Cheese bread (no knead!)

Cheese bread (no knead!)

10 servings
Recipe video above.

Ingredients

  • bread flour

    Note 1 re: plain/all-purpose flour

    3 c
  • instant yeast)

    aka rapid rise (Note 2

    2 tsp
  • cooking/kosher salt
    1 ½ tsp
  • very warm tap water

    Note 3

    1 ½ c
  • Colby cheese )
    2 ½ c

Directions

Shorthand recipe - for experts

  1. 1

    Mix dry ingredients, mix in water. Rise 2 - 3 hrs until doubled.

  2. 2

    Preheat pot 240°C/450°F (220°C fan). Turn dough out. Reserve 1/3 cheese for topping. Fold inwards 4 times, stuffed/layered with remaining cheese. Flip onto parchment paper. Pile reserved cheese on top.

  3. 3

    Bake 35 minutes covered, 10 minutes uncovered. Rest 10 minutes. Eat!

Magic no-knead dough:

  1. 1

    Shaggy dough - Using a rubber spatula, mix flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Add water, then mix using the handle of the spatula until you can no longer see flour. The dough should be too sticky to knead by hand, but not pourable like cake batter (see video at X seconds).

  2. 2

    Rise - Cover with cling wrap and leave to rise in a warm place for 2 to 3 hours until the dough doubles in volume (Note 5). The surface should be bubbly, and the mixture should jiggle when you shake the bowl.

  3. 3

    Preheat pot - Half an hour before the dough is ready, put a 24-28cm / 4.5-8 quart heavy based pot with a lid in the oven to preheat to 240°C/450°F (220°C fan-forced). Note 7 for no dutch oven method.

Shape loaf:

  1. 1

    Pat into disc - Sprinkle work surface with 1 tbsp flour. Scrape dough out, sprinkle surface with flour, pat into a ~20cm/8" disc.

  2. 2

    Cheese it - Set aside 1/3 of the cheese for topping. Cover surface with half the remaining cheese.

  3. 3

    Fold inwards stuffed with cheese - Using a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (cake server, large knife, spatula), fold the sides inwards 4 times to roughly form a roundish shape, topping each layer of with the remaining cheese (but keep the final layer cheese free, it will be the base of the bread). (Note 6 for tips)

  4. 4

    Paper transfer - Flip the dough onto a sheet of parchment/baking paper so the seamside is (mostly) facedown. Tidy the shape if desired. (Note 6)

  5. 5

    Cheese crown - Pile the reserved cheese on.

Bake

  1. 1

    Hot pot transfer - Remove hot pot from the oven. Use paper to transfer dough into the pot, keeping it on the paper. Put lid on.

  2. 2

    Bake 35 minutes. Remove lid. Bake 10 minutes to colour the surface.

  3. 3

    Cool - Remove pot from oven. Use paper to transfer bread onto a cooling rack. Remove paper. Cool at least 10 minutes before slicing! (Note 8)

Cheese bread (no knead!)

Cheese bread (no knead!)

50 min10 servings273 cal

Similar Recipes

Cheese Bread

Cheese Bread

Soft, fluffy and loaded with cheese, this easy Cheese Bread tastes just like Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits! No kneading required. Perfect served as a side with a nice pat of butter or even for sandwiches.

50 minutes
No-Knead Green Chile Cheddar Bread

No-Knead Green Chile Cheddar Bread

Simple no-knead crusty bread with roasted Hatch green chiles and white cheddar.

55 minutes
No Yeast Cheese, Garlic and Herb Bread

No Yeast Cheese, Garlic and Herb Bread

A bread made without yeast with swirls of herb and pockets of cheese throughout. Slices well and especially great toasted!

50 minutes8 servings271 kcal
Cheesy Garlic and Herb Bread

Cheesy Garlic and Herb Bread

This gooey Cheesy Garlic and Herb Bread recipe using one of those fluffy loaves of bread at the grocery store, can be baked or grilled.

40 minutes12 servings
No-Knead Bread

No-Knead Bread

Here is one of the most popular recipes The Times has ever published, courtesy of Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery. It requires no kneading. It uses no special ingredients, equipment or techniques. And it takes very little effort — only time. You will need 24 hours to create the bread, but much of this is unattended waiting, a slow fermentation of the dough that results in a perfect loaf. (We've updated the recipe to reflect <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/06/dining/06mini.html">changes Mark Bittman made</a> to the recipe in 2006 after publishing and receiving reader feedback. The original recipe called for 3 cups flour; we've adjusted it to call for 3 1/3 cups/430 grams flour.) <a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022147-updated-no-knead-bread">In 2021, J. Kenji López-Alt revisited the recipe and shared his own tweaked version.</a>

Easy Cheddar Sourdough Bread

Easy Cheddar Sourdough Bread

This sourdough cheese bread requires no starter required and is so easy! It tastes like it's from a fancy bakery! Who can resist homemade cheesy bread?!

45 minutes284 kcal
Cheesy Cauliflower Bread

Cheesy Cauliflower Bread

A perfect keto and gluten-free option that comes together in under an hour, this cheesy cauliflower bread pairs wonderfully with all your Italian faves.

45 minutes1 servings
Bread Machine Cheese Bread

Bread Machine Cheese Bread

This bread machine cheese bread recipe is simple to make and is quite delicious. It also looks great. I don’t know much about art… but this cheese bread loaf looks almost like a crazy Jackson Pollock painting! The cheese topping on this “abstract art” cheese bread loaf is certainly a conversation starter. Visit Bread Dad (BreadDad.com) for more easy bread machine recipes.

3.2 hours12 servings207 kcal

Ratings & Reviews

Be the First to Rate

Your rating helps others discover amazing recipes. Share your experience and let others know what you think!

About this Recipe

Craving the comforting aroma and taste of fresh-baked bread, but intimidated by traditional kneading? This no-knead Cheese Bread recipe brings that bakery-quality goodness straight to your kitchen with remarkably little effort.

Why This No-Knead Bread Works

This recipe stands out by embracing the no-knead method, making homemade bread astonishingly accessible. You don't need special equipment or extensive bread-making experience to achieve a deeply satisfying loaf. It simplifies the process, letting time do the work, so you can enjoy freshly baked cheesy goodness with minimal active effort.

What to Expect

With just a few basic pantry staples like bread flour, instant yeast, and warm water, combined with plenty of freshly shredded Colby cheese, you're setting the stage for a delightful bake. The 45 minutes of prep time is surprisingly hands-off, focusing on getting your simple dough ready to transform into something wonderful. Imagine a warm, aromatic bread, generously studded with pockets of melted cheese, perfect for tearing apart.

Customization & Variations

This recipe is incredibly flexible. While Colby cheese offers a classic melt, feel free to swap in your cheese of choice—cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even a blend of mozzarella and provolone would be delicious. If you don't have bread flour, plain or all-purpose flour can be used in a pinch, though the texture might be slightly different. For an extra touch, consider adding a pinch of garlic powder or dried herbs to the dough.

Serving & Context

This warm, cheesy loaf is ideal for complementing a hearty soup or stew, serving alongside a weeknight pasta dinner, or simply enjoyed on its own as a satisfying snack. It's truly a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions