Easy No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread Loaf Recipe Perfect for Beginners
A simple, beginner-friendly no-knead artisan bread loaf with a crusty exterior and airy crumb, requiring minimal hands-on time and basic pantry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 13 hours
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 12 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups (355ml) warm water (about 80°F/26°C)
Instructions
- Mix the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Stir dry ingredients evenly. Slowly add 1 1/2 cups (355ml) warm water (about 80°F/26°C) while stirring with a spatula until no dry flour remains and dough is sticky and shaggy. Takes about 5 minutes.
- Let it rest: Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap or kitchen towel. Leave at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours until dough doubles in size and is bubbly.
- Preheat oven: About 30 minutes before baking, place Dutch oven or heavy oven-safe pot with lid inside oven and preheat to 450°F (230°C).
- Shape the dough: Lightly flour work surface and gently turn dough out. Fold over itself a couple of times to form a rough ball. Place seam-side down on parchment paper, dust top with flour, cover loosely with towel, and rest 30 to 45 minutes.
- Bake the bread: Remove hot Dutch oven from oven. Lift dough with parchment paper and lower into pot. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake additional 15 to 20 minutes until deep golden brown and crusty.
- Cool and enjoy: Transfer bread to wire rack and cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Use filtered water if tap water is heavily chlorinated to avoid impacting yeast activity. Preheating the Dutch oven is crucial for crust development. If dough feels dry, add a tablespoon or two of water next time. For a crispier crust, bake uncovered a few extra minutes. Avoid adding too much flour when shaping to prevent drying out dough.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of l
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: no-knead bread, artisan bread, crusty bread, easy bread recipe, beginner bread, homemade bread, no-knead artisan loaf