Dutch Oven Bread

This recipe for Dutch Oven Bread is one of those recipes that I come back to over and over. Partly because it’s so easy to make and partly because of how perfectly it turns out every time. Now I know yeast can be a turn-off in a recipe to some people. I get it. It can be a temperamental ingredient. But believe me when I tell you that you can’t mess this recipe up! If you follow the easy instructions, it will rise every time, and you will feel like a pro at bread baking!

How to Make Dutch Oven Bread

Combine all of the ingredients in one bowl, and let it rise. You should let it rise for at least 12 hours, but honestly, I’ve left it on my counter as long as 24 hours and it turns out just fine. Pre-heat the oven and the pot together. Pat the dough into a rounded ball and place it in the hot pot.  Put the lid on top and bake! Uncover the pot toward the end of baking to let the bread get nice and golden.  That’s it!

One of the great things about this easy dutch oven bread is that you don’t need to babysit it, do a 2nd rise, or knead the dough (hallelujah!). There is a slight downside though. You have to make the dough in advance. Don’t let that hold you back though. I promise it’s worth it. Plus you get to smell the dough rising on your counter all day long! I usually make it either the night before or early in the morning so it will be ready for dinner.

There are a lot of recipes out there for “no knead bread,” and they all have 3 cups of flour. I’ve tried to half my recipe a few times down to 3 cups and, unless you use a teeny tiny dutch oven, your bread will just spread in the bottom of the pan and not rise up the sides. So I know this seems like a lot of flour but I promise you, it’s worth it. Even with this much flour, I still only use a 3.5 quart oval dutch oven. You can actually use any oven-proof pot that has a lid.

Dutch Oven Recommendations:

I really love my Le Creuset 3.5 Quart Dutch Oven.  I know it’s pricey, but the Le Creuset cast iron pots last forever! Cuisinart has a nice (cheaper) alternative with their 3-quart cast iron pot. And once you have a Dutch Oven, you can make other things like Dutch Oven Pot Roast too!

Here are a few more bread recipes you might enjoy:

Brioche Loaf Bread  Honey Whole Wheat Bread White Sandwich Bread  Homemade English Muffins  Diane’s No-Fail French Bread Rich Egg and Butter Bread  Homemade Subway Bread Sweet Challah Bread