Homemade bakery-style bread has never been easier. This super crusty no knead jalapeño cheddar bread is baked in a dutch oven and requires practically zero hands-on work from you!
I originally published this recipe in 2018 and have since added new photos and a video tutorial, as well as simplified instructions.
One reader, Tina, commented: “One of my favorite bread recipes from you. I’ve made it multiple times over the the past couple of years. Every time it comes out crusty and delicious! The honey butter recipe pairs perfectly with this bread. In fact, I have the dough resting on my counter right now. Can’t wait to eat it! ★★★★★“
After sharing this cranberry nut no-knead bread, many readers asked for another flavor variation. Since then, I’ve also published no-knead olive bread, super seeded oat bread, this “plain” homemade artisan bread (anything but plain, so flavorful!), no-knead asiago-crusted skillet bread, crusty no-knead pizza bread, and today’s jalapeño cheddar bread. I’ve actually had today’s recipe published for a few years, and just added some new photos and simpler instructions.
Grab some spicy jalapeños, a block of sharp cheddar, and lots of self control.
What comes to mind when you think of homemade bread? Unless you’re a seasoned baker, it sounds a little scary, right? This recipe will completely change that thought. You can make bakery-style bread at home and besides stirring the ingredients together, the process requires zero work from you.
How to Make Jalapeño Cheddar No-Knead Bread
- Stir 6 ingredients together including flour, yeast, salt, cheddar cheese, chopped jalapeño, and water. Don’t even break out your mixer.
- Shape into a ball and leave it alone for a day.
- Score an X on top of the dough, let it rest, and then bake it in a dutch oven to obtain a super crisp crust.
- Eat it.
That’s all. This no knead, professional-bread-at-home method has swarmed the internet and kitchens all over the world. It originally came from Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery in NYC. It’s all very basic ingredients, but the method was groundbreaking and includes an 18 hour rise time. This overnight rest gives the dough a chance to ferment. Just set the dough on your counter and forget about it. The magic happens when you’re not looking! Forget how to knead dough; you don’t need to worry about that!
Let’s Talk Jalapeño & Cheddar
The bread’s base flavor comes from the fermentation over the 18 hour period. But to shake things up and make this a fancy-tasting specialty bread, add 1 diced jalapeño and some sharp cheddar cheese.
- Is this jalapeño cheddar bread spicy? Sort of. I can tolerate a little spice and I LOVE this bread. The pieces of dough without jalapeño helps to cool off your mouth. Feel free to adjust the amount of jalapeño based on your heat tolerance. And if you love this combination, make my jalapeño cheddar soft pretzels next.
- What is the best cheese to use? For the best flavor and texture, I recommend using a block of cheddar cheese and grating it at home with a box grater (affiliate link to the one I use and love), instead of purchasing a bag of the pre-shredded stuff. I recommend this if you’re making my homemade cheese bread, too.
What to Expect with This No Knead Dough
- Bubbles: The dough will rise for 12-18 hours and be very bubbly when it’s done.
- Strands: As you pull the risen dough off the sides of the bowl, you’ll notice a network of strands forming. See photo above. These strands are a good thing and will produce the chewiest bread ever.
- Stickiness: This will be a super sticky dough. It will stick to your hands, but that’s nothing a quick wash can’t fix!
You can expect the same in my artisan homemade bread dough, too.
Bake the no knead bread at a very high oven temperature, which will produce a golden brown and crisp crust. The crisp on this crust is unparalleled to any bread I’ve ever baked.
No Dutch Oven? No Problem.
While baking the bread in a dutch oven is key to this bread’s texture, you can get around it. Instead, place the rounded dough on a parchment paper lined or generously floured nonstick baking pan. (No need to preheat the pan in the oven like you do the dutch oven.) Score the bread as noted in step 3 below. Preheat the oven (same oven temperature). After the oven is preheated, place scored dough/baking pan on the center rack. Then place a shallow metal or cast iron baking pan or skillet (I usually use a metal 9×13-inch baking pan; do not use glass) on the bottom oven rack. Carefully and quickly pour 3-4 cups of boiling water into it, and then quickly shut the oven door to trap the steam inside. The steam helps create a crispier crust. Bake for about 30 minutes. For a more accurate test, the bread is done when an instant read thermometer reads the center of the loaf as 195°F (90°C).
What to Serve with Jalapeño Cheddar Bread
Between dips, spreads, and main dishes, here are some serving suggestions for jalapeño cheese bread.
