Description

This easy Dutch oven no-knead bread recipe yields a crusty, artisan-style loaf with minimal effort. Using a long, slow rise and baking in a preheated Dutch oven ensures a beautifully browned crust and a tender, airy crumb. Perfect for beginners and bread lovers alike, this recipe requires just a few simple ingredients and no kneading.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1½ teaspoons sea salt

Wet Ingredients

1½ cups warm water (105°F)

Instructions

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, active dry yeast, and sea salt until well combined.
Mix the Dough: Pour in the warm water and stir until all ingredients come together to form a shaggy, somewhat sticky dough ball. The mixture should look slightly rough and uneven.
First Rise Setup: Transfer your dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap, then place a dampened kitchen towel over top to maintain optimal humidity.
Long, Slow Rise: Place the covered bowl in a draft-free location at room temperature and allow the dough to rise for 18 to 24 hours. The dough will become bubbly and develop a complex flavor during this time.
Preheat Your Setup: Position your oven rack in the middle and place your Dutch oven inside. Preheat to 450°F and allow the Dutch oven to heat for at least 30 minutes.
Shape the Loaf: Turn the dough onto a generously floured surface. With floured hands, gently gather and shape the dough into a round loaf, being careful not to deflate it too much.
Bake to Perfection: Carefully transfer the shaped dough into your preheated Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until deeply golden brown.
Cool and Enjoy: Remove the finished loaf from the Dutch oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Make sure the water is at 105°F to activate the yeast without killing it.
The long rise time of 18-24 hours allows the bread to develop complex flavors.
Do not skip preheating the Dutch oven as this creates the perfect environment for crust development.
Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent a gummy texture inside.
You can store leftover bread wrapped in a clean towel at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: no knead bread, Dutch oven bread, easy bread recipe, homemade bread, artisan bread, no knead Dutch oven bread