The 41 Best Bread Recipes That Don’t Require a Sourdough Starter (2024)

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By Katherine Gillen

•

Published May 25, 2020

Sourdough bread is undeniably delicious, but we don’t always have the time (or patience) to deal with all that feeding and discarding. We need carbs and we need them now. Luckily, there are oodles of loaves, buns and rolls that don’t require so much tending (and some don’t even require yeast). Behold, the 41 best bread recipes you can whip up at home, none of which require a sourdough starter to make.

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Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Easy Pretzel Buns

They’re like the fancy sandwich rolls you find at restaurants, except—dare we say?—better. This calls for a chicken parm sandwich.

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Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Cheater’s Brioche Buns With Fruity Glaze

This version of brioche has much less butter, so you don’t have to make it ahead or chill it for hours. But surprisingly, it tastes just as buttery and fluffy as the real thing.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread With Tomatoes And Scallions

Who said bread had to involve yeast? This is like a traditional cornbread but fancied up a bit, so it’s just as at home at a backyard barbecue as it is at an alfresco dinner party.

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Jerrelle Guy/Black Girl Baking

4. Charcoal Banana Bread

Don’t toss your brown bananas; turn them into this sweet loaf. The charcoal makes for a striking effect, but it’s totally optional and just for looks.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Mozzarella-stuffed Pizza Bread

Psst: This deceptively simple spiral starts with store-bought pizza bread. Just don’t tell anyone and they won’t know.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka

We bet your local bakery doesn’t serve this. If you have any leftovers, which is unlikely, they make for pretty damn delicious French toast.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Sugared Holiday Bread

It’s not a holiday and we don’t care: We’re still whipping up this sweet yeasted bread, which requires zero kneading and tastes like a buttery cake.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

8. Upside-down Banana-caramel Bread

Make this one for dessert (and then sneak a slice or two for breakfast).

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Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Pumpkin Brioche

As if traditional brioche needed an improvement, here’s a version with pureed pumpkin in the dough for a festive hue and autumnal flavor.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Scallion And Chive Flatbread

This easy recipe is a lot like making pizza dough or focaccia, and it only needs an hour to rise. To kick it up a notch, you can add edible flowers and arrange your own allium bouquet.

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11. Apple Focaccia With Blue Cheese And Herbs

It’s sweet, savory and ready for a co*cktail party. If you want to add a hearty twist, top it with prosciutto and call it a charcuterie loaf.

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Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. Skillet Blueberry Cornbread

It’s not like other cornbreads, it’s a breakfast cornbread. (Think blueberry muffin meets coffee cake meets cornbread meets delicious).

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Erin McDowell

13. Easy Zucchini Bread

When your cup, er, crisper drawer runneth over with zucchini, make them into a quick bread. Bonus: This recipe comes together in one bowl.

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Erin McDowell

14. Double-chocolate Bread

Another one-bowl bread, but this time make it extra chocolatey. What can we say? We hate doing dishes.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. Sweet And Spicy Cornbread

Do you prefer sweet or savory…or both? This beauty checks both boxes. If you can’t find fresno chiles, you can swap in jalapeños for a similar effect.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16. ‘everything Bagel’ Cauliflower Rolls

OK, calling these guys bread might be a stretch—they’re made with cauliflower. But if you’re watching your carb intake, we’re sure you won’t mind.

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Erin McDowell

17. Honey Challah

We used to beeline straight for the bakery when we wanted challah. Then we discovered how easy it is to make at home. (Can’t quite nail the signature braid? That’s what YouTube is for.)

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Erin McDowell

18. English Muffins

The hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise. Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, anyone?

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

19. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Our motto? If you want to improve on something that’s already delicious, just add cream cheese.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Pull-apart Bread With Caramelized Onions And Goat Cheese

Think of this as monkey bread with an elegant twist. Each bite has a bit of creamy, oniony filling—serve it warm.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

21. Mini Citrus Monkey Bread

With a sweet glaze and plenty of citrus zest, no one will suspect that you started with store-bought pizza dough.

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22. The Best Frybread Ever

Frybread is crisp, golden and ideal for dipping into guac or queso. For a sweet take, you could even toss it in cinnamon sugar (yum).

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Erin McDowell

23. Savory Monkey Bread

Meet the other monkey bread, which starts with a crusty loaf and ends with plenty of cheese pulls.

