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If you love fresh, homemade bread but don’t want to spend hours kneading and waiting for dough to rise multiple times, this easy focaccia bread recipe is perfect for you. Using my basic dinner roll recipe, you can make this classic Italian flatbread that’s crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. It’s great to make as a quick side dish or even as a snack dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

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collage of pictures of cooked and uncooked focaccia bread

What You Need

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/3 cup olive oil (plus extra for drizzling, or you can use butter for drizzling)
3 teaspoon sugar

close up picture of a loaf of focaccia bread sprinkled with shredded cheese

Why You’ll Love This Easy Focaccia Bread

No fancy ingredients – Just pantry staples like flour, yeast, olive oil, and salt.

Minimal effort – A simple mix, rise, and bake process.

Versatile – Add your favorite toppings like garlic, rosemary, or cherry tomatoes.

a slice of focaccia bread on a white plate with a bit of broccoli on the plate

How to Make It

1. Activate the yeast – In a bowl (a stand mixer works great!), mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.

2. Mix the dough – Once the yeast is foamy, add the oil, flour, and salt. combine flour and salt. Mix the dough for 5-10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

3. Let it rise – Cover and let the dough rise for 20-30 minutes, or for 1-2 hours. This is so versatile. If you are like me, and you often forget to start your dough until you are actually cooking lunch, you can let this dough rise for 25ish minutes and then roll it out. Or you can start it several hours ahead of time and let the dough rise for longer. You just want it to fluff up a bit or until doubled in size.

4. Prepare the pan – Grease a baking sheet or 9×13 pan with olive oil. I actually use my silicone baking mat for this. It makes it so easy to spread the dough out and keeps it from sticking. Spread or roll out the dough evenly and use your fingers to create dimples on the surface.

5. Add toppings – Drizzle with olive oil or melted butter, sprinkle with rosemary and salt, garlic salt, really whatever you want to use for toppings.

6. Bake – Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.

7. Cool & enjoy – Let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Easy Focaccia Bread

This classic Italian flatbread is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. It’s great to make as a quick side dish or even as a snack dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

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Ingredients

1 cup warm water
3 tsp sugar
2.25 tsp active dry yeast
1/3 cup olive oil
3 cups flour all purpose or fresh ground all work well
1 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F
In a stand mixer bowl (or a large mixing bowl) combine the warm water, sugar and yeast. Stir to combine and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Once the yeast is foamy, add the olive oil, flour and salt.
Mix for 5-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and pliable.
Cover with a towel and let sit for 20-30 minutes for the quick version, or 1-2 hours if you aren't in a hurry.
Once the dough has doubled in size, spread or roll it out to 1/2 inch thickness onto a greased baking pan.
Using your fingers, poke holes all over the top of the dough to make the dimples.
Drizzle with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle on the toppings of your choice. We use garlic salt, but rosemary and salt would be great as well! I also sprinkled a bit of shredded cheese over the top.
Bake the bread for 20-25 minutes.
Cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting and enjoy!

This easy focaccia bread recipe is perfect for beginners and guaranteed to impress. Give it a try and enjoy bakery-quality bread at home!