This No-Knead Rosemary Bread is so easy to make and tastes just like artisan bread from a bakery. Your house will smell amazing and you will have fresh bread that is delicious on its own or perfect for dipping in soup or even making sandwiches!
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Why I Love This Recipe
I love this recipe because it comes out perfect every time I make it and it seems like I spent hours making homemade bread, but I didn't, just like my Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread! Seriously this rosemary bread is so good and you are going to want to make it all the time and dip it in soups like Easy Cioppino Seafood Soup and Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup.
Since there is no kneading involved you don't even have to bust out a stand mixer or tire out your arms, similar to my Super Easy Pizza Dough. This bread is made 100% from scratch and everyone will think you took hours folding and kneading.
For more bread recipe inspiration, check out my 33 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes!
Key Ingredients For This Recipe
All-Purpose Flour: This recipe uses regular all-purpose flour to make this recipe as easy as possible. The protein content in AP flour helps provide structure to the bread.
Instant Dry Yeast: active instant dry yeast is what you will need for this quick recipe. Make sure your yeast hasn't expired and is still active (see tips below).
Salt: salt is an essential ingredient in bread-making. It enhances the flavor of the bread and regulates the fermentation process. It also strengthens the gluten network and helps control yeast activity.
Fresh Rosemary: fresh rosemary adds a distinctive flavor and aroma to this bread. I recommend fresh rosemary for the best results, but you can use dried rosemary in a pinch.
Water: Water is a key ingredient in bread-making because it hydrates the flour, activates the yeast, and forms the dough. For this recipe you want the water to be room temperature or slightly warm to get the yeast to bloom.
What To Cook This Bread In
The best way to cook this bread is in a Dutch oven but if you don't have one, you can also bake it in a different pot or pan and have delicious bread with hardly any effort. Just make sure you have a pot or pan that can handle 450º heat and it should have a lid.
How to Make No-Knead Rosemary Bread
Step 1: Place the flour, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk together to fully combine. Add the water and stir it in. Add in the chopped rosemary and fold in completely.
Step 2: Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for a minimum of 12 hours at room temperature.
Step 3: After 12 hours, the dough should have risen quite a bit and have lots of bubbles. Preheat the oven to 450° F and place your Dutch oven and lid inside the oven to heat it up for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Use your silicone spatula to gently scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper on a lightly floured surface. Gently shape the dough into a ball the best you can. Cover the ball with plastic wrap or a towel to rest while the oven is heating up.
Step 5: After 30 minutes, take the parchment paper with the bread on top and place the entire thing in the preheated Dutch oven. Be careful, it's really hot!
Step 6: Place the lid on top and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for 15 minutes more to get a brown crust. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack.
Dutch Oven Advantages and Options
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.
I personally have a 6 qt. Dutch Oven Lodge and the Dutch oven by Caraway Home and I love both of them. And a high-end option would be Le Cruset.
The most important thing about the Dutch oven for baking bread is the heat rating. Can it handle 450º heat? Although there are some nice-looking and inexpensive options out there, not all of them have a high-temp rating.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely, this bread can be made without the rosemary for a quick and basic loaf of bread that is perfect for sandwiches, toast, and more! You could also substitute another fresh herb if you don't have or like rosemary. See the picture below for a loaf without the Rosemary made with unbleached flour.
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!
Only use fresh rosemary. Dried rosemary or any other dried herb is not going to cut it. You won't get the flavor or texture that a fresh herb will give the bread. If you don't have fresh rosemary, use another fresh herb or leave it out completely.
Yes, this can be made with whole wheat flour. Expect the bread to be more dense and a little more gritty as is common when using whole wheat flour.
Yes, you can make this bread without a Dutch oven. Make sure whatever pot or pan you use can withstand 450ºF heat in the oven. If you have a cast-iron pan, that would work. A lid is nice because it helps get the crust more crispy and brown at the end of baking, however, if you don't have a lid, the bread will still turn out fine.
How To Test Instant Yeast for Viability
To test if dry active yeast is viable (alive and active), you can perform the following steps. Pour ¼ cup of warm water (around 110°F or 43°C) into a small bowl (it should feel warm to the touch but not hot or it can kill the yeast).
Sprinkle about ½ teaspoon of the dry active yeast evenly over the warm water, stir gently to moisten all the yeast, and allow it to sit undisturbed for about 5 to 10 minutes. After the resting time, check for signs of yeast activity.
