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!
Jill says
Made it twice. Recipe is perfect. Delicious bread. Thanks for posting!
Andrea says
My family loved this bread!
Is it possible to use instant yeast in this recipe?
Pamela Reed says
I am pretty sure you’d be ok, but I can’t be 100% sure! Would love to know if you try it! 🙂
Teri says
I’m excited to try this recipe. Can I use any other types of flour or a consistency of others?
Pamela Reed says
Hey Teri, I usually use all purpose flour, but bread flour could work too.
Ruth says
Pamela, I have 3 questions. Due to some dietary concerns:
1) can this be made with all purpose white whole wheat flour;
2) can I use non fat yogurt, and
3) I have arthritis in my hands…can the mixing and kneading be done in my stand mixer instead?
This sounds amazing and would make nice holiday hostess gifts as well!
Pamela says
Would Greek yogurt work?
Pamela Reed says
Yeah, you can totally use it!
Sandy McClaskey says
I made this recipe exactly as written, however, I don’t keep vegetable oil so used Avocado oil. This recipe is so easy and quick. I wasn’t stuck in the kitchen all afternoon. Came out perfect, soft and. with amazing flavor. I timed it so the bread was done and had time to cook while I added a log og Goat Cheese to my Creamy Ranch Chicken Chili soup in my other crockpot..
Carol Coleman says
That sounds great? Recipe? Soup
Suzann Counter says
Could you cook this bread in the oven instead of the crockpot?
If so, what temperature and how long?
Deborah says
Would it work with lactose free yogurt or soya yogurt. Can’t eat normal yogurt due to dairy issues thank you
Pamela Reed says
Hey Deborah, I’ve never tried it with either, but someone commented in the past that they did and it worked well! Hope that helps.
Deborah Mackenzie says
Thank you. I’ll
Give it a try 🤞