Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread (Printable Version)
Hearty skillet bread with crisp edges, chewy crumb, roasted garlic, and fragrant rosemary—ideal for sharing.
# What You Need:
→ Bread Dough
01 - 3 cups bread flour
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
03 - 1 1/4 cups warm water
04 - 1 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Aromatics
06 - 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
07 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
→ Topping
09 - 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Whisk together warm water and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add bread flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then knead by hand or with a mixer for 5–7 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.
03 - Drizzle in 1 tablespoon olive oil, chopped rosemary, and minced garlic. Knead briefly to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
04 - Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and set in a warm area. Let rise for approximately 1 hour until doubled in volume.
05 - Generously coat a 10-inch oven-safe skillet with oil. Punch down risen dough and transfer to the skillet, pressing gently toward the edges. Cover and let rise for 25–30 minutes.
06 - Heat oven to 425°F.
07 - Brush the dough surface with remaining olive oil and scatter flaky sea salt evenly over the top.
08 - Bake for 30–35 minutes until the bread is deeply golden and sounds hollow when tapped.
09 - Allow bread to cool briefly in the skillet before slicing. Serve warm for optimal texture.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The crust gets incredibly crisp while the inside stays pillowy and tender, creating that perfect bread texture that makes you want to skip the main course entirely
- Fresh rosemary and roasted garlic infuse every bite, but the real magic happens in the cast iron skillet where the bottom develops this amazing crunch
02 -
- Dough temperature affects everything, so on cold days I sometimes preheat my oven for just one minute then turn it off and let the dough rise inside the slightly warm space
- Cast iron creates the best crust, but any oven safe skillet will work, just avoid thin aluminum which can burn the bottom before the center cooks through
03 -
- Roast your garlic ahead of time by wrapping cloves in foil with olive oil and baking at 400°F for 35 minutes, then squeeze out the softened cloves into your dough
- For extra crispy edges, brush the skillet rim with olive oil before baking to encourage that beautiful golden crust all the way to the edges