- Slather slices with homemade honey butter
- Tear apart pieces and dip in garlic & bacon spinach dip
- Serve alongside slow cooker chicken chili, creamy chicken noodle soup, or crab soup
- Dipped into your favorite hummus
- With a big bowl of mac & cheese
- Dunk those slices in spicy nacho cheese sauce! This is what I usually use for soft pretzel bites.
Honestly, just break out the warm loaf, a good hunk of cheese, and a bottle of wine. You’re all set for a satisfying snack!
Print
No Knead Jalapeño Cheddar Bread
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 20 hours
- Yield: 1 loaf; 10-12 servings
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Homemade bakery-style bread has never been easier. This super crusty no knead jalapeño cheddar bread is baked in a dutch oven and requires practically zero hands-on work from you! If you’re new to working with yeast, reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.
Ingredients
- 3 cups + 2 Tablespoons (390g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more for hands
- 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt (I find the flavor lacking using regular table salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon instant or active-dry yeast
- 1 jalapeño, diced
- 1 cup (125g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water (about 95°F (35°C))
Instructions
- *No need to grease the bowl, and do not use a mixer in this step because the dough is too sticky for a mixer.* Stir the first 5 ingredients together in a large bowl, and then stir in the warm water. The dough will be pretty sticky but if it’s extremely wet, add another 2 Tablespoons of flour. Gently shape the dough into a ball as best you can. Cover tightly. Set on the counter at room temperature (honestly any normal room temperature is fine!) and allow to rise for 12-18 hours. The dough will double in size, stick to the sides of the bowl, and have a lot of air bubbles.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and, using lightly floured hands, shape into a ball as best you can. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Transfer dough to a large piece of parchment paper, a piece large enough to fit inside your dutch oven and one that is safe under high oven heat. (I use this parchment and it’s never been an issue.) Place the ball of dough + parchment inside a bowl so the dough doesn’t spread out as it rests. See photo above.
- Using a very sharp knife or bread lame (you could even use kitchen shears), gently score an X into the top. Cover dough lightly with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- During this 30 minutes, preheat the oven to 475°F (246°C). (Yes, very hot!) Place your dutch oven with the lid OR heavy duty pot inside for 30 minutes so that it’s extremely hot before the dough is placed inside. After 30 minutes, remove the dutch oven from the oven and carefully place the dough inside by lifting it up with the parchment paper and sticking it all—parchment paper included—inside the pot. Cover with the lid.
- Bake for 25 minutes with the lid on. Carefully remove the lid and continue baking for 8-10 more minutes until the bread is golden brown. How to test for doneness: Give the warm bread a light tap. If it sounds hollow, it’s done. For a more accurate test, the bread is done when an instant read thermometer reads the center of the loaf as 195°F (90°C).
- Remove pot from the oven, carefully remove the bread from the pot, and allow to cool on a wire cooling rack for 20 minutes before slicing.
- Cover and store leftover bread at room temperature for up to 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: The dough takes up to 18 hours to rise, so this is a wonderful recipe to begin 1 day ahead of time. You can also bake the bread, allow it to cool, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature before serving. You can also freeze the dough. Complete the recipe through step 2. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-friendly container. To bake, allow dough to thaw completely at room temperature and then continue with step 3 and the rest of the recipe instructions.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Box Grater | Glass Mixing Bowls | Wooden Spoon | Dutch Oven | Parchment Paper | Bread Lame | Instant Read Thermometer | Cooling Rack
- Dutch Oven: Use a 6 quart or larger dutch oven or any large oven-safe pot with an oven-safe lid. If your dutch oven is smaller than 6 quarts, you can halve the recipe (instructions remain the same, just halve each ingredient) or make the recipe as directed in step 1, shape the dough into 2 balls in step 2, and bake them one at a time in your smaller dutch oven. While the 2nd dough waits, lightly cover and keep at room temperature. The bake times in the recipe above (25 mins and then 8-10 mins) will both be a little shorter for smaller loaves.
- No dutch oven? See post above for alternative.
- Yeast: If you don’t have instant yeast, you can use active-dry. I’ve never had a problem using active dry yeast in this recipe—and with no other changes needed. Works wonderfully!
- Bread Flour or Whole Wheat Flour: I use all-purpose flour here since it’s more readily available to most bakers. However, I love baking bread with bread flour and it can definitely be substituted with no other changes needed to the recipe. You can also substitute 1 cup of the flour for whole wheat flour. Do not use all whole wheat flour, as the bread will taste quite dense and heavy.
