Yes, your Air Fryer is perfect for making No Knead Bread! This bread requires just 4 ingredients and no kneading required. Perfect for sandwiches, toast or just about anything you’d want to eat bread with. So unbelievably delicious, you’ll never want to make this butter slathered crusty bread any other way.

The Perfect No Knead Bread
I’ve first shared this no knead bread with you many years ago and have since made many different versions of it and many different ways. It’s quite a popular recipe and there’s reason for that. It’s incredibly simple and only 4 ingredients are required. But now, I want to show you that you can also make this bread in your air fryer.
I love coming up with different ways to use the air fryer, and I love the fact that you can even bake in it! But what I love about this bread the most is its simplicity. The ingredients are relatively the same as for my well known no knead bread but definitely a whole lot quicker because I’ve used instant yeast to speed the process. My famous artisan bread also has the same ingredients but the way it’s made is totally different.
The thought of baking bread in an air fryer doesn’t seem right, but this amazingly fast method for making fresh bread is crazy good. Did I mention it’ll also fill your house with the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread? With this fool-proof method, you end up with a perfect loaf of bread, every single time!
Air Fryer No Knead Bread Highlights
✅ NO KNEADING REQUIRED. As the name suggests, there really is no kneading required. Simply add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir using either a wooden spoon or a plastic spatula until all the ingredients come together!
✅ PERFECT CRUST. Because you air fry the bread at a high temperature with a piece of tented foil on top of the bread, this will create steam inside the pot and cook it perfectly. For the last 10 minutes, you remove the foil to allow the bread to finish baking. During this time the bread turns a gorgeous golden brown color, with an incredible crust.
✅ ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS. That’s right, you only need 4 ingredients, that I guarantee you already have: flour, yeast, salt and water.
✅ QUICK TO MAKE. This is the best way to make a quick rustic loaf of bread.
✅ VERY ECONOMICAL. With only a handful of basic staple ingredients, this crusty loaf costs very little. There’s no additional costs unless you want to add in some cheese, nuts, or other ingredients to your loaf.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- FLOUR – You’ll need to use all-purpose flour for this recipe. If you’d like to use whole wheat flour, check out my recipe here for Whole Wheat No Knead Bread.
- SALT – Use as much or as little as you’d like. Just don’t skip it, without it the bread won’t have any taste at all.
- YEAST – In this recipe I call for instant yeast which I recommend using when you want the bread ready fairly quickly. However, active dry yeast can be used as well but the technique is a little bit different. If you’d like to try it, check out my recipe for No Knead Bread.
- WATER – It’s super important to make sure your water is at room temperature as it will affect the outcome of your yeast.
How To Make No Knead Bread In The Air Fryer
Form The Dough
In a big bowl mix the flour, salt, instant yeast and water into the bowl and using a spatula or a wooden spoon, mix it until well incorporated. The dough will be sticky and shaggy.
Allow It To Rise
You’ll want to cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on your counter or inside your unheated oven for 2 to 3 hours. During this time, the dough should double in size.
Preheat The Air Fryer And Baking Pan
Place an air fryer-safe baking dish that fits into the basket of your air fryer. I used a 6″ round pan but you could use up to an 8″ pan, just depends how big your air fryer is. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 20 minutes with the pan in it.
Shape The Dough
Meanwhile, flour your hands really well and also sprinkle a bit of flour over the dough. With your floured hands gently remove the dough from the bowl and roughly shape it into a ball. Take the ball of dough and place it over a piece of parchment paper. Transfer the dough with the parchment paper into a bowl and cover with a dry, clean kitchen towel until the pan has been preheated.
Carefully, remove the pan from the air fryer basked, then lift the parchment paper and drop it in the pot, with parchment paper and all. You can also score the top of the dough with a sharp knife. This will not only make your bread look pretty, but it can also prevent it from cracking. Carefully cover the pan with aluminum foil, tightly seal the edges, and place the pan back into the air fryer basket, shut the lid, and then it’s bake time.
Bake The Bread
Bake the bread for 20 minutes then open the basket and carefully remove the foil. Close the basket and bake for another 10 minutes or until golden brown. The bread is cooked when it sounds hollow when you tap it. I turned the bread upside down after 5 minutes to allow it to brown on the bottom too (as seen in the video) but this is totally optional.
