Super easy focaccia recipe (no-knead)

The real Italian focaccia is not thick and heavy bread, but it’s light, moist, and with a melt-in-your-mouth chewy interior. And it’s packed with flavor and delicious hints of olive oil.

It’s so hard to resist the AMAZING smell of freshly baked focaccia when you pass by a bakery in Italy.

And homemade focaccia is so good that you just can’t stop eating it!

Here I share my favorite easy focaccia recipes, that I’ve tested so many times over the years, and it never fails.

And although the dough is wet and sticky, the good news is that it requires no kneading, no stand mixer, no starter, no special knowledge.

All you have to do is mix the ingredients in ONE BOWL with a spoon and the dough is done. It’s that EASY!!

If you’ve never made focaccia before, you’ll want to bookmark this recipe to give it a go. Following this easy method with the step-by-step photos will be a breeze!

List of the ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Instant yeast (or Active dry yeast, see notes)
• Water
• Herbs (rosemary, thyme or oregano…)
• Salt flakes (optional, but delicious!!)

How to make it

(Note: this is a quick description with step-by-step photos, the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

• Mix flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl until combined.
• Add the water and the olive oil to the dry ingredients.

• Mix with a spoon or a spatula to incorporate all the liquid into the flour.
• Scrape bottom and sides of the bowl with the spatula, you want to shape the dough into a ball, more or less (it looks lumpy, but that’s totally fine).

• Let the dough rest in the warm oven for 40 MINUTES (On the left you see how the dough looks like after this rest).
• With a spatula, pour the dough onto a baking tray.

• Dust with some flour and stretch the dough out with your fingers to fit the baking tray.
• Leave to rise again for an extra 30 MINUTES (do not cover the dough with a damp towel this time, it will stick to it).

• Make the brine by shaking olive oil, water and salt in a jam jar.
• Pour the brine all over the dough (it looks a lot, but it’s fine).

• Poke dimples with your fingertips and spread the brine to fill them.
• Scatter fresh rosemary or your favorite dried herbs.
• Bake for 20-25 MINUTES until golden and crispy.

Recipe Notes & tips

Easy focaccia ingredients

All-purpose flour: unbleached all-purpose flour is perfect, but bread four works fine too. Make sure to measure the flour correctly (see notes in the recipe card).

Yeast: I used convenient instant yeast, you can stir it directly into the flour. Alternatively, Active dry yeast works just fine, but you’ll need to activate it in water first (follow the manufacturer’s directions). 

Salt: fine salt is for the dough and the brine, while sprinkling some sea salt flakes on top add more texture and flavor.

Extra virgin olive oil: it’s the best and adds plenty of flavor.

How to make focaccia moist and tasty

The brine makes all the difference here. It adds moisture and makes a golden crust with a pronounced yet delicate olive oil flavor.

Essentially, it’s an emulsion of olive oil, water, and salt that you spread on the surface of the focaccia. It will evaporate during cooking, but it will keep focaccia moist, especially the holes you made with your fingertips.

For more flavor, you can also add a fresh pressed or grated garlic clove or 1/4 tsp of garlic powder to the brine.

How to make the dough rise faster?

The warm oven method is a shortcut that helps when you need to speed up the proofing time or if the room is cold.

All you have to do is preheat the oven at low temperature, then turn it off and create a warm environment for the dough to rise in. However, feel free to skip this step if the room is warm or if you don’t need to speed up the proofing.

Fancy focaccia ready in 1 hour?

Originally, this was 1-hour focaccia recipe that I published in 2020. Although that speedy method worked and allowed to get fresh focaccia in about 1 hour, I thought that extending the proofing time a little bit gives best results.

That’s why I’ve decided to update this recipe. ; )

But the shortcut is still possible, and if you want focaccia ready in 1 HOUR you can reduce the proofing time (see the recipe card for more instructions).

Easy focaccia variations

Focaccia is super versatile, when it comes to toppings, the sky is the limit!
Aside from herbs like rosemary, oregano and thyme, you can add olives or tomatoes like in this amazing focaccia with olives or juicy focaccia with tomatoes.

But thinly sliced red onions like in this onion pizza, and grilled veggies make other terrific add-ins. Don’t miss my latest collection of 15 focaccia toppings to inspire you!

How long does it keep?

Focaccia is best the day it is made but can be stored in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 1 day.

Can you freeze focaccia? Yes, It freezes very well. Defrost at room temperature, then reheat in a 350F oven for a few minutes and serve warmed and crisped.

More focaccia and pizza recipes!

If you love pizza and focaccia as much as I do, you’ll enjoy this easy versatile pizza dough and this collection of delicious 17 veggie pizza recipes or 25 incredible pizza toppings. Below a few of my favorites:

• Artichoke pizza
• Veggie pizza
• Greek pizza with feta cheese
• Pizza with gorgonzola
• Anchovy pizza
• Spinach Pizza with feta
• Caprese pizza

If you make this easy focaccia, or if you have any questions, let me know! Leave a comment, send me a message, or rate it. I would love to hear from you!

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