New to bread making? This is the easiest homemade bread recipe ever. 4 simple ingredients and no kneading–bake in a dutch oven or loaf pan. Yum!

Just like any family with kids, we go through a lot of bread. Sandwiches! Toast! More sandwiches! And then the entire loaf is gone.

While we love my sandwich bread and French toast made with cinnamon-swirl bread, sometimes a heartier loaf is in order.

This no-knead bread is so easy to make, and it’s strong enough to stand up to all the toppings you can pile on it. I make it in a 3 quart dutch oven, but you can also make it in a large covered loaf pan (ie, one loaf pan stacked on top of the other).

Easiest Homemade Bread Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together flour, water, yeast, and salt.

Cover and let it sit in a warm place for 6-12 hours, until it rises and gets bubbly.

Scrape directly into your greased dutch oven, saucepan, or loaf pan and bake.

After 45-60 minutes, you’ll be greeted with the easiest homemade bread you’ve ever made.

Enjoy your bread toasted with homemade crock pot apple butter or strawberry freezer jam. Yum!

Easiest Homemade Bread

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 6 hours

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 7 hours

New to bread making? This is the easiest homemade bread recipe ever. 4 simple ingredients and no kneading--bake in a dutch oven or loaf pan. Yum!

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons salt
1 scant teaspoon yeast
2 1/2 cups room temperature water
Non-stick spray or oil for greasing pan

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients.
Add water and stir until all dry ingredients are incorporated. If needed, add more water one tablespoon at a time.
Loosely cover and let rise in a warm place for 6-12 hours.
When ready to bake, heat oven to 450F. Grease bottom and sides of baking pan.
Scrape dough directly from mixing bowl into baking pan.
Cover and bake for 40 minutes or until the top of the loaf cracks.
Uncover and bake for 15-20 minutes until browned to your liking.
Cool on a wire rack, slice, and enjoy!

Notes

A dough whisk is much easier to use for mixing than a spoon or fork.

If you don't have a 3 quart dutch oven or saucepan, you can use a larger oven-safe pan. The loaf will be a little wider and not as tall--but still delicious.

If baking in a loaf pan, you'll need an oversized loaf pan (this is my favorite).

I like to prepare the dough right before bed and let it sit in the oven with the light on all night. In the morning, it's ready to bake.