This no-knead artisan bread is the easiest bread recipe you’ll ever make! You only need one bowl and 3 simple ingredients. This recipe is perfect for beginners!
Table of Contents
3 Ingredient Bread Recipe
Homemade bread is seriously pure comfort and a staple in my home. The very first recipe I ever made from scratch was my homemade white bread, which my family adores. I’ve made many more over the years, like my homemade bagels, homemade french bread and whole wheat bread.
You seriously won’t find an easier bread recipe than this! It comes together with only 3 ingredients (I don’t count water as an ingredient) and is perfect for beginner bakers along with my delicious dinner rolls. There’s no kneading required and the dough can be made in one bowl. Plus it only takes minutes to prep just like Irish soda bread.
I shaped this bread into a French Boule (circle) similar to a sourdough bread recipe, but you can shape it into a French baguette, rolls, pizza dough, or ciabatta. It’s super versatile and a recipe you’ll want to save for when you just have a few ingredients on hand.
Easy Artisan Bread Ingredients
This is an art form of bread! It is crispy, and crunchy on the outside with a soft inside. Every bite is warm and comforting. These ingredients are pantry staples. Make this easy bread recipe quickly and easily!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- All-purpose flour: Make sure to sift or use a spoon to add the flour to the measuring cups. This will help the homemade artisan bread raise properly and makes chewier bread. You make need a little more when you knead bread too.
- Kosher salt: This helps slow down the growth of the yeast as well as adds flavor. You will need to let the dough rise longer because there is no sugar in the ingredients to help build the yeast.
- Dry yeast packet: Instant yeast or active dry yeast works great to help the dough rise when mixed with water. Commercial yeast is best, no need for a sourdough starter recipe.
- Warm water: Get your water up to 105°F. This will activate yeast to raise the dough.
How to Make Artisan Bread
Only 3 main pantry ingredients to make this homemade artisan bread. Prepare a work surface to make this bread perfectly. It is beautiful and delicious!
- Make the dough. Add salt and yeast to a large bowl, then pour the warm water on top. Add the flour in all at once, then mix together. I used a dough whisk, but feel free to use a spatula, wooden spoon, or even your hands. The dough will still be sticky once it’s mixed together, but this is what you want.
- Cover and let rise. Cover the bowl with a towel until the dough doubles in size. This will take about 2 to 3 hours, however the longer you allow it to rise the better. You can leave it on the counter to rise for up to 12 hours. Once it rises, you can prepare to bake or cover the bowl with saran wrap and stick it in the refrigerator to bake later. It will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Shape the dough. Dust your hands with flour, then lightly turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape the dough into your preferred shape, ensuring not to punch it down or knead it. I like to shape mine into a French boule (round circle). Or shape it into 2 loaves and tuck the ends under. Add a light dust of flour on top, then use a bread knife to make about 1 to 4 lines across the top.
- Let rest again. Line a pizza peel, skillet, or pan with parchment, then lightly sprinkle flour on top. Add the dough and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Bake in the oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F. You want the bread to cook on a hot surface, so place a baking stone, pizza stone, or flipped-over iron skillet into the oven. Let it warm in the oven for about 20 minutes while the oven preheats.
Cooking Tips
Get ready to learn all about the tips and ways to make this artisan bread the best. Bake this homemade bread in different ways, measure it perfectly, and patiently wait for the bread to rise before baking. All these great things will add up to the best artisan bread!
- Double it! You can easily double this recipe to make an extra loaf and freeze it for later.
- Baking stone. If you don’t have a baking stone, you can turn a cast iron skillet or baking sheet upside down and place it in to then to heat up.
- Parchment paper. Use parchment paper to easily slide the dough ball onto the hot skillet in the oven. The bread will cook on parchment paper.
- Measure perfectly. Knowing how to measure flour accurately can make a big difference in texture.
- Raise. The longer you let it rise, the chewier the bread will be. You can let it rise on the counter for up to 12-18 hours and up to a week in the refrigerator. I prefer to make it the night before I bake it.
- Small loaves. Split the dough in half if you’d prefer to make 2 smaller loaves. This recipe makes about a 9-inch loaf.
- Crusty crust. If you don’t have a broiler pan, stick a cup of water in a small oven-safe pan or toss in about 5 ice cubes to help keep steam in the oven. This will create a crusty crust.
- Storing. Store in a paper bag so it doesn’t soften.
What to Serve with Artisan Bread?
Artisan bread is perfect on its own with a little bit of butter or jam or warm out of the oven. Cook your favorite soup, mix together a salad or use it as sliced bread for a sandwich. The possibilities are endless!
- This bread tastes impressive alongside a warm bowl of chicken noodles or tomato soup.
- Spread butter, garlic herb butter, or strawberry jam on top.
- Dip into a warm cheese dip or this bread dipping oil recipe.
- Use it to make a grilled caprese sandwich.
- Add mashed guacamole on top to make avocado toast.
Recipe FAQs
Artisan bread is a leaner formulation with low sugar and fat level compared to other types of bread. There is little to no use of dough conditioners and high or low hydration levels. It is known to be good for you compared to other bread recipes.
Artisan bread is known for its shape, texture, and appearance. It has a special flavor and aroma that is comforting with a sweet and savory taste.
If you are making a whole-grain handmade artisan loaf, then yes, it is a bit healthier. It contains a great source of fiber, antioxidants, and other ways to help reduce the risk of diabetes among other health benefits.
5 star review
“This is the best recipe! I couldn’t be happier with the results. My family loved this, and it was so easy to make. I will make this time and time again. There is something so comforting about a warm slice of home made bread.”
