Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, this cheesy, spicy no-knead jalapeno cheddar bread looks and tastes just like it came from a bakery!
A riff off my no-knead Dutch oven bread, this one is packed with bold flavors and a spicy kick! Just a handful of pantry ingredients and minimal effort make this bread downright delicious.
If you want to try more easy no-knead breads, you'll love my super easy no-knead focaccia and no-knead cranberry walnut loaf!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
โจThis bread is ridiculously easy to make. You just need to mix everything, fold the dough a few times, and bake! Great for beginners and expert bakers.
โจFor such a low effort recipe, the results are amazing! You get an impressive cheese and jalapeno artisan bread that's just irresistible and tastes just like it came out of a bakery!
โจThe texture and flavor is perfect - crunchy, crisp crust with a soft interior and a bold spicy, cheesy flavor!
โจThis Dutch oven bread recipe is very versatile. Add more cheese to make it cheesier, more jalapenos to make it spicier. You can even add chopped garlic, herbs, or sun-dried tomatoes!
โจYou can even make the dough the night before, making it great for a stress-free meal prep. In fact the longer the dough rises, the better flavor the bread will have!
Recipe Ingredients
Flour: I used all-purpose flour in this recipe. Wholewheat flour can be used and will give a slightly more dense loaf. Bread flour will give you a chewier texture!
Yeast: You can use dry active or instant yeast. Always test it to make sure it's fresh, though. Dissolve 1/2 a teaspoon in 1/2 cup of warm water. If it becomes frothy and bubbly, in 5 -10 minutes, the yeast is good to go!
Cheese: I used cheddar cheese that I grated using my box grater. It's best to grate a block of cheese at home. The pre-shredded stuff just doesn't taste the same and is full of anti-caking agents!
Jalapeno: I used pickled jalapenos for a spicy kick. Fresh jalapeรฑo will work as well.
Please see the recipe card below for full information about ingredients and quantities.
How To Make No Knead Jalapeรฑo Cheddar Bread
Step 1: Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Set aside for 5-10 minutes until the mixture is frothy and bubbly.
Step 2: In a large bowl, add the flour, salt, cheese, and chopped jalapeรฑos.
Step 3: Add the yeast mixture and combine using a wooden spoon or a dough whisk to form a shaggy dough.
Step 4: Cover and place the bowl in a warm corner for 1.5 -2 hours or until the dough doubles in size. The dough will have a lot of bubbles on top.
Step 5: Flour your hands well and fold the bread dough on top of itself, 8 times. See the video below! Then, carefully transfer the dough to a floured parchment paper. This dough is very sticky and flat. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
Step 6: While the dough is resting, place your Dutch oven (with lid) in the oven and heat the oven to 230 ยฐC / 450ยฐF. After the dough has rested, carefully remove the HOT Dutch oven from the oven and take the lid off. Gently place the dough with the parchment paper in the pan, and cover it with the lid. Transfer to the oven.
Step 7: Bake for 40 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Step 8: Remove the bread loaf from the baking dish, place it on a wire rack. Allow it to cool completely for at least 2 hours before slicing.
Top Tips
- Your Dutch oven should be super hot! Place it in the oven with the lid on for 30-40 minutes. The hot pan will give the no-knead bread a nice crisp crust!
- Please wear your oven mitts whenever handling the Dutch oven; it will be scorching HOT!
- A few folds of the dough help give it better structure. Please flour your hands when handling the dough or use a floured spatula.
- You can use any variety of cheddar cheese - mild, sharp, or extra sharp. Make sure you grate the cheese at home. Pre-grated cheese just doesn't have the right flavor and texture.
- The amount of jalapeรฑos used is just perfect for us. The loaf is mildly spicy. Feel free to add more if you enjoy a spicier kick!
- The dough for this no-knead jalapeรฑo cheese bread is sticky, wet, and flat. Please avoid adding more flour than necessary while folding the dough.
- I highly recommend weighing your ingredients, especially when you're baking breads. This ensures consistent and better results.
How To Make No-Knead Bread Without a Dutch Oven
You can use any baking dish with a lid to make this jalapeno cheddar bread. Just make sure the baking dish can withstand a very high oven temperature. For that reason, I would not recommend glass dishes.
You can easily bake this in a deep cast-iron skillet.
