This easy beer bread recipe needs only 10 minutes of prep and 6 simple ingredients! With a tender crumb, buttery crisp edges, and a hint of beer, this no-yeast bread will be an instant family favorite.
I first made this beer bread 15+ years ago and it instantly became a family favorite! It is so good – and we make it so often – that it quickly became famous with our friends and family.
The slightly sweet and unique flavor from the yeasty beer is what really sets this quick bread apart. Baked with melted butter both under and on top of the batter, it is a perfectly dense and buttery loaf with the best crispy edges.
If you’re new to bread-making, this is a great recipe to start with as it’s practically foolproof! Just stir the batter, pour into a pan, and bake it!
“This truly is the BEST beer bread recipe and we have probably made it hundreds of times by now. And no, I am not exaggerating! It’s buttery as can be, with the perfect crust, and comes together in no time. Sometimes, I make chili just so l have an excuse to make this bread!” — Haley, busy mom of two and passionate home cook and baker.
Key Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour as I always have it on hand, but you can swap it for self-rising flour. Just eliminate the added baking powder and salt.
- Sugar: Use white granulated sugar, or swap it out for 1/4 cup honey or agave instead!
- Beer: Use a 12 ounce bottle of your favorite beer. (See below for beer suggestions.)
- Butter: Melted butter poured on top of the batter helps with browning and creating a wonderfully crisp and buttery crust. If you prefer to use less butter, you can cut it down to just 4 tablespoons.
What Type of Beer is Best for Beer Bread?
A medium bodied beer with a mild flavor like a lager or pale ale works best. I personally like to use something like Yuengling traditional lager, Modelo especial or Shiner Bock. This will give you a balanced, rich beer flavor that is not overpowering or bitter.
However, I have often used a light beer, like Miller Lite, with great success. It still makes a very tasty beer bread! You can even use a non-alcoholic beer and it will not alter the final taste or texture.
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Tips For Making This Beer Bread Recipe
The beer stands in for yeast and eliminates any rising time in this recipe for beer bread, keeping it extra easy to make. Below you will find some helpful tips, visit the printable recipe card below for full directions.
Do not over-mix the batter! Stir just until the dry ingredients is incorporated with the beer to avoid a tough or dense loaf. I recommend stirring your batter with a wooden spoon or spatula, not a whisk!
Pour half of the melted butter into the pan before adding the batter. This helps the bread not to stick to the pan, but also create a crispy, golden crust on the bottom. If you prefer, you can also line your pan with parchment paper to make the loaf lift out even easier!
Pour melted butter on top before baking. While rare, some readers said their butter leaked over the edges of the pan as the bread baked. So I recommend setting the loaf pan on top of a baking sheet to prevent any potential mess!
Bake until golden brown on top and check it with a toothpick. Baking usually takes 50 to 60 minutes, but keep in mind every oven is a little different. Insert a toothpick into the center of the bread, if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it’s done.
Let the bread rest for about 10 minutes after baking before slicing. This will allow the crumb to set and keep it from crumbling when you slice it. I recommend using a bread knife, or serrated knife, for perfect slices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Double it and bake all of the batter at once in a 9×13 baking dish instead. Start checking in on it around 40 minutes to check if it’s done.
Yes, we do this often! Bake the batter in a standard muffin pan, this recipe will make about 10 muffins. Bake at 350°F and start checking for doneness around 18 minutes.
Yes, we make it as a jalapeño cheddar beer bread often! Shredded cheddar, parmesan, garlic, rosemary, fresh herbs, or even jalapeños all make great additions. Just mix them in with the dry ingredients before adding beer.
It’s perfect with a bowl of Texas chili, soups, stews, or this crockpot pot roast. It is also often served alongside bbq dishes like crockpot pulled pork.
Beer bread is truly best fresh and warm out of the oven. While it is still tasty the next day, it doesn’t have the same texture.
Once cooled, wrap tightly in foil and/or plastic wrap. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days. I do not recommend freezing this bread.
Best Easy Beer Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, or honey
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 (12 oz) bottle beer, see notes below for beer recommendations
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan. Line with parchment paper for easy removal (optional).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Using a wooden spoon, stir the beer into the dry ingredients until just mixed.