What Is No Knead Bread?
No Knead Bread was first published in the New York Times about 10 years ago. This bread requires no kneading which is why it’s become so popular. You basically throw everything in a bowl, mix it up, let it sit around for a few hours and let the yeast do its work, then bake it.
How Do I Know When My Bread Is Done Baking?
Tap the bottom! Take the bread out of the Dutch oven, turn it upside down and give the bottom a firm thump with your thumb, or a knock – if it sounds hollow, it’s done. You can also use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the bread, when it reaches between 190°F and 200°F, your bread is done.
Can I Use Bread Flour?
The difference between bread flour and all-purpose flour is that bread flour has more protein, so yes you can use it, but keep in mind that the crust will be a bit thicker. If you do use bread flour, you’ll need to increase the amount of water by 2 teaspoons per cup of flour.
Why Is My Bread Too Dense?
Usually bread will be too dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be pretty sticky, do not add more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour. Little yeast, long rise, sticky dough are keys to a good, light loaf. Also do not over mix the dough in the beginning, there really is no kneading required.
Can I Double The Recipe?
Yes! I actually halved the recipe here because I wanted to make sure the pan I used fit in the air fryer. But if you have an 8 inch pan and it fit in your air fryer, go ahead and double the recipe which will still make a loaf of bread.
Can I Freeze The Dough?
Yes you can, the bread will still be crusty and delicious, it will just be a bit denser.
Expert Tips For
- Do not refrigerate the dough as it rises. It needs a warm environment to rise, either on the counter or proof it in the oven. If your oven has a PROOF function, then go ahead and use it!
- Want an easy way to know if your bread is done? Take the bread out of the air fryer pan, turn it upside down and give the bottom a firm thump with your thumb, or a knock and if it sounds hollow it’s done.
- I used a 6″ round prepared pan, but had room for a 7 or 8″ one which I would recommend. If using an 8″ pan then go ahead and double the recipe.
What’s Yeast Got To Do With It?
- Always check the expiration date on your yeast and make sure it hasn’t expired. All your yeast products whether it’s in a jar or a package should be stamped with a “Best if Used by” date. Always make sure you check this date, even when you purchase the yeast.
- To keep your yeast fresh and longer lasting, unopened yeast packages or jars should be stored in a cool or dry place such as your cupboard.
- However, you can also store your yeast in the fridge or freezer. If you do store it in the freezer and need to use yeast for your baking, make sure you take out the amount you need and let it sit at room temperature for at least half hour before using.
- Once your yeast package or jar has been opened, you must refrigerate the yeast or freeze it in an airtight container.
- One thing to remember about your yeast, is that it is a living organism and over time it will lose activity, even if you’ve never opened the jar or package. So if you don’t bake often, buy the smaller yeast packages rather than a big jar of yeast.
Leftovers
This bread can dry out a little easily so it is best to store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to preserve it longer. You can store it like this for about 3 to 4 days right on the counter or freeze it for up to 3 months.
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Air Fryer No Knead Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- ¾ cup water room temperature
Instructions
- Form the dough:Â In a big bowl mix the flour, salt, instant yeast and water into the bowl and using a spatula or a wooden spoon, mix it until well incorporated. The dough will be sticky and shaggy.
- Allow it to rise: You’ll want to cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on your counter or inside your unheated oven for 2 to 3 hours. During this time, the dough should double in size.
- Preheat the air fryer: Place a 6-inch round pan into the basket of your air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 20 minutes with the pan in it.
- Shape the dough: Meanwhile, flour your hands really well and also sprinkle a bit of flour over the dough. With your floured hands gently remove the dough from the bowl and roughly shape it into a ball. Take the ball of dough and place it over a piece of parchment paper. Transfer the dough with the parchment paper into a bowl and cover with a dry, clean kitchen towel until the pan has been preheated. Carefully, remove the pan from the air fryer basked, then lift the parchment paper and drop it in the pot, with parchment paper and all. You can also score the top of the dough with a sharp knife. This will not only make your bread look pretty, but it can also prevent it from cracking. Carefully cover the pan with aluminum foil, tightly seal the edges, and place the pan back into the air fryer basket, shut the lid, and then it’s bake time.
