No-Knead Loaf Bread

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/15/24
Bread with a deep brown crust in a loaf pan

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Rise Time: 5 hrs
Total: 5 hrs 35 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 1 loaf

Most yeasted loaves of bread require lots of work and kneading, which makes the dough light and airy. Luckily you can achieve crusty and delicious bread without kneading the dough.

This no-knead bread recipe is great for beginner breadbakers because it requires very little effort. The ingredients take about five minutes to measure and mix, and the bread is quickly shaped and deposited in the loaf pan, ready for baking. It does require two rounds of proofing (or rising), but your patience will yield fantastic results.

Get ready for the amazing smell of bread baking wafting through your house. The bread is perfect for slicing to make toast, sandwiches, or French toast, or to accompany eggs, soups, and pasta dishes.

Tips for Making No Knead Bread Recipe

  • Measure accurately - For best results, measure the flour using the dip and sweep method.
  • Prep dough ahead of time - You can refrigerate the dough overnight after the first rising, then bring it to room temperature on baking day and form it into a loaf shape.
  • Proof in the oven - The best draft-free place in most kitchens is in the oven. Turn on the light and don't turn on the heat while the bread is rising.
  • No pan, no problem! - If you don't have a loaf pan handy, form the bread into a rough, round shape and bake it on a greased cookie sheet.


What You'll Need to Make This No-Knead Bread Recipe
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A Nice Big Mixing Bowl
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A Handy Dandy Whisk
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A Sturdy Loaf Pan

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons fine salt

  • 2 teaspoons sugar, or honey, optional

  • 1 1/2 cups water, at room temperature

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 2 teaspoons sugar or honey, if using.

  3. Use a whisk or spoon to blend well.

  4. Slowly add 1 1/2 cups water and stir with a wooden spoon or your hands, until well mixed.

  5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in a draft-free place to rise for 4 hours.

  6. Grease an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with butter.

  7. Scrape the dough out onto a well-floured surface, such as a silicone mat, parchment paper, or a cutting board.

  8. With floured hands, shape the dough into a rough rectangle about 8 1/2 inches by 12 inches. Add small amounts of flour, if needed, to keep it from sticking to the surface. Try to handle the dough gently so it doesn't deflate too much. You want lots of little air bubbles through the loaf.

  9. Gently fold the ends to form a rough loaf shape. Drop it into the prepared pan.

  10. Cover the pan loosely with a clean, lightweight dish towel, and set in a draft-free place for 1 hour, or until it is approximately double in size.

  11. Heat the oven to 425 F. With a sifter or fine-mesh sieve, dust the risen loaf with a little more flour.

  12. Bake the loaf for 25 minutes, until it's a deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

  13. Remove from the oven and turn the bread out onto a rack to cool completely before slicing. 

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

Spice up your bread by sprinkling and gently pressing one of these toppings onto the loaf before baking:

  • Add texture - Add 2 tablespoons of roasted pumpkin seeds for extra crunch. Roasted squash seeds work as well.
  • Season it well - Add 2 tablespoons of bagel seasoning, or use poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or onion salt, either alone or in a custom combination.
  • Make it savory - Add 2 tablespoons of cumin seeds or caraway seeds.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
115 Calories
0g Fat
24g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 115
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 244mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 38mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)