This Artisan Bread Recipe will have you baking dutch oven bread like a pro in your kitchen in no time! You’ll just need 4 simple ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time to make your ridiculously delicious bakery style loaf of crusty bread!

Loaf of crusty artisan bread in dutch oven.
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Artisan Bread Recipe

This Artisan Bread Recipe bakery style loaf will turn you into an instant kitchen superstar!

Did you know it takes just 4 simple ingredients to make the BEST Homemade Artisan Bread? It’s true!

With just a few minutes of quick prep, you’ll make your dough, and then bake it up the next day in your Dutch Oven. I mean how EASY is that?

Even though it takes awhile for your masterpiece to finish, you’ll only need about 15 minutes of hands on time.

The long rise time is just to allow the dough to develop that deep, delicious bakery style flavor you’re going for.

It’s actually so easy, you could be making fresh baked bread several days a week if you want!

And let me tell you… there’s nothing more comforting than a warm, fresh loaf of bread baking in your kitchen! The smells are intoxicating.

Who knew it was SO simple to turn your kitchen into an artisan bakery?

Be sure to also try this dreamy Homemade Rosemary Crusty Bread or Homemade Sourdough Bread, too!

Now are you ready to make this amazing and ridiculously simple No Knead Bread Recipe? Let’s get baking, shall we?

Here’s what you’ll need to get started…

Partially-sliced loaf of crusty bread.

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What is the Secret of Crusty Bread?

The secret to the BEST crusty bread is to bake it HOT in a dutch oven… first covered.

Then uncovered for the last 10 – 15 minutes.

Yeast, flour, and salt.

Ingredients

It takes just a few simple ingredients to make the BEST Crusty Bread!

If you don’t already have the ingredients on hand, add the following to your next grocery list

  • All Purpose Flour
  • Active Dry Yeast
  • Sea Salt

You’ll also need a 5 – 6 qt Round Enameled Dutch Oven to get the job done.

See… I told you this was going to be EASY!

Wooden spoon stirring bread dough in a bowl.

How to Make Artisan Bread

Nothing beats a perfect loaf of bread with a golden, crispy crust… and it’s actually SO simple to make!

1. Make the Dough per the instructions in the recipe card below.

Risen bread dough in a glass bowl.

2. Then simply wait while your dough rises.

3. After the dough has finished rising, form your dough into a round ball.

4. Then cover the dough and let it rise again.

Ball of bread dough on a floured surface.

5. Use my recipe instructions below for how to bake it in the oven.

6. Finally… cool, slice, serve & ENJOY!

See… I told you this was going to be EASY!

Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.

Crusty bread in a red Dutch oven.

What To Serve With Your Artisan Bread

Add the perfect finishing touch to your homemade crusty bread loaf with one of these delightful homemade butters…

Artisan Bread Reviews

Slice of bread spread with jam.

Here’s What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About this Easy Crusty Bread Recipe…

One reader writes: “Love this!”

S. writes: “Bread came out perfect”

E. writes: “What an easy bread! Awesome!”

Ryan writes: “Such a yummy and easy bread to make.”

Abigail writes: “I love this bread!!!”

Josh writes: “Wow – this bread is so good”

Kim writes: “Delicious – homemade bread is the best!”

Lisa writes: “The hardest part is waiting for it to finish baking because it makes the house smell so good!”


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Artisan Bread Recipe

This Artisan Bread Recipe will have you baking dutch oven bread like a pro in your kitchen in no time! You'll just need 4 simple ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time to make your ridiculously delicious bakery style loaf of crusty bread!
Servings: 1 loaf
Loaf of crusty artisan bread in dutch oven.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Dough Rise Time: 18 hours
Total Time: 19 hours
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Ingredients 

  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour + more for Dusting (Bread Flour can be substituted)
  • 1/2 tsp. Active Dry Yeast
  • 2 tsp. Sea Salt
  • 1 1/2 cups Warm Water (approx. 100 degrees)
  • 1/2 tsp. Cornmeal

