This is how to make bread with no yeast, is dairy free and easy to bake! Just 4 ingredients + water! Then you can add garlic salt, basil and oregano to give it an Italian flavor with pasta if you like. If you loved our slow cooker no yeast rolls but want to bake something in the oven instead, this is it!
We were desperate for some bread to serve with our pasta the other night but had no active dry yeast. Stores were out, so I tinkered in the kitchen to make an easy no yeast bread recipe version we might like. It turned out yummy so I thought I’d share it here. (affiliate links present)
What bread is made without yeast?
Flat bread like our simple air fryer naan recipe is expected to not need this tricky ingredient, but getting something to rise a bit is a bit more perplexing. All you need to make this no yeast homemade bread is one large bowl where you’re going to mix your dry ingredients and one for wet ingredients which is just water.
We’ve also made homemade white bread but that takes a lot longer. This is somewhat similar except there really is no kneading at all, or time allowing it to rise. It isn’t quite as fluffy but rather has a nice chew to it similar to sourdough which we loved.
Is it possible to make bread without yeast, soda, or eggs?
Yes! Our recipe for that is below. It is not only great for those who need an egg free bread option but in the event that you don’t have or want to use yeast or baking soda this is the answer to your prayers. I will start by saying this is a dense bread. Since there is no leavening agent included it isn’t fluffy and airy like french bread.
Your best bet if you want it closer to store bought without these 3 ingredients would be to make homemade sourdough starter and use that as a leavening agent instead.
Ingredient Notes
All purpose flour, I haven’t tested this with gluten free flour or wheat flour as of yet. You should add some Salt for flavor. Baking powder is in there with dry ingredients to make it rise, a leavening agent.
Room temperature water and some melted butter or olive oil are the liquid elements to make the dough. Then you will need a sharp knife, NO loaf pan is needed, just a baking sheet
BUT if you are like us and want a slice of yum to put butter on and serve with your favorite Instant Pot spaghetti, this easy bread recipe is great. Add ins we used: Basil, Garlic salt, Oregano, Dried parsley and Garlic powder
Slow Cooker option
When making other versions, like using cook time and temperature in making slow cooker bread recipe, you will need quite a bit more time. Above is homemade with rising time, rising again, and kneading it so it takes quite a bit longer but you could use the below ingredients.
BUT when you make versions such as this one and our no yeast rolls, linked above, you eliminate those steps (which we typically hate to do). The night before we made this loaf of 3 ingredient bread. This is what you’ll need to make this easy bread recipe for kids no yeast
No Yeast Bread Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- 4 c all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/3 c water
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
- optional add ins
- 1/4 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl mix together flour, salt and baking powder.
- Stir in water and melted butter. Put this dough on to a lightly floured cutting board.
- If you want to add seasonings put in middle and knead together just so it is incorporated into the dough. Make thickness of dough 1.5" thick all the way across so it cooks evenly.
- Put on baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper underneath.
- Cut an X on the top and bake for 37 minutes or until lightly browned on the top.
- Allow to cool on cooling rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How did people make bread without yeast?
I mean there are lots of versions out there that start with a sourdough starter but this isn’t one of them. It is easier with just all purpose flour, salt, baking powder and butter. Water is the liquid used but honestly you could use broth for more flavor.
Unlike one you would make with a starter you don’t have to tend to it every day for 10 days to get that part just right to make our discard sourdough focaccia. Although that is a great way to use what you would normally throw away it is time consuming.
I will say you need to add flavors to this or it will be quite bland, just like Challah. The ones we used below worked well to give it a nice taste that went well with our dinner or sweet for breakfast with huckleberry jam on top.
You will be giving up the fluffiness, but in a pinch give this 4 ingredient bread a whirl. Our homemade flour tortillas needs just 3 ingredients rock as well.
Now take off of your cookie sheet and put on to a cooling rack so it can continue to bake the middle. Use a sharp serrated knife to slice once it is cooled, or mostly cooled. Best when served with butter on top! If you want to make something similar, but sweeter, you should give our Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls a whirl next.
Yes! If you mix flour, melted butter, salt, baking powder and water together you will get a dough that is ready to bake!! Add herbs like thyme, basil or a bit of parmesan for flavor and bake. With a great chewy sourdough-like texture it is a great way to bake bread without active dry yeast.
37 minutes was perfect for us to get the middle to be baked all the way thru and the outside to have a light golden brown. Our loaf will feed about 8 people with 1 large slice each. A great quick way to bake bread to serve with pasta.