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24. Julia Turshen’s Skillet Cornbread With Cheddar And Scallions

According to cookbook author Julia Turshen, the key to a great skillet cornbread is to preheat the pan until it’s piping hot, otherwise you’ll miss out on that golden-brown crust.

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Yuki Sugiura/Lagom

25. Swedish Cinnamon Buns Topped With Salted Caramel

If you like American cinnamon rolls, you’ll love their Swedish cousins, which are drenched in salted caramel sauce and packed with cinnamon-sugar filling.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

26. Slow-cooker Monkey Bread

This one is impossible to mess up, thanks to your trusty slow cooker. Get everything ready the night before, and in the morning, breakfast will await.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

27. Chocolate Pinecone Rolls

They look fancy, but you’ll be surprised to find out that these rolls are pretty foolproof. Their pinecone appearance is thanks to a few snips with a pair of scissors. (That’s it!)

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Cloudy Kitchen

28. Earl Grey Buns

When the soothing smell of tea is wafting through your kitchen and the kettle isn’t even on, you know there’s something delicious coming out of the oven.

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Erin McDowell

29. Pizza-dough Cinnamon Rolls

Somewhere between popping open a can of store-bought cinnamon rolls and making them entirely from scratch is this easy-peasy version. The pizza dough can be our little secret.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

30. Easy Dinner Rolls

Is a meal really complete without a pan of warm rolls? We think not.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

31. Pumpkin Spice Pecan Rolls

Getting out of bed is easy with the promise of these rolls. We’d say the creamy icing is optional...but we’d be lying.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

32. Baked Gorgonzola Bites

All you need are five ingredients and 30 minutes for a transcendent cheesy appetizer.

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Erin McDowell

33. Classic Sandwich Bread

This loaf isn’t labor intensive (although you’ll need a bit of time to let the dough rise), and the results will bring any sandwich to the next level. We recommend stashing a few loaves in the freezer. It’s that good.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

34. Braided Apple Danish Loaf

The simple braiding technique will make you look like a pro, even though it’s easy enough to do with your eyes closed.

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Pinch of Yum

35. Miracle No-knead Bread

If you’ve ever said, I’m not a homemade bread person, you’ve never had the pleasure of tearing into a crusty loaf that also took almost no effort to make.

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Sally’s Baking Addiction

36. Irish Soda Bread

Who needs yeast when you can have soda bread? It’s soft, slightly sweet and just waiting for a thick layer of butter.

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Half Baked Harvest

37. Cheesy Herb-stuffed Naan

This Indian flatbread is pretty hard to mess up, and we don’t mean because it’s stuffed with feta and mozzarella. You can even omit the yeast and it will still turn out fabulous.

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So Much Food

38. New York Style Bagels

Don’t skip the important step of boiling the bagels; it’s crucial for that chewy crust. (Don’t skip the everything seasoning or cream cheese, either.)

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The Bojon Gourmet

39. Multigrain Nut And Seed Bread

Would you believe this loaf is vegan and gluten-free? It’s made from fiber-rich grains and seeds, and doesn’t even require leavening.

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I Am a Food Blog

40. Bacon Potato Cheesy Sesame Bing Bread

What’s bing, you ask? It’s a yeasted Chinese staple, and it’s kind of like a cross between a pancake, a flatbread and a roti. (It’s also really tasty, but you probably already knew that.)

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Sally’s Baking Addiction

41. Homemade Garlic Knots

It’s pizza night, no delivery required. You’re going to want to make a double batch.

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Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

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FAQs

The 41 Best Bread Recipes That Don’t Require a Sourdough Starter? ›

Kombucha. Since it also contains yeasts as well as bacteria, kombucha can be utilized to start a sourdough starter or ferment your grains. I wrote about that last spring when I started a sourdough starter using kombucha.

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What can I use if I don't have a sourdough starter? ›

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Is sourdough the only bread that uses a starter? ›

Sourdough starter and yeast are both leavening agents and both require a fermentation process. They are used to leaven breads, pizza, rolls, bagels etc. Other leavening agents can include baking soda, baking powder, eggs etc. These are more popular for quick breads like banana bread or pancakes.

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When should you not use sourdough starter? ›

It's usually pretty obvious when your starter has gone bad. You will either see mold or discoloration (generally pink or orange). If you see either of these things, you will need to toss your starter. The smell is usually a big give away.

