Easy Sourdough Crockpot Bread that only takes 3 hours to make. No starter needed! Throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and come back to a quick homemade crusty bread!
Simply said, making bread in the crockpot will change your life. So many of you guys have made my 2 Hour Crockpot Bread, makers are usually skeptic in the beginning, but turn into believers at the end. Now I’m here to share my next slow cooker recipe, Sourdough Crockpot Bread – my family cannot get enough of this homemade bread!
Need help making it? Watch my recipe video:
Ingredients
You’ll need a crockpot and these ingredients, which I’m guessing you probably already have in your kitchen!
- Water (warm)
- sugar
- active dry yeast
- salt
- vegetable oil
- all purpose flour
- plain yogurt
Sourdough Bread Without Starter
You might be looking at the ingredients above and think it’s missing something. Ok, so here’s the thing. This bread is kinda cheating. This bread is supposed to be quick and easy, and most sourdough breads are not that. So before you start commenting – this is sourdough tasting bread – without the starter.
What? But how?
The secret ingredient (but not so secret because I’m sharing it) is yogurt. Yup, just good ol sour tasting yogurt makes this bread taste like sourdough, without even having to make a sourdough starter. You guys, I told you, it’s going to change your lives.
How to Bake Homemade Bread
This recipe is easy to make, and even great for bread making beginners.
Add warm water to a large bowl. Add your sugar and stir until it’s dissolved.
Add active dry yeast into bowl and give it a stir again.
Let the yeast sit in the water for 15 minutes. During this time it should turn foamy. I find that letting it sit in a warm spot helps the yeast. If it’s not super warm in my apartment I will let it sit in the microwave for this time (don’t turn the microwave on obviously, it’s just a warm spot for it to sit).
Now add salt, vegetable oil and all purpose flour.
Now the most important ingredient to make this into Sourdough bread, add the plain yogurt!
Mix with hands until everything is combined. If the bread feels too wet, add another 1-2 tablespoons of flour.
Knead the dough for 5 minutes and form into a round ball.
Place dough into a bowl that’s been coated with olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap.
Sit in a warm spot for 45 minutes to rise, doubling in size. Make sure to check out my tips below on this!
Add parchment paper to your crockpot, letting it go up the sides of it as well. This will prevent the bread from sticking to the sides when it rises. I also spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray to be extra safe.
Add dough on top of parchment paper.
Bake for 2 hours on HIGH. When 2 hours is up, a beautiful loaf of sourdough bread will be waiting for you!
The next step is optional, but highly recommended. If you want a crispy brown top on your bread, then brush some butter on top of your bread. You don’t need much butter here, a little goes a long way.
Now turn your oven on to BROIL. Once the oven is heated up, add your bread on top of a baking sheet, and cook for 1 minute, watching it the entire time. The bread will QUICKLY burn, so watch it very carefully. If it’s not browned after 1 minute, then cook a little longer, but seriously watch it constantly.
And ta-da! Look at this GORGEOUS Sourdough Bread that you made in the crockpot!
Can you rise dough in the oven?
This is a technique I’ve been using because I find that during the Winter months my bread doesn’t rise as well in the Summer.
Turn your oven on to 175-200 degrees and allow it to heat up to that. Turn the oven off (this is really important – make sure the oven is off!) and let it sit for a couple minutes. Now add your bowl of dough (usually with plastic wrap on it) on baking sheet and put it in the oven.
The oven temperature will be low enough to be safe for your bowl, and also warm enough for your bread to rise. This always helps my dough double in size, making a fluffy loaf!
I hope you all love this Sourdough Crockpot Bread as much as my family does! Enjoy!
Love bread? Make sure to check out my Homemade Bread Machine Pizza Dough, Fluffy Rolls and Bread Machine Sweet Hawaiian Rolls!