- Bake the bread: Bake the bread for 20 minutes then open the basket and carefully remove the foil. Close the basket and bake for another 10 minutes or until golden brown. The bread is cooked when it sounds hollow when you tap it. I turned the bread upside down after 5 minutes to allow it to brown on the bottom too (as seen in the video) but this is totally optional.
Video
Recipe Notes
- Do not refrigerate the dough as it rises. It needs a warm environment to rise, either on the counter or proof it in the oven. If your oven has a PROOF function, then go ahead and use it!
- Want an easy way to know if your bread is done? Take the bread out of the air fryer pan, turn it upside down and give the bottom a firm thump with your thumb, or a knock and if it sounds hollow it’s done.
- I used a 6″ round prepared pan, but had room for a 7 or 8″ one which I would recommend. If using an 8″ pan then go ahead and double the recipe.
- This bread can dry out a little easily so it is best to store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to preserve it longer. You can store it like this for about 3 to 4 days right on the counter or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Could you use this same recipe but shape it into rolls or burger buns instead, or is the dough too spread-y when it first goes in? Either way – Im making it!
I haven’t tried it myself, but I don’t see why not. The dough might be a bit difficult to work into rolls though, that’s the only issue I would see. I know they have a muffin pan for air fryers, so you could use that and that would keep your dough from spreading.
I just made this in my air fryer oven and it came out perfect! I set the timer on the oven for 40 minutes so it could preheat for 20 then popped the dough and paper in the pan and waited the 20 minutes. Added 10 minutes just before cooking time ended and took the foil off.
Can I use regular parchment paper or must I get airfrier paper.? One site said that airfryer paper with holes is not good for dough.
I am dying to try this bread!!
I just used regular parchment paper, didn’t even know there was such a thing as airfryer paper. 🙂
Jo, the nutitional info says 1 serve = 25g cabs etc. Is 1 serve the entire (1/2) loaf or 1 slice? I’m confused. Thanks for the recipe- will try over the next few days. Will also try and find low carb recipes on the net too.
The number of servings is in the dark blue section of the recipe card, so the nutritional information assumes 6 servings for this bread, which is basically a slice, depending on how thick you cut it.
I have an oven style air fryer, how do I adapt this recipe for the baking process?
Thanks!
I’m not sure how that one works, but here’s the recipe for the regular oven: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/no-knead-bread/
I am always looking for easy recipes for my new air fryer, and was thrilled when Jo’s daily email contained this easy and fun no knead bread recipe. I ran out to get the yeast, and made it immediately. The directions were perfect, and the bread was delicious. I will make this often. Another recipe winner from Jo!!
I’m so glad you liked it, Laurie!
I made it again and sprinkled everything bagel seasoning on top before putting it in the air fryer. So good…..
I made 1/2 recipe because it is just 2 of us. It made an adorable little loaf, perfect side with our spaghetti and meatballs. (A little carb with our carb, 😆) It came out great, perfect crumb and light texture on the inside and crunchy exterior. I have made all different kinds of no-knead bread and “have to” knead bread, and this one is a keeper as well. I used a Fat Daddio’s 6 inch cake pan and at first when I started to preheat it, it went banging around the air fryer. I was like whoa, guess that is too light weight! So I put pie weights in the cake pan while it preheated. The top and bottom of the bread came out nice and brown. Thanks for the recipe, this was the first time I have baked in my air fryer. I took a picture, but not sure how to attach it.
I’m so glad you liked the bread! You can share your picture with us on any of our social media channels.
Hey Jo I love that you include the nutritional data as I count my macros. Would you advise how many grams are in a serving of your No Knead Bread done in the Air Fryer please?
Cheers, Shirley
I don’t actually calculate grams or anything like that. The whole bread just assumes 6 servings (slices) so if you want you can weigh it yourself after and do the calculations that way.
Thanks Jo knowing there is 6 servings in the whole bread is extremely helpful 🙂
Yep, the number of servings in the blue part of the recipe card, I know sometimes people miss it. 🙂
Oopsie I did miss it 🙄 🤠thanks so much Jo
Not able to find the link to video. Is there a video? Could you send me the direct link to this, please?
The video is in the recipe card. If you’re not able to see it, you might have ad blocker turned on, and it won’t work then.