Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links.* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read our affiliate policy.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (1)

Bread is one of the easiest and most rewarding recipes you can make with few ingredients. All it takes is some yeast, salt, flour, and water to make a delicious, crusty, pillowy homemade bread. Having the ingredients necessary for bread in your pantry is easily attainable, especially for survivalists.

Many people shy away from making homemade bread due to the kneading, rising, and waiting that bread requires. This easy homemade no-knead bread is the perfect easy bread recipe for someone just beginning their bread baking skills. All it takes is a little patience and no kneading whatsoever and you have hot, crisp, fresh bread on your table!

Article continues below.

Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!

Easy Homemade No-Knead Bread Recipe (serves 8-10)

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Begin by gathering all of your ingredients for the bread. The process moves quickly so it’s nice to have everything laid out for yourself.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (2)
  1. Add the flour, salt, and yeast to a large bowl. Whisk the dry ingredients together well.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (3)
  1. Using a spatula, stir in the water until the mixture forms a clumpy, shaggy dough. Fold the flour with the water until all of the flour is well hydrated but not wet.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (4)
  1. Form the dough into a ball in the same bowl. I like to make it neat so that there are no hard, rogue flour bits that are not incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for 12 hours. The dough will be very bubbly and active from the yeast when rising.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (5)
  1. After 12 hours, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a 12-quart Dutch oven with a lid into the oven. This will heat the Dutch oven, which is the vessel in which we are baking the bread. The dough should have at least doubled in size.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (6)
  1. Once the oven is done preheating, remove the very hot Dutch oven from the scorching oven. Be careful as it is very hot.
  1. Layer a piece of parchment paper in the Dutch oven so that the bread doesn’t stick to the pot.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (8)
  1. Using a spatula, carefully add the risen dough on top of the parchment in the Dutch oven. Using oven mitts, place the lid back on and place the entire vessel into your preheated oven.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (9)
  1. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and allow the bread to get browned and crisp on top, another 10-15 minutes.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (10)
  1. Remove from the oven and take the parchment-lined bread out of the Dutch oven.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (11)
  1. Allow the bread to cool completely before serving.
Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (12)

FAQ on Homemade Bread

What is the difference between no-knead bread and regular bread?

No-knead bread requires none of the heavy work that traditional bread needs. As you can see, this recipe did not call for any kneading whatsoever. Instead, the bread dough rose for at least 12 hours, providing a light and airy result. The yeast expands and creates air pockets, leading to a perfectly chewy, textured loaf of bread. Kneaded bread requires a stand mixer with a dough hook or lots of elbow grease.

Can any bread recipe be no-knead?

No, unfortunately not. Certain types of bread require tons of kneading for the perfect loaf. For example, brioche bread recipes require lots of kneading to develop that stretchy gluten. The kneading provides delicate texture in many bread recipes across the internet.

What does kneading do to bread dough?

Wheat flour contains gluten. Gluten acts like glue or a binder, which famously holds together delicious items such as bread and pasta. Kneading helps to develop that gluten, which turns it into a stretchy, springy dough that bounces back when poked. Kneading for long periods of time creates a delicate, familiar texture that we know and love from most bread recipes.

No Knead to Worry – Bread is Easy to Make!

After reading this simple recipe, you can see that no-knead bread is an easily attainable recipe with few ingredients. There is a little waiting time, but the payoff is great in the end.

There is nothing like crusty homemade bread to snack on or to make sandwiches. Bread is a sustainable, easy dish that can fill you up and keep you full. If you have never tried homemade bread before, this is the recipe to start with!

Like this post? Don’t Forget to Pin It On Pinterest!

You May Also Like:

  • How To Master The Art Of Bread Baking
  • How Pioneers Made Bread With No Yeast
  • 6 Flatbread Recipes From Around The World
  • How To Make Peasant Bread Step-by-Step
  • How To Make Bread In A Crockpot

Simple No-Knead Bread Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) (2024)

FAQs

What are the 4 basic ingredients in baking bread? ›

There are only four yeast bread ingredients you really need: flour, yeast, water, and salt. All the other ingredients in a recipe are there to add flavor, nutrition, color, and to change the characteristics of the crumb.