Instructions 

  • Measure 3 cups of Flour by spooning into a measuring cup, and leveling off with a knife. (The correct amount of flour will make all of the difference.) Add flour to a large glass mixing bowl.
  • Then add Yeast and Salt to Flour in bowl, and whisk until well combined.
  • Pour in 1 1/2 cups Warm Water, and stir with a large wooden spoon or Danish dough whisk until wet, shaggy dough forms. Note: If dough is too wet, add a little more flour; If dough is too dry, add up just a LITTLE more water (1 tsp. at a time), until it turns into a wet, shaggy dough when stirring.
  • Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm spot of your home (around 70 – 75 degrees fahrenheit), and allow to rise for approx. 18 hours. There should be small bubbles that form on the top.
  • After 18 hours, cut rectangular piece of parchment paper to fit inside bottom and sides of 5.5 quart – 6 quart dutch oven, place paper in dutch oven, and firmly press creases along the sides. (This will help the paper not indent into your bread while baking.)
  • Remove parchment paper from dutch oven, sprinkle cornmeal in center, and set aside.
  • Sprinkle clean countertop or cutting board with flour and carefully remove dough from bowl using a small plastic dough scraper or rubber spatula, place onto counter or cutting board, and sprinkle dough with a little more flour.
  • Using well floured hands, fold dough over a few times, then quickly shape into round ball with your hands. You’ll sort of stretch the dough from the top and fold the excess underneath a few times. A bench scraper can help with the shaping and tucking as well.
  • With well floured hands (and a floured bench scraper if you have one) carefully pick up dough ball and place down on top of cornmeal on the parchment paper. If it lost it's shape a bit during the move, just quickly touch up the shape to round it back out.
  • Lightly cover with plastic wrap & allow to rise 30 more minutes at room temperature.
  • While dough is rising, place dutch oven with lid on inside oven, and preheat to 450 degrees.
  • After 30 minutes, once the dough has finished rising, use a serrated knife or bread lame to cut two intersecting lines in the top of the dough, like a plus sign. This will give the finished crust a beautiful look, and allow the bread to expand a bit when baking.
  • Remove dutch oven from oven (it will be HOT!), remove lid, and carefully pick up parchment paper with dough and transfer to dutch oven without touching the dutch oven. Place lid back on, and return to oven.
  • Bake bread for 35 minutes covered, then remove lid and bake for additional 10 – 15 minutes uncovered, until crust is golden.
  • Remove dutch oven from your oven once bread is done baking, and lift parchment paper out of dutch oven to remove the bread.
  • Transfer bread to wire cooling rack, and allow to cool for 1 hour before slicing. This will help prevent a gummy center, as bread continues to bake as it cools.
  • Once your bread has cooled, slice and ENJOY!
  • FRESHNESS TIP: Best eaten fresh within 48 hours. If storing for use within the next two days, allow to cool completely, slice (or leave the loaf whole and slice as you go), wrap in a flour sack cloth, and place in an old plastic bread bag in the pantry. It's excellent up to 2 days later and makes AMAZING toast!
  • FREEZING TIP: To freeze for later, slice up cooled loaf and wrap in 3 layers of plastic wrap, then wrap in foil and place in a gallon freezer ziploc bag for up to 1 month. When ready to use, remove bag from the freezer and allow to come to room temperature on the counter.
  • REHEATING TIP: If you'd like to serve your bread warm, simply wrap in foil and place it in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for about 7 – 10 minutes.

Notes

  • For answers to Frequently Asked Questions or tips for common substitutions and variations, please refer to the detailed information above this recipe card.
iconLike this recipe? Rate & comment below!

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So have you tried making this Crusty Bread Recipe Easy Artisan Loaf yet?

Share with us in the comments below!

About Heidi Miller

Heidi Miller is the creator of The Frugal Girls, where she shares easy recipes with massive flavor! She has been creating and sharing recipes online for over 15 years, and brings warmth, expertise, and a personal touch to every recipe. Her work has been featured on Today.com, NBC, Fox, Parade, People, Country Living, Woman’s World, and more!

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24 Comments

  1. CoCo says:

    I don’t think I’ve tried to make bread in a Dutch oven like this Heidi but we always seem to be running out of it so I’m excited to have this recipe. It will definitely help make things so much easier! Hope your week has been filled with all good things, CoCo

    1. Heidi says:

      Thanks, CoCo! It really is such a cinch to make, and tastes AMAZING, too! Enjoy!!

  2. Adriana Leandro says:

    Sounds so good.
    I really love this recipe.
    Kisses!

    1. Heidi says:

      Thanks, Adriana! 🙂 Have a lovely day!

  3. Rainbow Evening says:

    bread looks appealing… yummy.
    thank you for sharing recipe

    1. Heidi says:

      Thank you so much – I’m glad you like the recipe!

  4. Her Digital Coffee says:

    I’ve always wanted to make this! It’s so easy and everything I need is already in the pantry. Thanks for sharing this recipe Heidi.

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome… have fun baking your bread!

  5. somewhereinireland says:

    Sounds nice and easy.

    1. Heidi says:

      Thank you… it really is so simple to make!

  6. Michelle says:

    Love how easy it is to make crusty bread at home! They make such good grilled cheese sandwiches too! Thanks for sharing!

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re right, Michelle… this really does make the BEST grilled cheese!

  7. Kathrine Eldridge says:

    My mouth is watering just looking at this delicious bread! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome, Kathrine!

  8. Veronica Lee says:

    Sounds incredibly easy!

    Thanks for sharing this , Heidi!

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome, Veronica… it really is so simple to make!

  9. Lisa's Notebook says:

    I had to Google Dutch oven (in the UK we call it a casserole pot) but this looks delicious. I have a recipe for beer bread that I make from time to time as well and it’s best eaten fresh. Also, definitely going to try out that cinnamon butter, yum!

    1. Heidi says:

      Ooh… your bread sounds absolutely delicious too, Lisa! Nothing beats fresh baked bread! 🙂

  10. delphine says:

    Il est magnifique ce pain
    Bravo

    1. Heidi says:

      Merci beaucoup Delphine 🙂 Bises