Crusty No-Knead Bread

Easy, soft Italian No-Knead Bread! This easiest recipe is packed with extra nutrition from the flax meal and steel-cut oats. It will quickly become your go-to bread recipe that your entire family will love.

Try our ciabatta bread and focaccia bread next!

Why you’ll love this recipe

This will easily become your go-to bread recipe that your entire family will love. There are A LOT of bread recipes out there…

This is a tried-and-true recipe that our family has made for decades. You can trust it, and I promise you will love it. Try more Italian-style breads: Fast Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread, Libby’s Pumpkin Bread, and No Knead Italian Focaccia Bread

This is an easy, versatile recipe for those who may not have much experience with bread baking. I have made it in a cast iron Dutch oven or a loaf pan! You can make the dough in the evening, let it rise overnight, and bake it in the morning—only about 30 minutes in the oven!

Try using this to make our favorite Porchetta Sandwich! You can also pair this with our Chicken Cacciatore.

Simple Ingredients

• Warm water (might need a little more) 
• Instant yeast
• Steel cut oats
• Ground golden flax meal
• All-purpose flour (or bread flour)
• Salt

How to Make No-Knead Bread

This bread is so easy to make! You mix everything in a large bowl, let it rise, shape the dough, let it rise again, and bake!

Instructions for making the no-knead bread dough

Dissolve the dried yeast into the warm water in a large mixing bowl.

Add the steel-cut oats and the flax meal and mix well (I use a fork).

Add flour and salt to the mix and incorporate well.

The dough will be sticky and slightly wet. If it seems dry, you may need to add a little more water. 

Cover the bowl with saran wrap and let it rise on the kitchen counter for at least 8 hours- up to overnight.

The dough will double in size. For best results make sure it is at least 75 degrees F.

Instructions if you want to add mix-ins to the bread (optional)

My mamma makes this bread every week. She usually makes two baguette loaves for Sunday dinner.

We walk into my parents’ home, and the smell of homemade bread fills the air—instantly making our mouths water and feet run towards the kitchen. The loaves are gobbled up between the adults and the grandchildren in the same evening.

FAQs

Expert Tips

• Use high-quality flour: A good Italian bread starts with high-quality flour, preferably bread flour for a chewier texture or a mix of all-purpose and bread flour.
• Hydration is key: A higher water content in the dough will create steam while baking, contributing to a soft but crusty exterior. The dough should be a little sticky when kneading.
• Slow rise for flavor: Allowing the dough to rise slowly in a cool place or overnight in the fridge develops flavor and a better crumb structure. Don’t rush the process.
• Steam in the oven: For that ideal crust, add steam to your oven by placing a pan of water on the bottom rack or spritzing the inside of the oven with water before baking.

Following these tips will give you a beautifully soft yet crusty loaf every time!

Variations

Optional Mix-Ins:

See the step-by-step process below for how to add mix-ins.

• walnuts
• raisins
• olives

Optional Toppings:

If you want to add toppings, sprinkle the loaves with the topping after the second rise and just before putting them in the oven

• sesame seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• poppy seeds

How to Store

For easy storage, I wrap the loaf in parchment paper then place it in a gallon zip lock bag. This keeps it fresh for 5-7 days at room temperature.

You can freeze the loaf in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying it.

Serving Suggestions

This bread is also delicious with butter and jam for breakfast, as a sandwich bread, or even a plain slice on the go!

Use this bread to soak up this delicious Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro) or White Bean Dip. You can also use it to make the best Thanksgiving stuffing!

Pair this with our German Goulash Soup on a chilly day! You can also pair this with our Italian pistachio cream for a sweet twist.

Who can resist the smell and taste of hot, chewy, tender bread with a perfect crunchy crust? Not me!

More Delicious Recipes for YOU

• Cheese and Broccoli Pasta Bake with White Sauce
• Red Wine Braised Chicken and Plums Recipe
• BEST Italian Beef Short Rib Ragu
• Authentic Italian Pasta Puttanesca Sauce
• Pork Tenderloin with Shallots and Fennel
• Easy Homemade Cornbread

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4.99 from 87 votes

No-Knead Bread Recipe

By: Elena Davis

Servings: 12 servings

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

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The softest and most delicious homemade no-knead bread recipe. This bread has a few unique ingredients that separate it from hundreds of others. This will soon be your tried and true bread recipe! 

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 ¼ cups warm water , 500 ml, (might need a little more)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon instant yeast, it’s just a little since there is a long rise
• ▢ ¼ cup steel-cut oats, use whole
• ▢ ¼ cup ground flax meal, golden or dark
• ▢ 4 cups organic all-purpose flour, Italian 00 flour, or Kamut flour, 500 grams
• ▢ 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions 

• In a large mixing bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water. 
• Add the steel-cut oats and the flax meal and mix well (I use a fork to mix). Add flour and salt to the mix and incorporate well. Mix with a wooden spoon or dough hook for about 2-3 minutes. 
• The dough will be sticky and slightly wet. If it seems dry, you may need to add a little more water. 
• Cover the bowl with saran wrap and let it rise on the kitchen counter for at least 8-12 hours. The dough will double in size. You can leave it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. If you do the long refrigerator rise, set it on the counter and let it come to room temperature for 2 hours before proceeding to step 5. 
• After the first rise, transfer the sticky dough to a floured surface and shape it into one large boule or two baguette-shaped logs. Transfer onto floured parchment paper. Sprinkle with additional flour on top. Cover with a kitchen towel. If using mix-ins, see *notes. Also, see the **notes if you bake the bread in a single loaf pan without a lid. 
• Let rise again for 50-60 min (on the parchment paper covered with a towel).   
• With a sharp knife, score the dough with two longitudinal cuts for each baguette OR two scores on top of the large round boule. 
• Preheat oven to 450 F. Meanwhile, place a 6-quart Dutch oven (or heavy cooking pot with oven-safe lid) in the oven as it preheats. 
• When the oven is preheated to 450 F, take out the Dutch oven and place the baguettes or the large boule inside (with parchment paper). Place back in the oven to bake for 33 minutes with the lid ON. After 33 minutes, check if the top of the bread is golden brown. If you like darker brown, remove the lid and cook for 6-10 minutes.
• Put the bread on a cooling rack and let it cool completely. Or, take a slice while still warm and enjoy.

Notes

* Mix-Ins: If using mix ins 1) divide the dough in half  2) roll each dough on a floured surface into a rectangle. Sprinkle desired toppings evenly on the dough 3) fold the dough over on itself about four times (as pictured) 4) this will create two baguettes 4) Continue to Step 7 in instructions. 

**If you are baking your bread in a traditional single-loaf bread pan, Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place your dough directly into your greased bread pan (or bread pan lined with parchment paper) for the last rise. Once the dough is double in size (about 1 hour), bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes until the top is golden brown. 

– Try this recipe Gluten-Free with Cup4Cup flour.

If you’ve seen it on my Instagram, here is the link to everything you need for our signature “bread box,” where you can keep everything in one place to make this bread easily! 

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 6gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gSodium: 390mgPotassium: 74mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.2gVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Bread, Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian/ French

Tried this recipe?Mention @cucinabyelena or tag #cucinabyelena!