What are the basic ingredients in quick breads? ›

The possibilities are endless, but the common factor is the basic ingredients of fat, sugar, eggs, flour, liquid, leavening agent, and a flavoring ingredient. The flavoring might be a fruit or vegetable, a liquid such as buttermilk or fruit juice, an extract, herbs, or spices.

What ingredient makes bread soft and fluffy? ›

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

What food is made of flour water and yeast? ›

bread: food made of flour, water, and yeast or another leavening agent, mixed together and baked.

What does egg do in bread dough? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

What are the 5 essential ingredients in bread? ›

The five main ingredients in bread are:
  • Flour – The structural backbone, providing gluten.
  • Water – Hydrates the flour and activates gluten.
  • Yeast – Essential for fermentation and leavening .
  • Salt – Enhances flavor and regulates yeast activity.
  • Sugar (optional) – A source of food for yeast, adding sweetness.
Dec 30, 2023

What are the 4 quick breads? ›

Muffins, coffeecakes, scones, and pancakes are examples of quick breads, that like their name implies, can be prepared quickly in a kitchen.

What is the quick bread method? ›

The stirring method (also known as the quick-bread method, blending method, or muffin method) is used for pancakes, muffins, corn bread, dumplings, and fritters. It calls for measurement of dry and wet ingredients separately, then quickly mixing the two.

What is the difference between basic bread and quick bread? ›

Simply put, quick bread is a bread recipe that is made without yeast. That's it! Instead of using yeast to achieve a rise, these bread recipes rely upon leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder. Unlike yeasted breads, quick breads don't need to be proofed or kneaded.

How do bakeries get their bread so soft? ›

There's something magical about the bread you get at your local bakeries - they're always sooo soft and fluffy. Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.

Does letting bread rise longer make it fluffier? ›

Does Rising Bread Affect Its Texture? For a fluffy bread texture, the key is to let the bread rise long enough.

Is it better to use oil or butter for bread? ›

When you substitute oil for butter, you need to take note of the texture. If you want delicate, soft, and tender baked goods, I recommend using oil vs. butter. Butter will result in a denser crumb and not be as moist.

What does just flour and water make? ›

When combined, flour and water create a dough that can be shaped and baked into a variety of delicious treats. Whether you're a professional baker or just starting out, understanding the role of flour and water in your recipes is crucial for creating delicious and satisfying baked goods.

What happens if you use too much yeast when making bread? ›

This can affect the bread by adding a "yeasty" taste if you put too much into the dough. General amounts of yeast are around 1 - 2 % of the flour, by weight. Too much yeast could cause the dough to go flat by releasing gas before the flour is ready to expand.

How much yeast do I need for 1 cup of flour? ›

For each cup of flour (125 g), that is 1.5 g of instant yeast, or 1/2 teaspoon. For salt, I add 2% of the flour weight or 2.5 g per cup or about 0.4 teaspoons of table salt if all else is unsalted.

What are the 4 ingredients always involved in yeast bread production? ›

First, the ingredients are mixed; the four basic ingredients used to make bread are flour, water, yeast, and salt. Combining these creates a dough, which is then kneaded before being left to rise, before being baked.

What are 4 key things to remember when making bread? ›

Follow these tips for bread that comes out right every time.
  • Use the right yeast. ...
  • Store your yeast properly. ...
  • Treat salt with care. ...
  • Take your time. ...
  • Try different flours. ...
  • Consider vitamin C. ...
  • Practice makes perfect. ...
  • Don't prove for too long.

What are the 6 main ingredients in bread? ›

Common Baking Ingredients
  • YEAST. Yeast is a single-celled living organism with a mighty big job in baking. ...
  • FLOUR. Wheat flour is the most common type of flour used in yeast baking. ...
  • LIQUIDS. ...
  • SALT. ...
  • SWEETENERS. ...
  • FATS. ...
  • EGGS.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6331

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.