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    Home » Recipes » Recipes » Breads » Yeast Breads

    No Knead Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

    Published by Melissa on June 5, 2025 | Updated July 26, 2025 | 3 Comments

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    Master this foolproof no knead dutch oven bread recipe with just 4 ingredients. Get bakery-quality crusty bread at home with minimal effort. Perfect for beginners!

    A round loaf of golden-brown bread rests on parchment paper in a green-handled Dutch oven on a wooden surface.

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    🍞 This recipe proves that sometimes less truly is more. With only flour, salt, yeast, and water, you’ll create a loaf that rivals any artisan bakery. The minimal ingredient list means you likely have everything you need right in your pantry!

    My 2 Best Tips For Making This No Knead Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

    Rise Time: In my kitchen, which stays around 70-72°F, I find the sweet spot is 12-18 hours for the initial rise. If your kitchen runs warmer (75°F+), check your dough at 8-10 hours – it should have doubled in size. Cooler kitchens (65°F or below) might need the full 24 hours. The dough is ready when it’s bubbly on top and jiggles slightly when you shake the bowl.

    Let It Cool: I know it’s incredibly tempting, but letting your bread cool for at least an hour is crucial. The interior is still cooking from residual heat during this time, and cutting too early will result in a gummy texture. Use this time to clean up your kitchen and build anticipation!

    melissa leaning over counter looking up from a cook book.

    There’s something magical about the aroma of fresh bread wafting through your kitchen, and I’m here to tell you that achieving bakery-quality results at home is easier than you ever imagined.

    This no knead dutch oven bread recipe has been my go-to for years, and it never fails to impress guests who can’t believe something so delicious came from such a simple process.

    The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity – just four basic ingredients and time do all the work for you. No fancy equipment, no kneading until your arms ache, and no complicated techniques. Just mix, wait, and bake your way to golden, crusty perfection!

    🩷 Melissa

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    Enter your email below and we will send it straight to your inbox. Plus you will get great new recipes from us every week!

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    A round loaf of golden-brown bread, made from a no knead dutch oven bread recipe, sits on parchment paper inside a green Dutch oven, resting on a wooden surface.
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    No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

    Master this foolproof no knead dutch oven bread recipe with just 4 ingredients. Get bakery-quality crusty bread at home with minimal effort. Perfect for beginners!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time50 minutes mins
    Resting Time8 hours hrs
    Total Time9 hours hrs
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 137kcal
    Author: Melissa Griffiths
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Ingredients 

    • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
    • 1 ¾ teaspoons Kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon Instant or Rapid-rise yeast
    • 1 ½ cups water

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl add the flour, salt, and yeast. Mix to combine.
    • Add the water and mix until it all comes together. The dough will be soft and "shaggy."
    • Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and let it rest at room-temperature for 8 to 24 hours.
    • When you are ready to bake your dough, turn it out onto a well-floured surface and shape it into a ball. Set the ball on a large piece of parchment paper.
    • Place the parchment paper and dough in a large Dutch oven or a big cast iron skillet with a lid .(A 6- to 9-quart cast iron dutch oven work best.) Let it rest for 20 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the pot, with the lid on, inside the oven and bake the bread for 30 minutes.
    • Carefully remove the lid and bake for another 20 minutes until the top is dark brown.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and then remove the bread from the pan by holding onto the edges of the parchment paper and lifting.
    • Let the bread cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before serving.

    Notes

    Servings: Makes 1 large loaf, easily enough for 10 servings.
    Flour Options: I’ve had great success with using half whole wheat and half all-purpose flour as well as using 100% whole wheat flour for this recipe.
    Make Ahead Option: After the initial 8-24 hour rise, you can refrigerate the dough for up to a week. The flavor actually improves with time. Just let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 of 10 slices | Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg

    Recipe FAQs

    What if I don’t have a dutch oven?

    While a dutch oven gives the best results, you can use any heavy, oven-safe pot with a tight-fitting lid. A large cast iron skillet with an oven-safe lid also works wonderfully. The key is creating that steamy environment for the perfect crust.

    How do I know when the bread is fully baked?

    Your bread is done when it’s deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 200-210°F.

    Why is my bread dense instead of airy?

    Dense bread usually results from not allowing enough rising time, using old yeast, or measuring flour incorrectly. Make sure your yeast is fresh, measure flour by spooning it into the cup rather than scooping, and be patient with the rising process.

    More Bread Recipes to Consider

    • Three homemade bread bowls sit hollowed-out on white plates, their tops beside them. Nearby, a wooden bowl with more round bread loaves and a striped towel rest together on a wooden board.
      Easy Homemade Bread Bowl
    • A round white plate filled with homemade oat-topped bread rolls on a marble surface showcases the perfect whole wheat hamburger bun recipe. More rolls are scattered around, complemented by a pink cloth and a white jar with wooden utensils visible in the scene.
      Whole Wheat Hamburger Bun Recipe
    • brioche bread with butter and jam
      Brioche Bread
    • Finished pizza rolls on a white plate
      Pizza Rolls

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram.

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    about us

    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Rehoboth

      July 19, 2025 at 12:13 am

      Wonderful Post Thanks

      Reply
    2. Rehoboth

      July 05, 2025 at 8:00 am

      Excellent dutch oven bread recipe
      Thanks

      Reply
    3. Rehoboth

      June 29, 2025 at 7:56 am

      Delightful post
      Thanks

      Reply

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