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    Emily Fabulous » Recipes » Holiday Recipes

    Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread

    Published: Sep 28, 2021 · Modified: May 17, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 83 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    dutch oven sourdough
    dutch oven sourdough bread recipe

    This recipe for Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread will be the easiest loaf of sourdough bread you will ever make! All you need is a Dutch oven and 4 ingredients to make this artisan-style bread at home.

    dutch oven sourdough bread loaf in front of caraway dutch oven.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients Needed to Make Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread
    • How to Make No-Knead Sourdough Bread
    • Expert Tips For This Recipe
    • Tools You Will Need to Make This Bread
    • How to Make a Sourdough Starter
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread (no-knead)

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    This will be hands down the easiest sourdough bread you ever make! I took my No-Knead Rosemary Bread recipe and subbed out the instant yeast for an active sourdough starter and PRESTO! Amazing bread with little effort.

    This bread is completely from scratch and it will seem like you took hours folding and kneading. Only you will know the secret.

    Ingredients Needed to Make Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread

    Remember to use quality ingredients and maintain proper hygiene when working with sourdough bread recipes to ensure the best results. Enjoy the process of baking and savor the unique flavors of homemade sourdough bread!

    no-knead sourdough ingredients: flour, salt, water and sourdough starter.
    • All-Purpose Flour is a versatile type of flour suitable for various baking purposes.
      It is made from a blend of hard and soft wheat, which gives it a moderate protein content (around 10-12%). All-purpose flour provides structure and contributes to the texture of the bread.
    • Salt plays a crucial role in bread baking, including sourdough bread. It enhances the flavor of the bread and also strengthens the gluten structure, contributing to a better texture and crumb in the final loaf. It also helps control the fermentation process by regulating the activity of yeast and lactobacilli in the sourdough starter.
    • Sourdough Starter (well-fed and active)- A sourdough starter is a combination of flour and water that has undergone fermentation. It contains wild yeast and lactobacilli, which provide natural leavening and add distinct flavors to the bread.
      A well-fed and active starter is one that has recently been fed with a mixture of flour and water, allowing the microorganisms to multiply and produce gas for leavening.
    • Water is a crucial ingredient in sourdough bread recipes. It hydrates the flour, allowing gluten formation and enzymatic activity. The amount of water used can vary depending on factors such as flour hydration, dough consistency, and personal preference, affecting the final texture and hydration level of the bread.
    sliced sourdough bread in front of a caraway dutch oven.

    How to Make No-Knead Sourdough Bread

    Prep the Dough

    Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk together to fully combine. Add the sourdough starter and water and combine everything using your spatula.

    If you feel like you need a little more water, add a teaspoon at a time. The dough will be shaggy and sticky.

    dutch oven sourdough dough start
    Dough Before Resting
    dutch oven sourdough after rising overnight
    Dough After Resting

    Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for a minimum of 12 hours at room temp. I made my dough in the evening and let it rest overnight. Easy and perfect timing!

    Form the Dough and Preheat the Oven

    Preheat your oven to 450°F and place the Dutch oven in to warm up for 30 minutes. While the oven is warming, the dough will rest one more time. The dough should have risen quite a bit and have lots of lovely bubbles.

    Use your silicone spatula to gently scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper. Sprinkle some flour on top of the dough and with floured hands, gently shape the dough into a ball the best you can. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel to rest while the oven is heating up.

    dutch oven sourdough resting in a ball

    Bake the Bread

    After 30 minutes, take the parchment paper with the dough on it and place the entire thing in the preheated Dutch oven. BE CAREFUL, IT'S HOT!

    dutch oven sourdough before baking
    sourdough before baking
    baked dutch oven sourdough
    sourdough after baking

    Place the lid on and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 10 minutes to get a brown crust.

    Expert Tips For This Recipe

    • Only use a sourdough starter that is active, well-fed, and at room temperature to ensure you get the best results possible.
    • Parchment paper is a must! Because the dough for this bread is so sticky, the parchment paper will not only help you move it into the hot Dutch oven, but it will also keep it from sticking to the pan itself.
    • Make sure your Dutch oven or pan is rated for high temps because this bread cooks at 450º. As I mentioned above, you need your Dutch oven or covered pot to be able to get nice and hot and be safe while doing so.
    • Don’t forget to preheat your Dutch oven while you are preheating the oven. This will help create the awesome crust and bubbly insides of the bread.

    Tools You Will Need to Make This Bread

    To make Dutch Oven Bread, you will need a Dutch oven. My new favorite brand is Caraway, as seen below. It has a non-toxic ceramic coated inside, is oven-safe up to 550°F, and comes in some beautiful colors.

    a Caraway Dutch oven.
    Caraway Dutch Oven in Cream

    And you will want to use a sturdy silicone spatula for mixing and scraping the dough out of the bowl. I use my silicone spatulas every single day and this set has the perfect sizes at a great price.

    How to Make a Sourdough Starter

    Making your own sourdough starter is actually pretty easy. You just need flour, water, and patience. Find some great tips and the process in this Sourdough Beginners Guide.