If you're not using a baking dish, place the dough on a parchment paper-lined baking tray. On the lower rack of your oven, place a cup or two of boiling water for 5 minutes before sliding in the bread dough. This creates steam to make a crusty loaf. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
How To Serve The Jalapeno Cheese Bread
This gorgeous, crusty, flavorful no-knead jalapeno cheese bread can be served in so many ways!
It's wonderful as-is, or with a pat of butter. Try it with honey cinnamon butter for a bit of a sweet-spicy flavor.
Serve it with a comforting bowl of carrot lentil soup or roasted pumpkin soup to make a hearty meal.
For a light meal, this no-knead bread is a perfect accompaniment to fresh Greek salad or avocado egg salad!
It's so good with garlic confit or creamy homemade labneh. I love it with my easy avocado dip too.
Use the leftovers to make a fabulous breakfast casserole!
How To Store
Allow the easy jalapeno cheddar bread to cool completely before slicing it. This bread will stay well at room temperature in an air-tight container for 2-3 days or 4-5 days in the refrigerator. I prefer to refrigerate all my breads in summer as it's so hot here!
๐ Recipe
No-Knead Jalapeno Cheddar Bread
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup Warm water ( about 40.5 C or 105 f)
- 1.5 tsp Dry active yeast
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 3 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup Pickled jalapeรฑo, chopped finely
Instructions
- Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Set aside for 5-10 minutes until the mixture is frothy and bubbly.1.5 cup (340 ml) Warm water, 1.5 tsp Dry active yeast, 1 tsp Sugar
- In a large bowl, add the flour, salt, cheese, and chopped jalapeรฑos.3 1/4 cup (412g) All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Salt, 1 1/2 cup (150g) Cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup (30g) Pickled jalapeรฑo, chopped finely
- Add the yeast mixture and combine using a wooden spoon or a dough whisk to form a shaggy dough. This dough is very sticky.
- Cover and place the bowl in a warm corner for 1.5 -2 hours or until the dough doubles in size. The dough will have a lot of bubbles on top.You can also refrigerate the dough for 18-24 hours.
- Heat oven to 230 C / 450 F and place your Dutch oven with the lid in the oven. I used a 3.5 QT / 3.3 ltr Dutch oven.ย
- Sprinkle a tablespoon of flour on the dough. Flour your hands well and fold the dough on top of itself. Turn the bowl a quarter of the way and fold the dough over itself again. Do 3 more quarter turns of the bowl with folding over the dough each time.Repeat this step one more time.
- You can keep sprinkling 1 -2 teaspoons of flour while working on the dough, as it is very sticky.
- Sprinkle a tablespoon of flour on a piece of parchment paper and carefully transfer the dough onto it. Sprinkle another tablespoon of flour on top.
- Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Take the hot Dutch oven out of the oven carefully and remove the lid. Uncover the dough and place it in the Dutch oven, holding the sides of the parchment paper. Cover the Dutch oven and place it in the oven.
- Bake for 40 minutes with the lid on. Remove the lid and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
- To test for doneness: Tap the bread, if it sounds hollow, it's done. You can also use an instant-read thermometer. The center of the bread should be 90 c / 190 f.
- Allow the bread to cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. Slice and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Your Dutch oven should be super hot! Place it in the oven with the lid on for 30-40 minutes. The hot pan will give the no-knead bread a nice crisp crust!
- Please wear your oven mitts whenever handling the Dutch oven; it will be scorching HOT!
- A few folds of the dough help give it better structure. Please flour your hands when handling the dough or use a floured spatula.
- You can use any variety of cheddar cheese - mild, sharp, or extra sharp. Make sure you grate the cheese at home. Pre-grated cheese just doesn't have the right flavor and texture.
- The amount of jalapeรฑos used is just perfect for us. The loaf is mildly spicy. Feel free to add more if you enjoy a spicier kick!
- The dough for this no-knead jalapeรฑo cheese bread is sticky, wet, and flat. Please avoid adding more flour than necessary while folding the dough.
- I highly recommend weighing your ingredients, especially when you're baking breads. This ensures consistent and better results.
Nicholas says
Super simple and tastes better than store-bought. Will definitely be my new go-to.
Natasha Minocha says
Oh thank you, Nicholas! I'm thrilled to hear this! Have a great weekend!
Kavita says
Turned out so good !! Absolutely fantastic ๐คฉ
Natasha Minocha says
Thank you so much! Really appreciate your wonderful review! xx