- Parchment Paper: If your parchment paper can only be heated to a certain temperature, bake the bread at that temperature. Bake the bread a little longer to compensate for the lower temperature.
- Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.
- Recipe adapted from Red Star Yeast, method originally from Jim Lahey.
Reader Comments and Reviews
What adjustments would you do for high altitude at 5280
Hi Debbie, I wish we could help, but have no experience baking at high altitude. Some readers have found this chart helpful: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/high-altitude-baking.html
My dough is still super wet this morning, it just spread out when I put it on a surface to form a ball. Would I reduce the water or up the flour next time?
Hi Abbi, it is a wet dough! Use floured hands to gently shape it. You can try a little less water next time if you would like.
This is the best homemade bread I’ve ever made! How much of a difference would there be if I prove for eight hours before baking?
Baked the jalapeño cheddar bread today. My loaf had a good taste but the inside was kind of on the dense side. Do you have any tips to help that?
Hi Kristen, we’re sorry you’re having trouble with this bread! The bread should be soft and chewy, but it shouldn’t be overly dense. Perhaps the bread was over-kneaded a bit? An easy fix for next time! Also, make sure you aren’t adding too much flour. Weigh it with a kitchen scale or use the spoon & level method. Hope it turns out better next time!
I have been making bread for about a year. I found your website last week and signed up for Bread Baking 101. I have learned so much from it!
I made a loaf of No Knead Jalapeno Cheddar Bread last week and it has been my best loaf yet!! My husband can’t get enough of it! I am making a loaf of Asiago-Crusted Skillet Bread tomorrow. I am going to serve it with homemade tomato soup.
I am going to make cheddar jalepeno bread tonight. I have read you should decrease the temperature of the oven by 25 degrees if the inside of the dutch oven is black. Is that the case for this bread as well?
Hi Sheila, we haven’t tested this bread in a Dutch oven with that interior, but you can certainly reduce the temperature and know that it will take a bit longer to finish baking through. Hope you enjoy it!
Made the jalepeno cheese no knead bread! AMAZING and EASY!
Everything you say is true!
Thank you!
What size dutch oven do you recommend?
Hi Melodie! Use a 6 quart or larger dutch oven or any large oven-safe pot with an oven-safe lid.
I’ve been experimenting with some of your recipes recently and this one was the first to confuse me a bit! I baked at 425 (because of parchment) in a Dutch oven for about 40 minute and the taste and crust are gorgeous but the bread didn’t dome or rise at all after the second proof.
Hi Aastha! The bread won’t rise during the short rest period before baking, it isn’t really a second proof. Make sure to handle the dough very carefully after the rise to prevent the air bubbles from popping!
I made this today and loved the ease of process for the dough. I did not have a dutch oven ( sadly ) but I used the method you suggested with a boiling pan of water in the bottom of oven. However, my loaf did’t rise a lot and the crumb was tight. I will say the flavor good, the crust crisp and the bread chewy ( in a good way ) I was hoping for a taller loaf & a litte more air in the crumb. Ideas? I am thinking moving it from the proofing bowl, to the baking tray may have deflated it a bit? None the less I am hoping Santa brings me a dutch oven ( + your new book ) , I need all the help I can get. Thank you for all of the lovely recipes.
Hi Pam! This isn’t a very airy bread. Did yours look like the photos above? Try to be very gentle with the dough when moving it to preserve the air bubbles!
Hi Trina,
Thank you for the reply. The outside of my bread looked good, but inside there were almost no holes, very tight and heavy. However the kids said they loved it. Flavor for days! I was really gentle when transfering it to the baking sheet, but maybe not enough? Is there a recipe for one with these inclusions into a white loaf? I dont mind the kneading of the dough, I find it relaxing.
Hi Pam, for a white loaf, we’d use this homemade cheese bread and add some chopped jalapenos with the cheese. Let us know if you try it!
Can I use jarred jalapeños?
Hi Ginger, that should work just fine, be sure to pat the jalapeños dry before adding to the batter.
Can I use bread flour instead of ap flour, does it make a difference?
Hi Aimee, You can use bread flour in place of all-purpose flour here. No other changes to the recipe needed. Enjoy!
I have tried a few recipes but this one is a keeper. After five attempts using some other recipes yours is the perfection I was looking for. It will be on my bakery menu for sure. This recipe is very hard to mess up, super easy. Thanks.