No Knead Artisan Bread

Introduction

No Knead Artisan Bread delivers bakery-style results with minimal effort. Its crisp, golden crust and tender, airy crumb make it the ultimate crowd-pleaser for home cooks who crave rustic, homemade bread—without hours of kneading or complicated steps. All you need is a simple mix, some patience, and your oven to enjoy a loaf that tastes like it’s fresh from a professional bakery.

Why This No Knead Artisan Bread is a Must-Try

The main appeal of this recipe is its simplicity: mix, let rise, shape, and bake. With just a few ingredients, you achieve an artisan-quality loaf boasting a flavorfully fermented dough and a crackling crust. The long fermentation develops deep flavors, and the no-knead method means anyone can make it—no stand mixer, elbow grease, or fancy equipment required.

The Secret to Effortless Artisan Bread

The dough comes together in minutes, and the secret lies in the slow rise. An overnight fermentation period (8 to 18 hours) allows the yeast to do all the heavy lifting, building flavor and structure. Baking in a preheated Dutch oven traps steam, giving the loaf its signature crispy crust.

Serving Suggestions for No Knead Artisan Bread

This bread is remarkably versatile—pair thick, warm slices with soups, serve it as a base for bruschetta, or enjoy simply with butter, olive oil, or your favorite jam. Its hearty texture also makes it perfect for sandwiches or as a rustic side for hearty stews.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

A typical homemade loaf yields about 12 slices. Each slice contains roughly 120-140 calories, depending on thickness. Made with wholesome, simple ingredients, it’s a tasty and budget-friendly staple you can feel good about serving.

No Knead Artisan Bread (Recap)

By combining minimal effort with maximum flavor, this bread delivers impressive bakery results at home—making it a bread lover’s dream and an easy choice for gatherings or everyday meals.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and seamless meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, and salt. Pour in the lukewarm water and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms (no need to knead).
2. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Let the dough rest at room temperature for 8–18 hours, until it has doubled in size and has bubbles on the surface.
3. Heavily flour a work surface and your hands. Turn out the dough and shape it into a ball, tucking the ends underneath. (The dough will be sticky; that’s normal!)
4. Place the dough onto a piece of parchment paper or a well-floured towel. Dust the surface lightly with flour or cornmeal. Cover with a towel and let rise for 30–45 minutes while you preheat the oven.
5. Place a Dutch oven (or heavy lidded pot) in your oven and preheat to 450°F (230°C) for at least 30 minutes.
6. When the oven is ready, carefully remove the hot pot and place the dough (with parchment paper, if using) inside. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, until the crust is deep golden brown.
7. Cool completely on a rack before slicing to enjoy the best texture and flavor.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is an ideal addition to your weekly meal prep and menu. Save and schedule this recipe to streamline shopping and meal timing—with smart shopping lists that keep all your planned ingredients organized without extra work.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically sums ingredient amounts across all your scheduled recipes
• Sorts your shopping list by grocery store section so shopping is quick and efficient
• Prevents overbuying and missed ingredients on busy shopping days
• Makes week-long meal prep easy—even for baking projects!

Pro tip: Schedule your recipes within CookifyAI to see how ingredients like flour or yeast are used in multiple bread or baking recipes each week, so you never run out or buy too much.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes (active), 8–18 hours (rise)
Cook Time: 40–45 minutes
Total Time: About 9–19 hours (mostly hands-off)