No Knead Dutch Oven Bread

No need to stress over no-knead bread

I originally learned of this type of bread recipe from my chef brother and his also chef buddy. We drank beer at the ocean in Vancouver and then ate bread with butter and cheese. I then learned that there are only 5 ingredients and all you need is time. This no knead Dutch oven bread is how I started into baking and it’s possibly the easiest baking I can think of.

T-minus: 45 seconds of real work

Sure, it’s easy. Sure, it’s simple. But it sure ain’t fast. No knead bread seems to be one of the most documented recipes on YouTube. In fact, even typing in the exact title, username, etc still brought my brother’s [first/most basic] video to second or third on the search.

Yeah you can get fancy with proofing basket, different types of dutch ovens (lid/no-lid)… I make mine in a 12l dutch oven with lid that I pulled out of my camping equipment, but if all you have is a pan, use that.

Active time is literally the time it takes to find the ingredients and put them into a mixing bowl. Then, hit start on the KitchenAid, or do it by hand in a large bowl. Dust, cover, let sit, unstick/flip in 5 hour, then come back another 12-15 hours later.

My favorite is making it in the evening, folding it a couple times tomorrow morning before work, arrive home from work and boom..pop that dough ball in the dutchy and continue to do virtually nothing for 45 minutes until you have the perfect bread.

Too complicated? Doubt it. Watch this. Video Credit IG: @chef.j.hoch

Check out my brother’s very basic video recipe here! My TikTok version coming soon!

No Knead Dutch Oven Whole Wheat Bread

Flour, water, yeast, salt. Easiest bread ever. Make it. Love it. Leave a comment.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 46 mins

Rising Time 22 hrs

Total Time 22 hrs 56 mins

Course Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine World

Servings 12 slices

Equipment

• Dutch Oven or cast iron pan (better, but not absolutely required – cook time could vary)
• Dutch Oven or cast iron pan (better, but not absolutely required – cook time could vary)
• Proofing basket (optional – I don't have one)

Ingredients

  

• 200 g whole wheat flour
• 350 g all purpose or bread flour
• 10 g salt
• 4 g instant yeast
• 400 g (ml) water luke warm/room temp
• 30-40 g flour for dusting and proofing

Instructions

 

Day One: Mixing

• Combine yeast and water and lightly stir. Set aside 5 minutes until yeast becomes totally dissolved into water and begins to swell. Add a pinch of white sugar to accelerate (though not necessary)
• Mix flour(s) and salt.
• Combine wet and dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer with dough hook.
• Dough should be tacky but not wet. Dust with white flour, cover and set aside for 4-8 hours.

Intermediate

• After 5-6 hours (4-8 hours), dough will likely have doubled in size. Peel away from sides of bowl with spatula, fold sides inward and flip over within bowl.
• Fold over a couple of times. Return to bowl. Dust, cover, let sit another 12-15 hours.

Day Two: Action time

• Preheat oven to 450°F. For best results, also preheat dutch oven.
• Once oven is up to temp, drop dough into hot dutch oven.
• If desired, cut design with sharp knife or razor blade.
• Bake, covered for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, remove lid and bake for another 16 minutes, uncovered.
• After 46 minutes total, remove from oven. (Watch out, cast iron will be HOT HOT HOT) Prop up with a fork or wood spatula/spoon to let air get all around the bread.
• Let rest for some number of minutes (at least 30 min) before cutting in. Then, enjoy.

Notes

Don’t have any whole wheat flour? Well, to be honest, this recipe tastes and feels even better when it’s all white flour!

Simply replace whole wheat flour quantity with all purpose for a total of 550 g all purpose. 

Mistakes I’ve made: 

NOT flouring enough before putting into dutch oven. This is a great way to have your bread stick and have your bottom rip out. More Flour! More Flour! 

Keyword bread recipe, Dutch Oven, Dutch oven no knead bread, easy bread recipe, No Knead, white bread, whole wheat bread

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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

This no knead dutch oven bread recipe requires almost no shortcuts. It takes overnight, but it’s super easy. That said, I’m not a baker! I absolutely love learning new cooking techniques and tricks, so teach me in the comments 🙂

Any family secrets? Any stories?

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Enjoy food; enjoy life. – HCF