If the yeast is alive and active, it will start to foam or bubble which indicates that the yeast is viable and can be used for baking. If there is no foam or bubbling, it is likely that the yeast is no longer active or viable. In such cases, it is recommended to use fresh yeast for your recipe.
Expert Tips For No-Knead Bread
- 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.
- Ensure 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 incredible crust and bubbly insides of the bread.
- If you don't have quick-rise instant yeast or want to use active dry yeast, mix the active dry yeast with warm water and let it rest for 10 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Then you can continue the recipe as written.
If you get a chance to make this No-Knead Rosemary 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 right in your inbox.
No-Knead Rosemary Bread
Equipment
- rubber/silicone spatula or wooden spoon
- plastic wrap
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon quick-rise instant yeast
- 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups water, room temp/slightly warm
- 1½ tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Instructions
Dough Prep Part 1
- Place the flour, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk together to fully combine. Add the water and stir it in using a spatula or spoon. If you feel like you need a little more water, add just a tablespoon at a time. The dough will be very wet and sticky.
- Add in the chopped rosemary and fold in completely with the spatula or spoon. Don't be too aggressive since the yeast is starting to develop.
- 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!
Dough Prep Part 2
- Move the oven rack to one of the lowest settings in the oven so your dutch oven will fit. Place your dutch oven and lid in and preheat the oven at 450°F.
- 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 on a lightly floured surface. With floured hands, gently shape the dough in a ball the best you can (mine was more of an oval but it's fine, it turned into a beautiful round in the end...think rustic!). You will need some flour on the surface to keep it from sticking to your hands, that's fine and creates a nice look at the end of baking. 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 ball on top and place the entire thing in the preheated Dutch oven. BE CAREFUL, IT'S REALLY HOT! Place the lid on top and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for 10-15 minutes more to get a brown crust.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the uncovered dutch oven or on a cooling rack. Enjoy!
Notes
- 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, 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.
- Only use fresh rosemary. Dried rosemary or any other dried herb is not going to cut it. You won't get the flavor or texture that a fresh herb will give the bread. If you don't have fresh rosemary, use another fresh herb or leave it out completely.
- If you don't have quick-rise instant yeast or want to use active dry yeast, just mix the active dry yeast with warm water and let it rest for 10 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Then you can continue the recipe as written.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
I wish this were in front of me right now.
Kay says
The use of fresh rosemary in this no-knead bread makes it soooo amazing!
Emily says
Yes! Fresh baking herbs is one of the best smells ever!
Linda says
I've been wanting to bake bread and this recipe is a must-try one.
Emily says
Thanks, Linda, let me know how it goes!
FOODHEAL says
Wow, this looks great and I love that I don't need to knead the dough
Amy says
Seriously?? No knead bread! Definitely trying this!
Emily says
For real...no kneading. I hope you get a chance to try it!
Audrey says
Super easy and delicious bread to make!
Emily says
I'm so glad you liked it, Audrey!
Kelly says
Can this be made with almond flour and if so would you have to add xanthan gum?
Emily says
Hi Kelly, if you decided to try this with almond flour I believe you should add xanthan gum. However, I have not tried this yet. If you do give it a try, let me know how it turns out!
Kristina says
So good!
Christina says
Loved this, can't wait to make more!
Emily says
Thanks, Chrisitna! It is kind of addicting...
Jamie says
Oooh nothing is better than homemade bread for sure! I love how easy this is to make and makes my whole house smell wonderful!
Emily says
I totally agree, there's is nothing better than the smell of fresh-baked bread!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
This sounds absolutely divine - the rosemary bread sounds delicious and perfect for the festive season.
Emily says
Thanks, Bintu! I honestly make this year-round, it's so easy and so good!
Tara says
What a flavorful bread with the fresh rosemary and so easy too! I absolutely love that crust. Yum!
Emily says
The crust is definitely one of the best parts of this bread.
Jenn says
I'm all about less work in the kitchen, and this rustic and flavorful bread is terrific! I will be making it often!
Emily says
I'm in total agreement, less is more whenever possible in the kitchen!
Sue says
I love no-knead bread but have never tried a rosemary version - sounds just divine. This will be great for Christmas!
Emily says
You are going to love it, I promise!
Tomko Gail says
This bread was fabulous! I haven’t ever made a bread that was so easy to make, and used so little ingredients. I am making my second loaf this time with different ingredients such as cranberries, sliced almonds, and grated orange peel. I shall find out how it tastes when I bake it today. Thank you for this delicious recipe.
Emily says
That sounds wonderful, I can't wait to hear how it turns out. I'm so happy you are enjoying this easy recipe!