    Recipe FAQs

    What if I don't have a Dutch oven?

    The best way to cook this bread is in a Dutch oven. If you don’t have one, you can also bake it in a different pot and have delicious bread with hardly any effort. Just make sure you have a pot with a lid that can handle 450º.

    Why is a Dutch oven used to bake bread?

    Using a Dutch oven when baking bread creates a beautiful and crunchy crust that most people think of when they think of rustic or crusty bread. The lid of the Dutch oven keeps in the steam which helps with the crust and the overall baking process.

    Do I have to score the top of this bread?

    Not only is this bread no-knead but there is also no scoring! The crust on my bread shown in the photos happened naturally and looked great.

    If you get a chance to make this Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.

    baked no-knead sourdough bread in a dutch oven

    Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread (no-knead)

    This No-Knead Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread is so easy to make and tastes just like it came from a bakery.
    4.97 from 63 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    resting time: 12 hours hours
    Total Time: 12 hours hours 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 137kcal
    Author: Emily
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • dutch oven or oven safe pan/pot up to 450ºF
    • large mixing bowl
    • rubber/silicone spatula or wooden spoon
    • parchment paper
    • plastic wrap

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups all-purpose flour (380.5g)
    • ¼ cup sourdough starter (73.73g)
    • 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup water, room temp

    Instructions

    Dough Prep Part 1

    • Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk together to combine. Add the sourdough starter and water and stir it in using your spatula. If you need a little more water, add a teaspoon at a time. The dough will be shaggy and sticky.
    • Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for a minimum of 12 hours at room temp. I made my dough in the evening and let it rest overnight.

    Dough Prep Part 2

    • Preheat your oven to 450°F and place the dutch oven in as well to warm up for 30 minutes.
    • While the oven is warming, the dough will rest one more time. The dough should have risen quite a bit and have lots of lovely bubbles. Use your silicone spatula to gently scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper. Sprinkle some flour on top of the dough and with floured hands, gently shape the dough in a ball the best you can. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel to rest while the oven is heating up.

    Bake the Bread

    • After 30 minutes, take the parchment paper with the dough on it and place the entire thing in the preheated dutch oven. BE CAREFUL, IT'S HOT! Place the lid on and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 10 minutes to get a brown crust.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bread to cool in the dutch oven or on a cooling rack. Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    • Only use a sourdough starter that is active, well-fed, and at room temperature to ensure you get the best results possible.
    • Not only is this bread no-knead, but there is also no scoring! The crust on my bread shown in the photos happened naturally and looked great!
    • Parchment paper is a must! Because the dough for this bread is so sticky, the parchment paper will not only help you move it into the hot dutch oven, it will also keep it from sticking to the pan itself.
    • Make sure your dutch oven or pan is rated for high temps because this bread cooks at 450º! As I mentioned above, you need your dutch oven or covered pot to be able to get nice and hot and be safe while doing so.
    • Don’t forget to preheat your dutch oven while you are preheating the oven. This will help create the awesome crust and bubbly insides of the bread.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.6g | Protein: 3.9g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 350mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 2mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @EmilyFabulous_Blog or tag #emilyfabulous!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eloise Chan says

      November 07, 2023 at 5:25 am

      5 stars
      My first sourdough bread is a success thanks to this easy recipe. Mine proofed for 18 hours because, well, life happened. But the bread turned out great, soft and I liked the sourness of it. Will try to do 12 hrs next time to compare. THANK YOU!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        November 07, 2023 at 8:17 am

        Awesome, Eloise, thanks for sharing! Enjoy your homemade bread 😊

        Reply
    2. Shelly Morganthaler says

      September 24, 2023 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      Emily - this is amazing! I've tried several different recipes and this by far is the best one! Baked exactly as you said! My family at the entire loaf and has requested a second. I actually let mine set for 15 hours which I worried would make it flat. It didn't! My only issue was that the bottom burned and I think that I had the rack too low in the oven! Definitely my new go-to sourdough!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        September 24, 2023 at 10:59 am

        Thanks, Shelly! Great to know 15 hours is ok. Isn't it the best when your family wants more of something you made? My mom is an avid bread baker also, and she swears by her silicon bread lifter (amazon). It helps the bottom from burning and also makes it easier to remove the bread after baking.👍🏻

        Reply
    3. Amy says

      March 12, 2023 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I floundered with the recipe and added too much sourdough starter and it spread too much (I probably should have added more flour to balance it out) but it was still crunchy and delicious! I’ll follow the recipe to the letter next time.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 12, 2023 at 9:46 pm

        Nice work, Amy! Sometimes it takes a few tries but it usually tastes great during trial runs. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Chris says

      January 29, 2023 at 8:47 am

      Hi! I my dough started out great and tripled in size overnight, but it was so wet and sticky the next morning that it was unworkable. I lost half the dough just from it sticking to everything, including the floured parchment paper! I added more flour to it while the Dutch oven was warming up and the dough never regained shape and came out quite flat and tough. Is there any technique I need to be doing differently to have it come out lighter in texture? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        January 29, 2023 at 12:32 pm

        Hi Chris, I've had a few batches act like that. When they do, I use a turn-and-fold method (4 folds in total), working around the dough to form more of a ball before placing it on the parchment paper. If you don't know how to do that, check out my ciabatta video Easy Ciabatta Rolls Recipe for an easy tutorial.

