Dutch Oven No Knead Bread Recipe

Here’s a no knead bread recipe you can make overnight – in the morning, just pop it in your Dutch oven and bake.

If you love homemade bread as much as we do, here’s a treat. Skip the kneading and try this no knead Dutch oven bread recipe instead – easier on you and it tastes delicious, especially warm out of the oven.

Doesn’t this look good? 

 

Instead of buying an artisan bread at your bakery or grocery store, make your own rustic loaf of bread. This bread has a wonderful flavor and texture with a golden crust.

Here’s how to bake bread in a Dutch oven.

Dutch Oven No Knead Bread Recipe

You can use either a cast iron Dutch oven or an enamel Dutch oven – your choice! Just make sure you have a lid; this bread won’t bake properly with the lid!

No Knead Bread Ingredients

Here’s all the ingredients you need to whip up a batch of this bread!

 

• flour  (you can use all purpose flour but for best results, use bread flour. You can use white flour or whole wheat flour)
• salt (table salt is fine; you can also use sea salt)
• active dry yeast RAPID RISE (instant yeast)
• warm water
• olive oil

 

Instructions for Dutch Oven Bread

Add water, yeast, salt and flour to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, begin to stir until the flour is well mixed and looks shaggy and sticky. Once the mixture looks like shaggy dough (in that it’s mixed but not smooth), it’s ready for the next step.

Gently form the bread dough into a round ball. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature overnight.

 

Baking Dutch Oven Bread

When you are ready to bake your loaf the next day, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

Pop the Dutch oven in the oven and let it get hot. After 30 minutes, carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven and increase the heat to 450 degrees.

Lightly drizzle olive oil around the rim of the Dutch oven. Be careful as the Dutch oven will be HOT! Note: You can use a piece of parchment paper instead of oiling the Dutch oven.

Wet your hands, and scoop the dough out of the bowl. Drop the dough into the Dutch oven.

 

Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the loaf is golden brown. After resting in the Dutch oven for 10 minutes carefully remove the bread from the Dutch oven.

Set your loaf on a wire rack to let it cool.

Slice with a sharp knife and slather with butter – this easy no cook Strawberry Jam is wonderful on a slice of warm bread!

Or serve alongside a large bowl of homemade soup (like this delicious Salmon chowder) or chili. This bread is lovely with butter, parmesan cheese and fresh herbs, like sprinkles of rosemary or thyme.

 

Dutch Oven Bread FAQ’s:

What’s the best size of Dutch oven for bread?

The best sizes for a Dutch oven for baking bread is between 5 quarts and 7 1/2 quarts. These are large enough to hold the dough for a loaf of bread. The 6-quart Dutch oven is a popular size.

How do I get the bread out of a Dutch oven if it sticks?

This shouldn’t happen if it was well oiled, but if it does, here’s what to try. Put the lid back on and let it sit, and hopefully the steam will help release the bread.

If this doesn’t do it, try prying it out, or check here for some good tips on getting the loaf out.

What’s a good quality Dutch oven for baking bread?

This one – Lodge is a fantastic company that stands behind every piece of cast iron cookware they sell. So here’s a great cast iron Dutch oven you can buy online – read the reviews!

How can I turn this into a campfire bread recipe?

You can also turn this into a campfire bread in a Dutch oven! Be sure to start with hot coals not actual flames.

Let the dough rise for at least an hour (instead of overnight), then preheat your Dutch oven in the campfire for 30 minutes.

Bake the bread for about one and a half hours until the crust is golden brown. The cook time will vary depending on the heat in your fire.

Can you bake bread in enameled cast iron?

Yes you certainly can! The tight fitting lid of these enamel Dutch ovens are great, because it will trap the steam inside and that’s what you want for making a great loaf of bread. Here’s a Lodge enamel Dutch oven you can buy online. 

More Country Living Recipes

Looking for a different quick loaf recipe? Try this easy Banana bread – it’s moist, delicious and perfect with a hot cup of coffee!

Try this home made Pizza Dough recipe – it makes 3 crusts, so use what you need, freeze the rest for an easy meal next week!

This is our favourite home made fresh Salsa! And we’ve included all the canning instructions so you can process shelf stable Salsa for your pantry!

 

 

 

Dutch Oven No Knead Bread Recipe

 

 

originally published Feb 2022; latest update October 2022