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What bread can you substitute for sourdough? ›

Sourdough bread isn't the only bread.

Beer Bread. Classic beer bread channels the carbonation and flavor of beer to transform flour, sugar, and butter into a fluffy, slightly malty loaf. ...
Flatbread. Flatbreads are a perfect alternative to more time- and ingredient-intensive recipes. ...
Focaccia.

Apr 24, 2020

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Can I use yogurt instead of sourdough starter? ›

To substitute yogurt for sourdough starter, choose plain yogurt with live active cultures. These cultures are the key to infusing your bread with tanginess. Mix the yogurt (most recipes call for 1/3 or 1/2 cup) with your flour, water, and other bread ingredients, just as you would with a traditional bread recipe.

Can I use dead sourdough starter? ›

However, think of your discard as an insurance policy. If you active sourdough starter dies for some reason or you accidentally put it all in a recipe (it can happen!), you can remove a spoonful of discard from the refrigerator and feed it for a few days until it revives into a vigorous starter once again.

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Is Panera sourdough made with starter? ›

While our business has expanded well beyond St. Louis since then, that same sourdough starter is still used in our iconic sourdough bread and the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread.

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Is sourdough starter healthier than yeast? ›

Sourdough relies on a mix of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria, rather than baker's yeast, to leaven the dough. It's richer in nutrients, less likely to spike your blood sugar, contains lower amounts of gluten, and is generally easier to digest than bread made with baker's yeast.

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Is sourdough bread good for your gut? ›

Sourdough bread may be easier to digest than white bread for some people. According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system.

Why throw away half of sourdough starter? ›

If you don't get rid of the excess, eventually you'll have more starter than your feedings can sustain. After a few days, your daily 1/4 cup flour and water won't be enough to sustain your entire jar of starter, and your starter will be slow and sluggish, not much better than discard itself.

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Do you discard sourdough every time you feed? ›

It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow. Eventually, you need to discard the used “food” (flour and water) that's been used to sustain your starter during the last fermentation period.

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What is the best flour for sourdough starter? ›

All-purpose Flour

It strikes a perfect balance of softness and structure, making it an ideal choice for various recipes. Due to its wide availability and affordability, all-purpose flour is often my top recommendation for creating and maintaining a sourdough starter.

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Is it cheaper to buy or make sourdough bread? ›

Yes it's cheaper to make your own sourdough at home, as oppose to buying it from a bakery. When you consider that sourdough is literally just flour, water and salt (including the sourdough culture), then depending on the type of flour you use, you could bake a loaf for as little as $1.

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Which is healthier ciabatta or sourdough? ›

Sourdough bread is healthier than traditional ciabatta bread. Ciabatta bread is a popular type of Italian bread, and therefore, is less nutritious than sourdough bread due to the leavening agent used. However, if you are searching for a healthier ciabatta bread, you can choose one made with sourdough or whole grains.

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Which is healthier sourdough bread or regular bread? ›

The bottom line. Sourdough is a healthier alternative to regular white or whole wheat bread. Although it has comparable nutrients, the lower phytate levels mean it is more digestible and nutritious. The prebiotics also help to keep your gut bacteria happy, and it may be less likely to spike blood sugar levels.

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Does sourdough need sourdough starter? ›

Your sourdough starter is the foundation of baking sourdough bread. Through proper maintenance and a little attention, it can last indefinitely and provide you with countless healthy and delicious loaves of bread.

Can you make a sourdough starter with old flour? ›

You can use most types of flour to make a sourdough starter, including whole wheat, rye, or all-purpose flour. While expired flour can still be used to make a sourdough starter, it's best to avoid using flour that has been exposed to moisture or that has a musty smell, as this can affect the quality of the starter.

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How do you make an old sourdough starter? ›

Begin by discarding all but 1/2 cup of the old starter. Then, feed the remaining starter with fresh flour and water. The feeding ratio should ideally be 1:1:1 (starter:flour:water). Leave the mixture at room temperature until it becomes bubbly and active, which usually takes about a day.

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Can you use Greek yogurt for sourdough starter? ›

Yes, you can use yogurt as a sourdough starter. To do this, you will need to create a "yogurt culture" by mixing a small amount of live, active-culture yogurt with flour and water. This mixture will serve as the starter for your sourdough bread.

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