        Reply
    5. Scott says

      January 27, 2023 at 5:09 pm

      Hello Emily I bought the same Dutch oven, but the lid has a hole do I need to cover it???

      Thank you

      Reply
      • Emily says

        January 27, 2023 at 6:42 pm

        Hi Scott, no need to cover the hole. I have had great success with this dutch oven!

        Reply
        • Scott says

          January 27, 2023 at 8:51 pm

          Thank you so much for the prompt reply Emily, take care 😀

          Reply
    6. Suzanne says

      January 20, 2023 at 10:30 am

      I'm going to try this but would like to add Parmesan cheese. So at what point should I add the cheese?

      Reply
      • Emily says

        January 20, 2023 at 9:28 pm

        Hi Suzanne, I would fold in the cheese after creating the dough in the first step before you cover it and allow the dough to rest for the first time. Enjoy, I'd love to hear how it turns out!

        Reply
    7. Louise says

      December 11, 2022 at 10:56 am

      Hi Emily, In the section on shaping the dough do you do the 4 side folding that I see in some other recipes? I have not rated the recipe but I will tomorrow when it is cooked. I do really like your detailed descriptions. Wish me luck!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        December 11, 2022 at 11:25 am

        Hi Louise! Yes, I have done the 4 side fold and I have also allowed the dough to rest and shape as-is. I do find that folding the dough on all sides before baking helps create a more even shape. I wanted this recipe to be for super beginners as well as confident bakers so if you are comfortable with a fold, go for it! I can't wait to hear how it turns out!

        Reply
        • Louise says

          December 12, 2022 at 5:09 am

          5 stars
          Absolutely fabulous recipe, with most important, easy to follow directions. I folded the dough to shape it into a ball. As I write this, I am munching on a slice just minutes out of the oven. YUM! YUM! Thank you Emily for making me into a sourdough believer.

          Reply
          • Emily says

            December 12, 2022 at 8:02 am

            Thank you, Louise!!! I am so glad this turned out great for you and thank you for the kind review. Enjoy your sourdough!!!!😊

            Reply
    8. Kathi says

      December 05, 2022 at 7:15 pm

      5 stars
      Can I use bread flour? I made it the first time with all purpose flour, but would like to try bread flour.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        December 06, 2022 at 9:01 am

        Hi Kathi. Yes, you can use bread flour. Bread flour is a preference for some bread bakers and I think you will find you love the results. Enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Natalie says

      September 29, 2022 at 4:27 am

      5 stars
      I always make bread for my family and this recipe is the best I have, thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        September 30, 2022 at 11:59 am

        So glad to hear it!

        Reply
    10. nancy says

      September 28, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      wow i can't believe i was able to finally bake bread - thanks to your easy 4 ingredients SD recipe. thanks so much!!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        September 28, 2022 at 11:17 pm

        Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Enjoy your bread!

        Reply
    11. Susie says

      September 07, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      5 stars
      Sour dough has intimidated me until I found this recipe! Making my 2nd loaf today. It’s easy and so delicious and I plan to add garlic and Italian seasonings to this loaf. Thank you for your recipe…it’s a keeper! .

      Reply
      • Emily says

        September 08, 2022 at 11:35 pm

        Susie, I'm so glad you found the recipe and are enjoying it! Sourdough doesn't have to be intimidating. Enjoy your next loaf and many more!

        Reply
    12. Dale says

      August 30, 2022 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Bread wasn't rising the first time, I was worried I had messed it up...my starter just wasn't active enough when I put it in, so I mixed in the same amount when it was active and it was 4x the size the next day. I made one plain and one with roasted garlic and rosemary. Tasted great, will be using this again.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        August 30, 2022 at 11:17 am

        I'm so glad you gave it another try. Sometimes starters can be finicky, but it's worth it in the end! Enjoy.

        Reply
      • Kristi says

        November 10, 2022 at 7:43 pm

        4 stars
        This was so much easier than most of the sourdough bread recipes I have seen. I am new to sourdough and my starter is still a little weak but it still turned out pretty great!! Thank you for sharing this recipe! Also, my husband loved it♥️

        Reply
        • Emily says

          November 10, 2022 at 10:40 pm

          Thanks, Kristi, I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed this recipe!

          Reply
    13. Nick Swanson says

      August 19, 2022 at 7:08 am

      5 stars
      this recipe is as simple as a bread recipe can be. Made 2 loaves Yesterday/this morning and as advertised, it is fabulous!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        August 19, 2022 at 9:35 am

        That's awesome, Nick! I'm so glad you found this easy, it's one of my go-to recipes. Happy Baking!

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Emily! I'm excited to share my passions, experiments, and fun with you. I love to cook, bake, create recipes, mix cocktails and try new things!

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