-Molly
Ready to make more bread recipes? Try making your own pita bread, fry bread or dutch oven bread!
More Homemade Bread Recipes
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Artisan Bread Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 cups (395 grams) all-purpose flour , or bread flour
- ½ Tablespoon Kosher salt
- ¼ ounce instant or active dry yeast packet , or 2 1/4 teaspoons
- 1 ½ cups warm water , 105°F
Instructions
Make dough:
- Place the flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Then pour the warm water (about 105°F) over top, making sure it's not too hot. Then you can use a dough whisk, spatula, wooden spoon or your hands to mix together. The dough should still be somewhat wet and sticky, but add more flour if it's too sticky to handle.
- Once the flour is all mixed in, cover with a towel or plastic wrap spayed with nonstick spray for 2-10 hours, or you can leave on the counter overnight. The longer you let it rise, the more it will ferment.
Shape:
- Wet your hands and turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. The dough will be sticky. Do not punch it down, knead it or roll it out. Gently pull the sides up and fold into the middle to make your preferred shape. I typically work it into a French boule (round circle) or 2 loaves and tuck the ends under.
- Place dough on a piece of parchment paper. Lightly dust the top with flour and then use a bread knife to add 1-4 lines across the top. Let it rest about 20-30 minutes.
Bake:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a baking stone, a pizza stone, dutch oven or a iron skillet into the oven.
- Slide the dough with the parchment paper onto the hot stone. To make crustier, place either 1 cup of hot water in a small broiler pan or 5 ice cubes into the bottom of the oven and shut the door to trap the steam. Then bake for 25-30 minutes or until browned.
- Allow to cool on a cooling rack for at least 30 minutes. Slice the bread and serve. Store in a paper bag so it doesn't soften.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Just made today & so happy how it turned out. Thanks
So happy to hear you loved it!
Super easy and good. I was having a lazy day and this fit the bill and the tummy!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Okay help me diagnose this: my loaf was very small and very flat and dense. I let it rise on the counter for closer to 24 hours (totally forgot about it) could that have caused this?? I also combined all dry ingredients together and then added water instead of the yeast salt then water and flour. Could that have been my mistake? I feel lame because this should be so easy! Help!
Hi Abbey, Yes I’m thinking it was because you left out 24 hours. I find it’s best around 8 hour mark.
OK, here is my first attempt! I really wanted some whole wheat in there so I did half reg flour and half sprouted whole wheat flour. I live in Colorado and not sure if the elevation matters? I followed the recipe exactly except I don’t have a Dutch oven. I do have cast-iron skillets though and split it up into two. Came out crusty and flavor is great but the inside is a little bit doughy. Baked it 30 mins. Should I baked it longer? I have pictures, but I don’t know how to post them…
Whole wheat flour can affect texture of yeast bread quite a bit and is most likely the culprit although baking at altitude does require some adjustments as well (this bread has not been tested baking at altitude). I would try it without the wheat flour and also let it do a long first rise in the refrigerator (see cooking tips). Looking forward to how it goes and always feel free to post on social media and tag I Heart Naptime, would love to see your photos!
I don’t have kosher salt, can I use sea salt instead?
Yes, if you are using a fine sea salt you may need a little less.
I like this recipe! I made it twice and both came out great!
when using the dutch oven, do you recommend keeping the lid on for the cook and removing it at the end or keeping it off for the whole cook?
This recipe was so simple yet tasted so intricate. I added fresh rosemary and paired with a scratch made garlic butter. It was absolutely delicious.
Very easy to make. Had no problems. What I’d like to know is after doughnuts mixed and ready to sit , would it be better to put in a olied bowl so that it doesn’t stick to bowl??
I’ve made this twice now. The first time it looked like a giant potato but tasted great. This time I’ve gotten a little better at shaping it, and it still tastes great. This will be my “go-to” recipe for bread.
I’ve always wanted to make homemade bread. Well, I made this recipe and it was really easy to follow along. The bread came really good. I seen one review where they said it was not done in the middle. I followed the instructions and I heated my cast iron double dutch oven. I baked it for the 30 minutes and it was not done. I used a meat thermometer and it was doughy. So put it back in for 10 more minutes and it still wasn’t done, so I did it again for 6 minutes and the thermometer said it was 203 degrees and it was perfect. I will make it again.
I’m so glad you loved the artisan bread John!
So amazing. A lot of no-kneads don’t cook all the way through. This one is stellar. Maybe because it’s not done in a pot? Best. ever.
Sooo good!
It did get a bit sticky. Tried more flour as suggested then in the fridge.
Voila! Amazing
Cast iron skillet worked great!
Thank you. 🙏
I also used a cast iron skillet. Mine came out so tasty.
I don’t know why but mine turns out looking great, but once cut into the dough is dense and wet, but not raw. I’ve tried it three times now 😞
Hi Chelsey, I’m sorry it didn’t cook all the way through. Every oven cooks differently, I would add about 10 minutes. The best way to know if it’s done is to knock on the bottom of the loaf and see if it sounds hallow. You can also use an instant read thermometer and it should read about 200°F.
Can I use GF flour to make this?
Hi Tessie! I haven’t tested this recipe using GF flour. If you try it, let me know how it turns out :)
I have white lilly self rising flour. Will that work for this recipe?
I haven’t tested self rising flour, but let me know if you test it out.
i loved how fast and flexible this recipe is. If i get a late start i can leave the dough over night and bake first thing in the morning making the bread into small individual loaves for lunches.
Excellent recipe! It is just like the bread my grandmother used to make!! Only difference is she eyeballed everything. Thanks to you we now have a recipe .