Name: Crusty Italian Herb Bread (Easy Homemade Recipe)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 34 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil; 1 package of yeast; 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic salt; 1 ¼ cups of warm water; 3 cups of all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon of sugar; 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, minced; 2 tablespoons of fresh basil, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, finely chopped

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This crusty Italian herb bread recipe uses fresh herbs and olive oil for a rich, savory flavor that tastes straight from a bakery.

It’s an easy yeast bread that bakes into a rustic artisan loaf – perfect with soups, pasta dinners, for dipping in olive oil, or serving warm with butter.

Even if you’re new to homemade bread baking, this recipe is simple to follow and creates bakery-style results with basic pantry ingredients.

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Ingredients for the Italian herb bread recipe

To make this crusty Italian bread, you will need the following ingredients:

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 package of yeast
1 ½ teaspoons of garlic salt
1 ¼ cups of warm water
3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, minced
2 tablespoons of fresh basil, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, finely chopped

Pro tip: I used fresh herbs for the best flavor in this recipe. If you prefer dried herbs, use 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 2 teaspoons of dried basil and 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley instead of fresh.

How to make Italian herb bread

This rustic herb bread recipe is easy to make, needs very little kneading, and is ready to serve in less than 2 hours (including rising time).

Prepare the yeast

Add the olive oil, yeast, garlic salt, and water to a large bowl.
Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.

Prepare the herbs

Chop the fresh herbs.
Place them in a large bowl with the sugar.
Mix well.
Gradually add the flour until it makes a dough stiff enough to knead.

Knead the dough

Place the dough on a floured surface.
Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic – about 3-4 minutes.
Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl.

Let the dough rise

Cover the bowl and place it in a warm location.
Let the dough rise until it has almost doubled in size (about 45 minutes).

Form the dough

Dust a baking sheet with flour.
Form the dough into a free-form oval shape.
Place it on the prepared baking sheet.
Use a sharp knife to make three long diagonal slits on the top of the dough.

Bake the homemade herb bread

Turn the oven to 375°F (190°C) and add the bread dough.
Do not preheat – the dough will continue to rise as the oven heats.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until the bread is lightly golden brown and feels light.
To check with a digital thermometer, the center of the loaf will be between 190-200°F (88-99°C).
Allow the loaf to cool before you slice it.

Tasting this homemade crusty bread

The savory herbs in the bread give it a farm-fresh flavor, and the crunchy crust makes it perfect for sandwiches, soups, or with a poached egg on top for breakfast. It is one of my favorite bread recipes.

The bread has a soft and tender center with a crunchy crust that you can’t get from a packaged store-bought loaf of bread.

How to get a crusty loaf of Italian herb bread

The crusty texture of this homemade Italian herb bread is achieved with a combination of simple baking techniques and the right ingredient balance.

Using yeast gives the dough a good rise, while olive oil helps create a tender interior with a lightly crisp exterior. Baking the loaf at a higher temperature also helps develop that rustic golden crust.

For the best texture:

Make sure your water is warm, not hot, when activating the yeast
Allow the dough enough time to rise fully
Bake until the loaf is deeply golden brown
Let the bread cool slightly before slicing so the crust can finish setting

This recipe creates a rustic bakery-style crust without the need for a Dutch oven, steam bath, or any special equipment.

Serve this crusty Italian herb bread with these soup recipes

A warm bowl of soup and a slice of homemade crusty bread are the perfect comfort food pairing. Try serving this Italian herb bread recipe with one of these hearty homemade soup recipes:

Chicken Pot Pie Soup – Creamy, rich, and filled with comforting homestyle flavor that pairs perfectly with crusty bread for dipping.
Split Pea Soup – A thick and hearty soup that tastes even better served with a warm slice of rustic Italian herb bread.
One Pot Lasagna Soup – All the cozy flavors of classic lasagna in an easy soup recipe that’s delicious with fresh homemade bread on the side.

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Warm, crusty, and packed with fresh herbs — this homemade Italian herb bread is everything a cozy kitchen should smell like 🥖🌿Easy to make, bakery-style results, and perfect for soups, pasta, or dipping in olive oil 🍲✨#ItalianBread… Share on X

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Admin note: This Italian herb bread recipe with yeast first appeared on the blog in July 2013. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable recipe card, and a slideshow video.

Yield: 10 servings of Italian herb bread

Crusty Italian Herb Bread (Easy Homemade Recipe)

Make this easy homemade Italian herb bread recipe with fresh herbs and a perfectly crusty artisan-style crust. Simple, rustic, and full of flavor.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Inactive Time 44 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 34 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 package of yeast
1 ½ teaspoons of garlic salt
1 ¼ cups of warm water
3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, minced
2 tablespoons of fresh basil, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, finely chopped

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the olive oil with water, yeast, and garlic salt.
Let it sit for five minutes.
Chop the fresh herbs.
Place them in a bowl with sugar and mix well.
Gradually stir in the flour mixture until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
Place the mixture on a floured surface.
Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic - about 3-4 minutes.
Place the dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let it rise until the dough has almost doubled in size (about 45 minutes).
Dust a baking sheet with flour.
Form the dough into an oval free-form loaf and place it on a greased baking sheet.
Make 3 slits in the top of the loaf for a nice finish when done.
Place immediately in a 375°F (190ºC) oven.
Do not preheat the oven; the bread will rise more as your oven heats up.
Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Allow the loaf to cool before slicing it.

Notes

Note: if you use dried herbs instead of fresh, cut the amounts shown in the ingredient list to 1 teaspoon of oregano, 2 teaspoons of fresh basil, and 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley.

Rapid-rise yeast is recommended.

Italian Herb Bread Recipe – Easy Crusty Homemade Bread with Fresh Herbs

Ingredients for the Italian herb bread recipe