- Pour half the melted butter into the bottom of the loaf pan. Then spoon the batter into the pan, and pour the rest of the butter on top of the batter. Place loaf pan on cookie sheet in case there is any butter that spills over as it bakes.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve immediately with a smear of even more butter – or a drizzle of honey, if desired. I recommend using a serrated knife to slice the bread so that you don’t tear the crust!
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Notes
Video
Nutrition
More Easy Bread Recipes To Try
- Good luck resisting a slice of this jalapeño cheddar bread!
- Irish soda bread is an easy savory quick bread made without yeast.
- Making this homemade pita bread recipe is easier than you think.
- Craving a sweet quick bread? Try my best pumpkin bread recipe.
- Or make this easy cinnamon bread using store-bought dough!
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I make this bread a lot! I’ve taken it to parties, and everyone loves it. Recently I tried it with a cherry beer and it was fantastic!
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Could I swap a Sprite instead of beer? Thanks!
Hi Janet, I have never tired it, but technically speaking it will work and bake up into a loaf. The flavor will be quite different though! If you give it a try, please come back and let us all know how it turns out!
You can use carbonated water in the beer place. I do it all the time
Thanks for your reply! It, um, didn’t turn out so well. Very strange texture, little flavor, and took longer to bake (and I used honey). I wouldn’t recommend making that change. I look forward to making again according to original ingredients!
Without the beer you lose the yeast. Could that have been the problem?
If I add cheese, how much?
Hi Sheryl! I use 1.5 cups shredded cheese, but you could go up to a max of 2 cups!
Do you have to let the dough rise at all before baking it?
Hi Alex, nope! It goes straight into the oven to bake – no rising needed!
Baked two loaves this morning – added shredded cheddar and Colby jack to one loaf. I have made beer bread using different recipes over the years, but this is my new favorite – definitely a keeper!
It’s baking now! I added cheddar cheese, basil from my garden and garlic. It sure smells good!!!
I used pumpkin ale with a t spoon of cinnamon and it turned out fabulous !!
I just want to let you know this is one of our absolute favorite things in our family!!!! This recipe is so easy and the bread is AMAZING!!!! I make it several times a month!!!
Always turns out great. Served it with a bacon onion jam this time. Yum!
Can you sue salted margarine in this recipe?
Hi Rachel, it should work with the margarine sticks as they are similar in texture to sticks of butter. I would not recommend trying to use the spreadable margarine in a tub. Please let me know if you try it and how it turns out!
Can you use a bread machine
If your bread machine has a quick bread setting, it should work, but you wouldn’t be able to do the butter on the top and bottom and that is what really helps make this bread delicious. It really is incredibly easy to make, the only extra work you would have to do by making this bread by hand vs in a bread machine is is mixing the dough and putting it into the oven.
Could self rising flour be used?
Yes, just skip the baking powder!
I tried this today for the first time. It was a big hit in my house. I am going to try it again soon but gluten free version for my family thats gluten free.
Curious, why grease pan if you use parchment paper? Is it either/or ,or both ? Also, trying to part with one of my beers, Bad joke.
Because the parchment paper doesn’t cover the entire pan, usually just the bottom and sides. 🙂
Just wanted to confirm that 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder is used and not a lesser amount?
Yes, correct, 1 whole tablespoon of baking powder!
Does the beer have to be room temperature?
Nope! I grab it cold out of the fridge with no problems!
Can this be made with whole wheat flour or gluten free flour?
Whole wheat flour will work but I recommend doing a 50/50 mix of all purpose and whole wheat flour. Whole wheat flour by itself will create a very dense loaf of bread.
And while I personally have not done it, I have heard great things about using Pamela’s Gluten Free All Purpose Mix for this recipe from other readers!
I have made this recipe twice now. Great recipe for beginners.
For my last loaf, I used half King Arthur bread flour and half King Arthur whole wheat with Guinness Stout. The flavor is wonderful.
What would happen if I mixed the melted butter into the beer? I think the crust would be closer to Irish soda bread. Pouring the melted butter on the dough softens the crust.
Any comments?
For a crustier finish like irish soda bread you can pull the loaf out if its on parchment paper and return it to the oven for 10 minutes on 425 or so.
I made this today with my 3.5 y.o. daughter but used ginger beer instead since I had no beer on hand! It was very delicious! It came out so soft and moist. I can’t wait to try with beer next time! Thank you for sharing this recipe! It’s a keeper!
Can this recipe be used with a bread machine ?
No, this recipe will not work in a bread machine.