brown and crispy. Voila! Done. Miracle no-knead bread, you boss you.
Equipment
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Notes
Based on comments and questions, we decided to try this recipe with both gluten-free flour and whole wheat flour! A few notes for each: 1. Gluten-Free: We tried this flour (affiliate link) and the results were great. A hard crust formed on the outside and the inside was soft, airy, and a teeny bit spongy – close to the real thing. Some downsides: the bread didn’t rise as much as the regular version and, of course, it didn’t have quite the same flavor. 2. Whole Wheat: This was very similar to the original version. The texture of the dough was the same, it rose the same, and it looked the same coming out of the oven with its hard crust. The inside texture was denser with not as many air pockets. The flavor was a little bitter and texture was a bit gritty, but to be expected with whole wheat flour.
- Prep Time: 12 hours
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: no knead bread, homemade bread, easy bread
(👇🏼 pictured here dipped in Chicken Wild Rice Soup. cannot recommend that situation highly enough.)
You can read about ten other things I love to do with my adorable red Lodge Dutch Oven in THIS POST from years back. Yes, I am that much of a superfan.
Soup Recipes To Enjoy This Bread With
Truly there is nothing better than swooping a piece of this piping hot bread into some cozy, creamy soup. Here are our favorites:
- The Best Detox Crockpot Lentil Soup (healthy, creamy, YUM)
- Simple Homemade Tomato Soup (maybe even with our No Knead CHEESE Bread?!)
- Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup (our favorite pairing)
- Instant Pot Minestrone Soup (like a hug in a bowl)
- Basic + Awesome Broccoli Cheese Soup (cheese and bread, can’t go wrong)
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One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our collection of easy baking recipes. Check it out!
Filed Under: All Recipes Baking Dairy-Free Dutch Oven Fall Most Popular Quick and Easy Recipes Sides Soups Spring Winter
September 28, 2022
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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Will this work in a regular bread pan if it’s covered?
I have been making this bread for several years, always comes our great, wonderful best of show at county fair. Was wondering how far in advance can make the bread
I’ve never made bread before. But I wanted to impress the family for our recent Easter dinner and it was a HUGE hit! My first batch came out too wet, so I had to start over. The instructions weren’t exactly clear about how much water to ACTUALLY use, so I poured it all in. (Bread newbie, remember?) But I quickly learned and all my batches after that turned out amazing. Perfect texture for decadent grilled apple-cheese sandwiches, perfect for dipping in soups, and even for just toasting and adding some melty butter. Try this recipe! (But remember, don’t use all the water!)
Hi, I only have a 3 quart pot so I’m halving the recipe. Do I still cook it for the same length of time or should it be reduced? Many thanks.
We haven’t tried baking a half version of this so can’t say for sure! I would probably check the bread at the halfway mark to see how it’s coming along – I would assume though that it takes less time!
I’ve been making this recipe since 11/19, I’m up to 408 loaves!
I’ve added herbs, cheeses and anything else my people want.
Every gathering that requests a dish to pass everyone counts on my bread showing up!
I now have a Left Crueset bread oven it it comes out even more delicious.
Thank you this perfect recipe!
Wow! This is amazing! Well done!
The bread has a 100% success rate in my house! Easy, delicious, and loved by my family and friends!
Hi. This bread sounds amazing. If I use bread flour instead, are there any modifications to make to the recipe? Thanks so much!
Hi Lisa! Other readers have used bread flour without modifications and had great results.
I make this bread weekly and it’s magical! Literally takes less time than driving to the store to buy bread and so delicious!
I’ll be making it very soon. Thank you for such an easy bread recipe!!!
OMG! This bread is everything! I’m so glad I found this recipe. I’m not a baker but I am learning and this came out so well yesterday I’m making another loaf today. Thanks so much for sharing this!
After baking 2 loaves previously, which turned out great, yesterday’s loaf was a runny mass. So I added more flour to make it manageable. Put it back in the bowl and let it rest for several more hours. Then I carried on with baking it as the recipe said. It ended up being a bigger loaf, but it tasted just fine. I use a 4.8 qt. pot. “Leftovers” can be made into French Toast or Bread Pudding, or cubed and used as stuffing. 👍🏼
Thank you for such an easy bread recipe and no-fuss instructions! I wanted a simple homemade recipe that would taste wholesome. This was extremely hands-off and I was given a cute round golden crusty boule with chewy insides. I feel accomplished and my kids love. This will be gone in a day!
I’ve made this delicious bread before but wondering if a way to bake it in a more oval shape rather than round? Thanksgiving!
Hi! So exciting making this and it looks so pretty . Mine has a real musty bitey flavor . Couldn’t be the brand of yeast ?
Hi Julie! So hard to say what may be contributing to the flavor. It could definitely be the brand of yeast or possibly old yeast.
I tried to form dough ball after 14 hours on counter. It was extremely gloppy & could not form ball after adding flour. It was a disaster. What did I do wrong?
Hi Stella! Sorry to hear this. The dough is generally very gloppy and sticky after sitting on the counter. We flour well and do our best to shape the dough into a circle on the parchment paper and plop it into the Dutch oven. If it was extremely runny, I think I’d add even more flour until it was able to be shaped into somewhat of a circle/mound.
Great. Thank you for sharing the insights. It is very yummy it also tried on Costco, a restaurant based in United States.
I made this not expecting much. I was quite surprised. This is a great simple bread recipe. It’s been years since I made any bread, save for the frozen dough at the grocer. I once had a great “Friendship Bread” starter I used to make for gatherings. However, at this age and with friends and family gone, complicated or lengthy recipes just don’t seem necessary so I buy ready-made dinner breads. I hope to find some variations on this recipe for other types or quick-to-make breads.
Thank You!
Amazing! So easy to follow and to make. Rave reviews all around; the bread was perfectly crusty and yet soft on the inside. I’ll be making this again and again. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
Hi! Thank you for sharing this recipe! Question, would this work with bread flour instead of all purpose?
I always use bread flour, so yes, perfect results every time.
Hi Lindsay! We haven’t tried this recipe with bread flour, but I think it’d work out great!
this was amazing. i’ve made it several times. and yes it’s a bit gloppy when you turn it out of the bowl. but it bakes up beautifuly
Thank you Lindsay for this recipe. I tried this before and failed as I had too hot of water. Tried it again and it is delicious!
How can I store if there’s any leftovers
We store in a storage container on the counter, or the fridge works too. Leftover bread tastes the best if you heat it up in the oven or slice and toast!
Hi! Can this recipe be doubled? Thank you!!
I think it’d be best to make 2 batches side by side!
I made this bread today. It is the first loaf of non-bread machine yeast bread I have ever made (and I am in my 60’s!) Super easy. And so so delicious! Thank you for teaching this “old dog” a new trick.
I’ve made this bread twice. If’s fantastic and easy. Just follow instructions ,especially in regards to forming & no kneading the bread. I swear you could practically take it from the resting bowl throw it into the dutch oven amd call it a day. I might try that next time ! Mine rises nicely in the oven more than the bowl. People ” knead” lol ,to understand this dough will not look or feel like typical bread and don’t add a bunch of flour to try and make it elasticy. Just ho with it. Have faith !
Our family’s favorite bread now! I’ve made it in the dutch oven and without it, it’s fabulous both ways. I’ve also made it with “only” 5 hours of counter time and it turned out GREAT too.