Description

This crusty no-knead pizza bread combines a chewy, flavorful dough filled with savory pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and mozzarella cheese, baked inside a hot Dutch oven for a golden, crunchy crust. Paired with a sweet and spicy hot honey butter, this bread is perfect for snacking or serving with meals. The slow rise and simple mixing method make it approachable for home bakers seeking an artisanal style bread without kneading.

Ingredients

Scale

For the No-Knead Pizza Bread

3 and 1/3 cups (about 440g) bread flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed for shaping and pan
2 teaspoons instant or active dry yeast
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar (or honey as substitute)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 and 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 heaping cup (about 135g) chopped pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil & drained), and/or olives
1 cup (113g) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) water, close to room temperature (~70°F / 21°C)

For the Hot Honey Butter

1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 Tablespoons (63g) honey
1 Tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
1/8–1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt or coarse salt
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions

Mix Dry and Add-Ins: In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, yeast, salt, sugar, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Add chopped pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Gently combine.
Add Water and Form Dough: Pour in room temperature water and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until dough is fully moistened but sticky. Shape into a rough ball in the bowl.
First Rise: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or foil and leave at room temperature for 3 hours until the dough nearly doubles in size and bubbles appear.
Cold Fermentation: Transfer the covered bowl to the refrigerator for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days to develop flavor and texture.
Shape and Rest: Remove dough from fridge, turn out onto a floured surface, and shape into a ball with floured hands. Place dough on a large parchment paper and inside a medium mixing bowl to maintain shape. Cover and let rest 30 minutes.
Preheat Oven and Dutch Oven: Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a 6-quart or larger Dutch oven with lid inside to heat for 30 minutes.
Score and Bake Covered: Using a sharp knife or bread lame, score a shallow X about 1/2 inch deep on the dough. Carefully transfer dough with parchment into hot Dutch oven, cover, and bake for 25 minutes.
Bake Uncovered: Remove lid and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, or internal temperature reaches 195°F (90°C).
Cool Bread: Carefully remove bread from pot and cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Make Hot Honey Butter: In a bowl, beat softened butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add honey, confectioners’ sugar, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes starting with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a pinch of flakes. Beat until well combined and smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve and Store: Slice the bread and serve with hot honey butter. Store leftover bread loosely covered at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerated up to 1 week. Store butter tightly covered at room temperature 2 days or refrigerated 2–3 months.

Notes

You can substitute honey for granulated sugar in the dough for a slight sweetness.
Use parchment paper safe for high oven temperatures to avoid burning or smoke.
Dough will be very sticky; avoid adding excessive flour to keep crumb moist and chewy.
Don’t grease the bowl when mixing or rising the dough.
The bread is flatter than typical boules due to heavy add-ins, resulting in a higher crust to crumb ratio.
Adjust crushed red pepper flakes in hot honey butter according to your spice preference.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: no-knead bread, pizza bread, Dutch oven bread, hot honey butter, easy bread recipe, savory bread, pizza flavors bread