Homemade Italian Bread Recipe (2024)

Nothing tastes better than a loaf of homemade bread. This homemadeItalian Bread recipe is perfect served along side any meal or used for homemade meatball sub sandwiches.

photo credit: (c) Can Stock Photo / annapustynnikova

Best Homemade Italian Bread Recipe

It is the best homemade Italian bread recipe I have ever made and my family loves it so much that I make it all the time.

I promise you once you make this homemade Italian Bread recipe it will be your go to recipe for homemade bread.

I love to make this homemadeItalian Bread recipe and make homemade meatball subs with it.

I make my homemadeCrock Pot Meatballs recipe but instead of making small meatballs for meatball sliders I make large meatballs to fill the homemade Italian bread with.

I top the meatball subs with shredded mozzarella cheese and real Parmesan cheese then lightly toast the homemade meatball subs in the oven before serving.

Oh my, my it is delicious.

How to make Italian Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 2 cups very warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5-½ cups all purpose flour, plus more for kneading

Directions

1. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
2. Add the sugar, salt and 3 cups of the flour to the bowl and beat with a handheld mixer or the paddle blade of the stand mixer for 3 minutes.
3. Stir in remaining flour one cup at a time to form soft dough.
4. Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
5. Place the bread dough into a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
6. Punch the dough down and turn onto a floured surface; divide the dough in half.
7. Shape each half of the bread dough into a loaf. Place each loaf seam down on a greased baking sheet.
8. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. With a sharp knife make about 4 slashes across the top of each loaf.
9. Bake in a 350 F. degree preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Remove the baked bread loaves from the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool.
11. Makes 2 loaves.

Print the Italian Bread Recipe below

Helpful Tips for making homemade bread

An oven with the inside light turned on is the perfect place to rise homemade bread dough.

Check the expiration date on your yeast. Expired yeast will not allow the dough to rise properly.

Disclosure: Links for the helpful tools section are affiliate links. At no cost to you I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

Helpful Tools for bread making

Stainless Steel Danish Dough Whisk makes mixing bread dough so easy of you don't have a stand mixer or a handheld beater it works great.

If you love a crispy crust on your Italian Bread baking it on a Pizza Stone is the way to go.

Want a few more homemade bread recipes?

No-Knead Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes

No-Knead Garlic and Rosemary Bread made in a Dutch Oven

Homemade Flat Bread Gorditas recipe

Homemade Sour Dough Focaccia with video

No-Knead Cheesy Slider Buns

More Baking