Bread Machine Italian Bread recipe. These easy step by step instructions show how to make crusty Italian bread in your machine. I make this homemade bread weekly for family!
Italian Bread Recipe For Bread Machine
One of the main reasons why I got a bread machine was because I found myself stopping at the local general store twice a week to pick up a Italian loaf. One of my first recipe goals was to make a Italian Bread that my family would love served with dinner. This bread is now made weekly in my kitchen!
We love this bread served alongside lasagna, Creamy Tomato Soup, and Slow Cooker Casseroles!
Bread Machine Recipes
If you’re new to the bread machine world you’ll want to first read the manual that came with it. Not only will the manual give you some basic recipes, but it’ll also talk about the order you should add your ingredients into the pan.
This is a important step that shouldn’t be overlooked, so please follow your bread machines ordering for the best possible bread. Most likely the order will look something like this:
- Water (Liquids)
- Flour
- Sugar
- Dry Milk (note: you don’t need milk for this recipe)
- Salt
- Butter / Oils
- Yeast
It’s important to add them in the right order as it will affect the bread quality when it’s kneading it.
I have a Zojirushi BB-SSC10 bread maker which makes 1 pound loaf sizes, perfect for my family.
If you are looking for something a little larger check out Cuisinart 2 pound bread maker. If you aren’t sure what bread maker to get, check out my bread machine guide.
Italian Bread Ingredients
Here’s the ingredients you’ll need to make this Italian Bread. The ingredients are so basic you probably already have everything in your pantry.
- water
- bread flour
- sugar
- salt
- olive oil
- active dry yeast
How to Make Homemade Bread
Time to make Italian Bread! Grab your bread machine and plug it in. Bread machines take on average 3 hours to make bread from beginning to end. The only work you’ll do is in the first 5 minutes!
Add your cold water to the bread pan. Cold water is important for this bread, so don’t use warm water.
Now add your bread flour.
Everyone has their favorite bread flour but in my opinion they aren’t all created equally. I stick with King Arthur or Bob’s Red Mill, I’ll buy whichever one is on sale at the grocery store.
Next, add your sugar. You only need 1 tablespoon.
And now your salt..
And now 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Finally add your dry active yeast on top.
Now place your bread pan into the machine and close the lid. If your machine has a Italian bread setting, choose that.
If it doesn’t, just select the basic bread option. Now press start.
Now the bread will start the process of rising, kneading, rising some more and finally baking.
Here’s how it looks in the kneading process in the very beginning.
And this is after it has risen.
And this how it looks when it’s fully baked. Beautiful, isn’t it?
When it’s done baking your machine will probably let out a fun little jingle. Do a little dance because you just made delicious Italian Bread! (Want to know something really crazy? While I was typing the last line my loaf of bread finished and it started playing the jingle! How’s that for perfect timing? Now I’m worried that my bread machine is watching me!).
After it’s finished baking, your machine will most likely turn on warm mode to keep it warm. You can keep it like this, or if you’re impatient like me you’ll take it out of the machine (careful: it’s hot!) and then remove the bread from the pan. No matter how many times I bake bread I’m always amazed by how easily it slides out of the pan!
Now it’s time to cut a slice of this bread and enjoy! I love my Italian bread with a little bit of butter, or raspberry jam if I’m looking for a treat!
More Bread Recipes
If you’re looking for more bread recipes, try some of my favorites below.
- 2 Hour Crockpot Bread
- Fluffy Bread Machine Rolls
- Homemade Bread Machine Pizza Dough
- Sourdough Crockpot Bread
- Homemade Slow Cooker Bagels
- Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread
- Easy Garlic Knots
- Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
- Moist Jalapeno Cornbread
- Flaky Biscuits
If you’re looking for beginner bread machine recipes check out this easy bread using all purpose flour and this foolproof sandwich bread recipe.
Pin for later:
Bread Machine Italian Bread
PrintIngredients
- 3/4 cup cold water
- 2 cups bread flour I recommend King Arthur or Bob's Red Mill
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
Instructions
- Place water, bread flour, sugar, salt, olive oil and active dry yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
- If you have a Italian Bread cycle, press that. If you don't, select Basic Bread cycle. Press Start.
- The machine will now make the bread. Once it's done baking, remove from the machine and serve.
Brian says
So follow up to previous post I added 3/4 cup of grated cheese to ingredients and on top of water before flour and was just right for me with a hard crust all round just perfect for morning toast.
Brian says
This is my goto recipe but would love to add cheese.If I added say half cup of grated cheese would I have to reduce flour by same amount.Any help appreciated.
MamaErica says
Is this a 1lb loaf? Thanks
Phil Collier says
This bread was delicious, but the crust was pretty hard. I baked in my Hamilton Beach Bread Machine with a Medium Color. Do you think I should use the Light setting in the future, or do you have another idea of what I should do. Looking forward to making more of your receipesl
Erica says
I also have a HB Bread Machine. I have used all three settings, and I think the light setting is the best. The bottom crust will always be a little thicker/cripser than the sides, and the top will be the thinnest (hence the origin on the phrase “the upper crust.”
1 lb is kind of small IMO. I bake 1-1/2 lb loaves because I eat bread every day for both breakfast and lunch, and a 1-1/2 lb loaf will last me about 3-5 days. I’m not sure how to adjust the quantity of ingredients for this recipe, since my machine only has 1-1/2 lb or 2 lb bake settings. The basic ingredients are more or less the same as what I use in my regular bread bakes, so I’m not sure there’s anything particularly “Italian” about this recipe, unless the olive oil is the secret ingredient. I normally use a tbsp of butter in my bread recipe.
Brian says
This is the best textured bread I’ve made in breadmaker.Only drawback is the 700g size doesn’t last long so have to make two but its not a chore as always turns out perfect.Thank you for this recipe 💚
asharkey says
Hands down my favorite bread to make. Super soft and has the perfect Italian bread flavor. I use a Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme, which is meant for 2lb loaves. If you’re in the same boat as me, I recommend not doubling the ingredients – my loaf grew to enormous proportions and I had to peel bread from the inside lid for 20 minutes. I ended up increasing it by 75%, and that worked perfectly for me. For anyone interested, these are the measurements I now use:
1 1/4 cup water
3 1/2 cup bread flour
1 3/4 tbsp sugar
1 3/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 tbsp olive oil
1 3/4 tsp active dry yeast
If using instant yeast instead of active dry, change this to 1 1/4 tsp instant yeast.
For my 2lb bread machine, this gave me the perfect sized loaf. I highly recommend this bread!
Julie Vananda says
This turned out SOO good! Thank you for the measurements for a 2lbs loaf!
Brian says
Thank you for the increased measurements will try that next time as the smaller loaf doesn’t last as so good 👍
Karen R says
Thank you for this advice. It is greatly appreciated since my bread machine is large, and the original recipe would have turned out an extremely small loaf as well as it likely being overdone.
Mary says
Thanks for the 2 lb measurements. I made this today but during the second kneading stage, I had to add a lot of extra water since the dough was super dry. It turned out great in the end.
Cheryl Coni says
My kids and granddaughters loved this solo much I had to make it again the same day! My 1st adventure on my new bread maker…thanks!
Mema says
Can I add sesame seeds and when?
Donna Morgan says
I’ve made this several time and we love it. But my daughter’s family of four is coming for dinner and I wanted to share this with them. Can I double the recipe.
Pamela says
Hey Donna, if your bread machine can make a larger loaf (2 pound), I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, but disclaimer – I’ve never tried it. Let me know how it turns out!
Cheryl Coni says
I doubled the recipe … works great!