Name: No Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
Prep time: 540 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour (White Lily); 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp active dry yeast; 2 tsp sugar; 1 cup 109 to 112 degree water (divided)

This No Knead Artisan Bread Recipe is so simple to make and so delicious, I doubt you’ll buy bread again from the store. The only real time involved in this recipe is the time the dough takes to rise.

Homemade Crusty Brad on piece of tan parchment paper on white marble with gray background — Artisan Bread is easy to prepare, tender and chewy with a crusty top like you have never seen!

I wanted to create a simple and quick bread recipe that didn’t sacrifice flavor and structure. Consequently, this bread recipe was born! Artisan breads like this one have a tender, chewy texture and deep golden color and crunchy exterior.

This truly is a no-fail bread recipe. My kids and I take turns making it almost daily because it really is just that simple. I love the fact that you only need 5 ingredients to make a wonderful homemade bread: flour, water, salt, sugar, and yeast.

Artisan Crusty Bread on parchment paper on white background with black background with steam rising from the bread — My favorite part of bread making is watching the steam bellow from the bread right as I am about to devour it!

If you follow the No Knead Tips here, you will get perfect artisan bread every time. I am also including some key tips below.

Bright photo of fresh artisan bread on parchment paper on white background — Chewy and light with a crunchy crust. If that is what you want, this is the bread recipe for you!

Tip #1: Wait for the Yeast to React with the Sugar

In a small bowl with 109- to 112-degree water, add sugar and mix well. This will give a head start to the yeast’s bubbly reaction. Add the yeast and then wait for about 20 minutes or until you see the chemical reaction of bubbles taking place.

Add the bubbly yeast mixture to one side of the larger bowl with your flour-and-salt mixture. At the same time, add the remaining water to the other side of the bowl. Begin to gently mix the ingredients, making sure all the flour is well incorporated.

Dough formed into a ball in the middle of a bowl — This is the way the dough should look before first rise. All of the flour is mixed with the water and yeast and is a sticky ball of dough. You can tell it will be a little tacky.

Tip #2: Incorporate Liquid Fully into the Dough

Although this is a no-knead recipe, the ingredients need to be incorporated completely before you leave the dough to rise. Depending on the humidity of the air, this process can take a little longer on some days than other days.

Once you have mixed the ingredients with a wooden spoon, get your hands in the mix and begin pressing the dry pieces into the wet until completely incorporated. I “squish” the ingredients together. That’s the best way to describe it! This is very important for the dough’s rise.

Often, different flours will retain moisture differently as well. If your dough is dry, add a little more water by the tablespoon. You will want to make sure it is a little sticky.

I handle the dough for about 5 minutes using my hands.

Tip #3: Why Salt Is Important in Any No Knead Bread Recipe

Often, people think salt is only to flavor the bread. Actually, there are several reasons the salt is important, especially in this recipe.

You don’t have to knead this bread because the amount of salt in the dough controls the rate of fermentation and strengthens the gluten.

Always start with mixing the dry ingredients together and incorporating the salt throughout. If the salt isn’t incorporated well and comes in direct contact with the yeast, it will kill the yeast and your dough won’t rise.

Dough that has risen overnight in a bowl with a purple vintage napkin — This is the way the dough should look after the 8 to 18 hour rise. The ball of dough expands and fills the entire bottom of the bowl. From here, gently remove it to a floured piece of parchment paper and shape it into a ball for the second rise.

Tip #4: Allow a Second Rise in a Warm Location Free From Drafts

After the dough has risen overnight, slowly and gently remove it to a floured piece of parchment paper and shape it into a ball.

Make sure to place the dough in a warm location free from drafts. Even if you don’t see a large increase in the second rise, go ahead and bake the bread. It will rise in the oven, though it may be a bit more dense. It should still be good if it rose the night before.

Dough that has risen a second time on a piece of parchment paper — After shaping the dough into a ball on parchment paper, allow to rise for 30 minutes to an hour. Use parchment paper to lift dough into the hot Dutch oven so the dough doesn’t fall.

Tip #5: Why Use A Dutch Oven in Preparing No-Knead Artisan Bread?

Using a Dutch Oven for this recipe is also of utmost importance. Moisture is key. The amount of water in the dough forms steam in the Dutch Oven. This moisture eventually evaporates, forming the chewy texture of the bread and a crunchy crust.

Once you have tried it, this recipe will permanently be in your repertoire – I guarantee it.

Don’t forget to check out 5 Tips for for creating the perfect No-Knead Artisan Bread.