Easy 3 Ingredient No Knead Crusty Bread

Name: Easy 3 Ingredient Crusty Bread
Prep time: 8 h
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 8 h 45 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour; 1/2 tsp. yeast; 2 tsp salt; 1 1/2 cups warm water

Written by Abby Robinson Published on June 28, 2022

The easiest no knead crusty bread recipe you’ll ever make. 3 ingredients. No knead. Delicious.

I am so excited to introduce you to the BEST easy no knead crusty bread recipe ever! We can’t get enough of this bread, so I’m glad that it is such a breeze to make. It only uses 3 ingredients . . . and this is a no knead crusty bread recipe that you don’t need a Dutch oven for. If you have one, you can definitely use it for this recipe, but if you don’t, then any oven-safe ceramic dish will work!

This no knead crusty bread looks just like artisan bread from your favorite bakery, and has the chewy texture of a sourdough loaf. This recipe is like all the perfect breads combined into one EASY recipe.

All you will need to make this no knead crusty bread is flour, salt, and yeast. And the best part . . . you don’t have to knead it or get the entire kitchen messy. I like to serve this bread along with soup, so in the morning at about 8 I will combine the ingredients in my Kitchen Aid mixer, then cover it and let the dough sit there all day. Then I put it in the oven at about 4 PM, and by 5 PM I have fresh warm bread ready for dinner!

What do I need to make this no knead crusty bread recipe?

flour – all purpose flour is all that you need for this recipe
salt – simple table salt
water
yeast – our favorite yeast!

Why is this no knead crusty bread recipe a winner recipe?

It’s economical. – The price of this bread is literally cents. Want to save on groceries? This is the perfect recipe for you!
It’s filling. – This crusty bread is so satisfying.
It is so fast and easy. – Really! It only takes 5 minutes to make it, let it sit all day, and then bake.
It is the perfect addition to a soup meal. – Mmmmm, there is nothing like a hot bowl of soup with this crusty bread dipped in.

Also, has anyone heard of a butter keeper?? I hadn’t until my sister-in-law gave me one for Christmas . . . what a game changer! You will have perfectly spreadable soft butter all the time!

How to make no knead crusty bread:

Measure out your flour, salt, and yeast.

Add warm water.

Next, mix it on medium speed until well combined and dough is stretchy (about 2 minutes).

Cover the bowl and let sit for at least 8 hours.

When you are ready to bake your no knead crusty bread, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then, dump your dough onto a floured counter, then plop it into your casserole dish. The dough will be sticky, that is how it should be!

Bake for 30 minutes covered (this will allow the bread to rise and cook), then for 15 minutes uncovered. (this will give you that CRISPY crust that you are looking for, with the artisan ridges and cracks.)

If you want a browner no knead crusty bread, bake it a bit longer uncovered until desired brown-ness.

Let cool 10 minutes, then slice and serve.

How to eat this no knead crusty bread:

with soups and stews like our Creamy Pesto Chicken Chili or Slow Cooker Hearty Cabbage Soup
make an artisan grilled cheese like this amazing Grilled Cheese and Pear Sandwich from 2 Sisters Recipes
cheesy garlic bread served with spaghetti or lasagna
fresh out of the oven slathered in butter

Frugal Living NW says: “No-knead bread plays well with amateur bakers so do not be intimidated by the steps. This recipe is really forgiving (a.k.a. hard to mess up). Even if you let it rise too long or add too much water, odds are, you are still going to end up with a good loaf of bread.”

Jo Cooks says: “Usually bread will be dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be sticky and shaggy, do not add any more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour.” Make sure that your dough is still sticky when making this no knead crusty bread recipe and it will turn out perfect!

You will not have this problem with this no knead crusty bread recipe. Like The Bread Guide says, “The main reason for making your crust go soft is moisture. This moisture comes from inside the bread so when cooling, you must give your bread enough room to breathe. Keep your bread on a cooling rack with enough space under it. Sugars, milk and other ingredients can also contribute to a soft crust.” Since this recipe does not have milk or sugars or extra ingredients, this bread recipe comes out crusty every time with no extra effort!