Quick No Knead Rosemary Bread
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This quick and easy No-Knead Rosemary Bread is an easy way to make a delicious loaf of homemade bread in a Dutch oven. When you add fresh rosemary, it becomes an artisan-style loaf that is utterly irresistible!
If you're looking for another simple, artisan-style baked good that's easier to make than you might think, you'll love our recipe for Homemade Soft Pretzels.
Recipe Overview
- Type: No-knead Dutch oven bread
- Flavor: Savory with fresh rosemary
- Texture: Crisp crust + tender, airy crumb
- Time: About 15 minutes hands-on; 2 hours rise; 45 minutes bake
- Equipment: Large bowl, spoon, and a Dutch oven
- Best for: Everyday dinners, holidays, or serving with soup and salad
Why I Love This Rosemary Bread
This bread, inspired by my no-knead whole wheat bread, is the best of both worlds: it delivers the rustic, artisan-style loaf you'd expect from a bakery, but without the time or effort of traditional kneading.
With just a few pantry ingredients and fresh rosemary, the Dutch oven does all the work to create a crisp, golden crust and a tender, airy crumb.
I also love how versatile it is. This bread feels equally at home on a weeknight table, served warm with soup or salad, as it does on a holiday spread beside a roast.
And because the dough requires only a quick stir and a long rest, it's nearly foolproof - perfect for both new bread bakers and seasoned cooks alike.
If you're new to breadmaking, refer to my Bread Making Troubleshooting Guide for answers to common FAQs.
What Makes This Bread Quick?
Traditional no-knead bread recipes take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours to rise. They use a small amount of yeast and require no kneading. Time is your best friend with these recipes, as it replaces the need to knead (sorry, I couldn't help myself).
I don't often have the luxury of time, so this recipe uses a bit more yeast, which helps it rise more quickly while still yielding a delicious loaf.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: I've not yet tested this recipe with any other flour.
- Salt: I prefer sea salt for flavor
- Rosemary: If possible, opt for fresh rosemary, as it adds such a beautiful flavor to the bread, but dry rosemary can also work.
- Instant Yeast: Be sure it is fresh and not expired.
- Honey: For a subtle hint of sweetness
How to Make No Knead Rosemary Bread
Step-by-step instructions are also in the recipe card below, but here is a quick overview with images.
Step 1: Mix the flour, sea salt, rosemary, and yeast in a large bowl.
Step 2: Add the honey to the warm water and mix well. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with a spatula.
Step 3: Cover the bowl and set it in a warm place for 3 to 4 hours, or until the dough has doubled.
Step 4: Transfer dough to a generously floured surface. You may need to turn the dough a couple of times to shape. Place into the Dutch oven. Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife and cover with the lid. Bake covered for 30 minutes, remove the lid, and bake another 15-20 minutes, or until golden.
Variations on Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
One of the things I love best about this homemade bread recipe is how versatile it is. Instead of rosemary, you can add just about any fresh herb or spice you want. Favorites are sage, thyme, oregano, basil, dill, or even a combination for an herbal loaf.
You could add up to ½ cups of freshly shredded cheese with the rosemary, like Parmesan or mozzarella. Garlic is delicious, but it can sometimes affect the rise of bread. If you add minced garlic, knead it into the bread as you shape the loaf before baking.
Recipe FAQs
No-knead bread is an easy, delicious, and almost effortless homemade bread. It removes the guesswork from determining whether the bread has been kneaded enough or is under-kneaded. This hands-off approach to bread making is fun and foolproof.
No. You do not need to grease the Dutch oven before adding the dough. Always place the bread directly in the dry oven or on a piece of parchment paper.
Yes! Begin baking the bread with the lid on to trap moisture and help the bread rise. After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake uncovered for a crisp crust.
The top of the loaf should be beautifully browned, and the crust should look crisp. When gently tapping on the bottom, the loaf should sound hollow. The internal temperature for baked bread is 190-210°F.
More Bread Recipes You Will Also Love
- Irish Apple Crumble Cake
- Quick No Knead Whole Wheat Bread
- The Ultimate Bread Making Troubleshooting Guide: 5 Common Mistakes Fixed
- Holiday Loaves for the Christmas Table (Sweet & Savory Breads)
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No Knead Rosemary Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- ⅓ cup fresh rosemary leaves chopped
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Mix the flour, sea salt, rosemary, and yeast together in a large bowl. Mix the honey into the warm water and add to the dry ingredients with a spatula until well combined.
- Cover the bowl and set it in a warm place for 3 to 4 hours, or until the dough has doubled.
- Preheat oven to 450°F degrees with the Dutch oven inside.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and form into a ball on a generously floured surface. Even though this is a no knead bread, you may need to turn the dough a couple of time to shape it in a ball.
- Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the hot oven and remove the lid- use oven mitts! Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife and place it carefully into the hot Dutch oven and cover with the lid.
- Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and bake another 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Notes
- Instant Yeast: This allows you to add the yeast directly to the flour without proofing it in water first.
- Fresh Rosemary: I love the flavor that fresh rosemary brings to this bread, but if you want to substitute it for dry rosemary, use about 1 to 2 tablespoons.
- Storing: You can store this Dutch oven bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Do you need to spray the Dutch oven before placing the dough in?
You can either lightly spray with nonstick spray, or sprinkle a bit of cornmeal onto the bottom of the pan. I never have issues with the dough sticking, but using parchment paper does help transfer the loaf into the pan.
Don't i need to heat the Dutch oven before putting the bread in as I would artisan bread?
Hi Dea! Yes, I heat the Dutch oven in the hot oven. Then shape and score the bread, remove the Dutch oven, place the bread inside— carefully, then cover and bake. We love this bread, I hope you do too!
My dough more than doubled in only an hour. I know it's unlikely to get help right now via a comment, but is that normal?
Hi Sally! This can happen when the location where it’s rising is too warm, causing the yeast to activate quickly. If you’re still in the process, I might gently deflate the dough, reshape it a bit, and let it rise again to double, then immediately bake. When over proofing dough, it can cause the gluten to weaken and the loaf will not have the rise it should.
This recipe has been a huge hit! I used it for my first time making bread and was so impressed with how simple it was, and how delicious the bread was!
Hi Shelby-- I'm so happy you enjoyed this bread! It's such an easy one and there's nothing quite like homemade bread.Thank you for trying it and letting me know how it worked for you!
This is the 3rd time I have made this bread—Rave reviews from my family and guests. Thanks for sharing!
The last time I made it, I substituted a sourdough starter for the yeast and deleted the honey, which also came out good! (though I had to proof for 6 hours)
And any excuse for using my pretty Dutch oven is a plus, too!
Thank you, Kristen— I’m thrilled you and your family and friends are enjoying the recipe! I keep making this too— and I love that you could adapt it to a sourdough starter! As to the Dutch Oven, I’m smiling because I love them too (for the same reason 😍).