Easy Parmesan Herb Artisan Bread

This Easy Parmesan Herb Artisan Bread is scrumptious and so easy to make. It only takes 5 minutes of hands-on time and tastes just like restaurant bread.  Keep reading to snag at the details and recipe below.

Easy Parmesan Herb Artisan Bread

Artisan bread is probably my favorite kind of bread ever.  It is light and fluffy and oh-so-delicious.  

And my artisan bread recipe only takes 5 minutes of hands-on time to make!  Seriously.

This recipe is incredibly easy to make and it is inexpensive too!  I love it when I can feed my family with good homemade food and save money.

Artisan Bread Recipes

Check out these other artisan bread recipes I have shared:

• No-Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
• Whole Wheat No-Knead Bread Recipe

The best part about this no-knead artisan bread recipe is that it can be changed however you want.  It is so forgiving. 

The fact that you can use essentially the same recipe for white and wheat bread and have it still taste good and not be too dense is pretty amazing. 

I have not always had the best success with baking bread, but you guys, this recipe is so forgiving...anyone can do it!  

I can do it.  I taught my 13 year old how to do it. It is seriously that simple.  

And my whole family loves this basic artisan bread recipe.  The loaf never lasts more than a few hours after coming out of the oven. 

And when it comes out of the oven...it smells incredible.  Mouth-watering delicious smells.

Can I make bread without a stand mixer?

Yes, you can!  This artisan bread recipe does not use a stand mixer.  Just a spatula and your hands and only about 5 minutes of time.  It is crazy simple to make and insanely delicious.  It tastes like something you would get at a gourmet restaurant or a fancy bakery, but you can make it easily in your own home without fancy or expensive equipment.

How does no-knead bread work?

No-knead bread works and rises because of the extra long time spent rising and fermenting.  This long fermentation time allows the gluten to strands to form which normally happens during kneading. It is imperative to let it rise for 12-18 hours otherwise your bread won't turn out. 

How do I store homemade bread?

In our house, homemade bread doesn't last long enough to worry about storing it.  It is usually gone within an hour.  But if your bread oddly stays around longer, I like to put mine in a plastic ziploc bag and keep it out on the counter.  But I will say, if your air has some humidity in it, you can just wrap it in tin foil and it will be fine.  If you are in a dryer climate, you'll want to store it in an air-tight container. 

Does it really only take 5 minutes to make no-knead bread?

Yes and no.  It takes about 5 minutes of hands-on time to make this bread.  But because it is a no-knead bread, it needs an extra long time to rise.  So you will want to begin this the night before and then finish it up and cook it during the morning or afternoon of the next day.

Can I sub fresh herbs for dried herbs?

My recipe is for using dried herbs because I don't often have a lot of fresh herbs easily accessible and I like to keep things simple.  If you want to use fresh herbs instead, remember that fresh herbs are stronger than dried herbs so you will want to use only about ⅓ of the amount of fresh herbs as I've listed for dried herbs. 

Is artisan bread good for sandwiches?

Yes, you can definitely use this for a yummy sandwich.  I baked this in a traditional bread loaf pan which makes it perfect for slicing and using as sandwich bread.  But to be honest, I also love using this parmesan herb artisan bread on a charcuterie board or just dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  

This is probably my favorite bread to dip in oil and vinegar, to be honest.  It is just the perfect combination of salty and tangy and savory.  Oh it is so so yummy.

It is also a tasty side for soup, like my Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup. 

Can I use wheat flour instead of white flour?

You sure can use wheat flour instead of white flour for this recipe.  It will change the taste and texture a bit, but it will still be very yummy and delicious!

Can I cook this in a covered baker instead of a bread pan?

Yes, you sure can cook this in a covered baker instead.  You will want to cook it for about 30-40 minutes with the lid on, and then let it cook for about 10 minutes with the lid off until it turns a golden brown.

Does this bread have a hard crust?

This bread has a nice little crunch to it, but it does not have a super thick super hard crust.  It is a very light, fluffy and delicious bread.

What if I don't have all the herbs?

If you don't have all the herbs listed, it is ok.  You can leave them out, or sub for something else that sounds reasonable to sub for.  And if you don't have parmesan cheese, you can leave that out too.  This recipe is really very flexible.  But I will say, this combination of herbs and cheese is absolutely divine and I highly suggest baking it this way.

What oven do you use to cook artisan bread?

I am using my BRAVA oven for this herb artisan bread recipe!  A traditional oven will work too of course.  But I love some features about my Brava that I don't get in a traditional oven.  For one, I really love how my Brava bakes.  I get the most even and consistent cooking with it and whenever I bake anything using it, it turns out perfectly.  For this bread, I am able to get a nice outside that sounds hollow when I knock on it while maintaining a soft and fluffy inside.  My bread's texture is spot on and the color and cook of it is perfect too.  I really do love baking in my Brava.

Easy Parmesan Herb Artisan Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 cups White Flour, plus about 1 cup more
• 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1 ½ teaspoon Instant Yeast
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• 1 ½ Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 ½ cups Water
• ½ teaspoon Basil, plus more if desired to sprinkle on top
• 1 teaspoon Oregano, plus more if desired to sprinkle on top
• ¾ cup shredded Parmesan Cheese, plus more if desired to sprinkle on top

Directions: 

1. The night before, combine 3 cups white flour, salt, yeast, and sugar in a bowl with a spatula.
2.  Add oil, water, basil, and oregano and use a spatula to mix until combined. 
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit overnight, or about 12-18 hours.
4. On your counter (I like to cover mine with plastic wrap for easy clean up), sprinkle flour and then dump the dough onto the counter.  The dough will be very wet.
5. Add more flour to the dough and gently stir it in with a spatula until the "wetness" is gone.  It could take a cup of flour or even more, just make sure that the dough is no longer wet and sticky.
6. Add cheese into the dough and mix until combined.
7.  Shape the dough and place it in a greased bread pan. 
8. Sprinkle additional basil, oregano, and cheese on top.
9. Place this into your TURNED OFF OVEN for 1.5 hours. (do not turn the oven on)
10.  Remove dough from oven and preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
11.  Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is slightly browned and it sounds "hollow" when you lightly knock on it.
12. Let cool for a few minutes before removing it from the pan. 
13. Let cool completely before cutting.

This artisan bread is a definite family favorite!  It is full of delicious, robust flavors and is a perfect herb artisan bread!

Snag the printable recipe below:

You might also enjoy these posts:

No-Knead Parmesan Rosemary Bread

No-Knead Artisan Bread

Whole Wheat No-Knead Bread

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Charcuterie Board