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Sourdough Crockpot Bread
PrintIngredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
Instructions
- Pour warm water into a large bowl. Add sugar and mix until dissolved. Add yeast and stir. Let sit for about 15 minutes until foamy. I find that it works best if you place it in a warm spot.
- Add salt and vegetable oil in bowl and stir.
- Add flour and yogurt and mix with hands until everything is combined. If the bread feels too wet, add another 1-2 tablespoons of flour. Knead the dough for 5 minutes and form into a round ball.
- Place dough in olive oil coated bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Sit in a warm spot for 45 minutes to rise, doubling in size.
- Add parchment paper to your crockpot, letting it go up the sides of it as well. This will prevent the bread from sticking to the sides when it expands. I also spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray to be extra safe.
- Place your dough into slow cooker on top of parchment paper. Close the lid.
- Cook on HIGH for 2 hours.
- The next step is optional, but highly recommended. If you want a crispy brown top on your bread, then brush some butter on top of your bread. You don’t need much butter here, a little goes a long way. Now turn your oven on to BROIL. Once the oven is heated up, add your bread on top of a baking sheet, and cook for 1 minute, watching it the entire time. The bread will QUICKLY burn, so watch it very carefully. If it’s not browned after 1 minute, then cook a little longer, but seriously watch it constantly.
- Enjoy!
Jamie S says
Can this be done in a bread machine? I know it won’t be the right shape.
Kathy says
Can you use Greek yogurt in place of plain yogurt?
Pamela says
Yes, you sure can!
Norma Miller says
Is there a way to print your recipes? The sour dough bread crockpot one is what I am really wanting to print. Thanks
Pamela says
Hey Norma, there is. In the recipe card there is a pink “Print” button. Just click that and print. Hope this helps!
DB says
This is yeast bread not sourdough. Your title is misleading for sure.
Toni says
Help I’m a bit short on yogurt can I add sour cream
Pamela says
Hey Toni, you can use sour cream, the bread just might taste more tangy. Hope this helps!
Joy Whatley says
Can I substitute butter milk for the plain yogurt?
Deb says
Can I use Sourdough starter though too?
PG says
I have the same question. I’ve got a sourdough starter and want to make this bread. How do I adapt the recipe?
Jeff Pettit says
Goodbye store bought bread. I have been looking for a simple bread recipe and this is definitely it. I used Greek yogurt instead of plain because I bought it by mistake and it turned out fantastic. Not a big fan of the hands on kneading, too messy and did not get the dough mixed well enough as the loaf was a little flat. Will try a stand mixer with dough hooks next time. Overall this is my new favorite bread. Thanks! A+++++.
Pamela says
So happy to hear you liked this bread recipe, I hope you keep on enjoying it! Thanks for commenting and stopping by Jeff! 🙂
Dionne says
Do you use regular plain yogurt or plain Greek yogurt?
Pamela says
Regular plain yogurt.
Jeanne says
Will try it today
Lacey says
I’m embarrassed to ask this question, but do we put the lid on the crock pot? The recipe doesn’t specifically mention that and there’s not a lid in the photos. I tried this recipe, but much of the dough was still raw, especially the top half. Thinking I need to try again with the lid on?
Pamela says
Hey Lacey, ah bummer, yes, you need to put the lid on. I apologize if the instructions weren’t clear on closing the lid, I will add this for future reference to help others. I hope you give the bread another shot! 🙂
Sandy says
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry?
Nicole says
Can I omit the sugar and still have turn out?
Sheri says
What size crock pot did you use for this recipe?
Pamela says
I used a 6 quart crockpot.
Joy says
I was a huge skeptic, but out of curiosity I had to try it. Definitely an A+! My family loves it and it has become a “go to” recipe for me! Thank you!
Stephen Nottinghamshire England says
Should I heat up my slow cooker first or do I put the dough in and then switch it on ?
Pamela says
Hey Stephen, you don’t need to heat it up before. Just put the dough in and turn it on. Enjoy the bread!
Lynette K Wickham says
Can you make this in an oven?