Easy Stovetop Focaccia Bread Recipe (No Oven Needed!)
This easy stovetop focaccia bread recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy soft, golden, homemade bread without turning on the oven. Whether you're cooking in a hot climate, your oven is out of service, or you simply want a quicker method, this no-bake version is a game-changer. Using just a few pantry staples, you'll make a fluffy, dimpled flatbread right on your stovetop—ideal for sandwiches, soups, or dipping in olive oil. It's a beginner-friendly, family-approved recipe that brings warmth, texture, and joy to your table. Plus, don't miss the video tutorial at the end of this post for extra guidance.
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons as needed
- 1 Mixing spoon or silicone spatula
- 1 Clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap (for covering dough)
- 2 10-inch heavy-bottomed pans with lids (non-stick, cast iron, or stainless steel)
- 1 Small bowl or ramekin (for activating yeast, if needed)
- 1 spoon (for spreading oil)
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps instant yeast
- 1½ tsps salt
- 6 tbsps cooking oil
- Optional: 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
- Slightly less than 2 cups warm water
- 2 tsps margarine or fat for greasing pans
Instructions
Combine the Dry Ingredients
- In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour and instant yeast. Then add the salt (avoid direct contact with yeast initially) and stir again.Tip: If you’re unsure about your yeast’s freshness, activate it in ¼ cup warm water with ½ teaspoon sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes. If it foams, it’s good to go!
Add Wet Ingredients and Mix the Dough
- Make a well in the center, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and pour in 1 cup of warm water.Gradually add the rest of the water(up to 1¾ cups total), mixing with a spoon. The dough should be very soft and sticky.Switch to using your hands once the dough starts coming together. Knead briefly just to combine. This sticky, soft dough is perfect for making easy stovetop focaccia bread.
Let the Dough Rest
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 10–20 minutes. This helps the gluten relax and gives a better texture to the bread.
Fold and Proof
- After resting, stretch and fold the dough over itself for about 1 minute. This improves the dough’s structure and makes your easy stovetop focaccia bread even fluffier.Cover again and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour. If your kitchen is cold, place the bowl with the dough over a pot of hot water (not boiling) that you’ve covered with a heavy kitchen towel to create a warm environment.
Prepare the Pans
- Grease two heavy 10-inch pans with 1teaspoon margarine or fat each. Then pour 1 tablespoon of cooking oil into each. You won’t need to dust with flour thanks to the oil.
Divide and Shape
- Once the dough has risen, gently deflate it and divide it into two portions. Place each portion into a greased pan. Coat the dough with oil from the pan and press it gently to spread and create dimples using your fingertips. This dimpled look is signature to focaccia.
- Let the dough rest again for 20 minutes.
Add Toppings and Oil
- Sprinkle rosemary evenly on the surface of each dough in the pans if using. Then drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil—1 tablespoon per pan—over the dough surface.You’ve now used all 6 tablespoons of oil: 2 in the dough, 2 in the pans, and 2 on top of the dough.
Prepare and Heat the Pan on the Stove
- Cover the pans and transfer them to your stovetop burners.Preheat the pans by turning the burners on to full flame for about 30 seconds. If using the tiny burners, immediately reduce the flame to its lowest setting.If using a wide burner, don’t reduce to the lowest setting. The lowest setting for a wide burner is too high. It will burn the bread before it’s ready. Instead, reduce the flame as though you are switching off and reduce to a very, very low flame as shown below.
Cook on the Stovetop
- Let the bread cook for 30–40 minutes. Timing depends on how low your flame is.Check for doneness: the top should feel firm, and the bottom should be nicely browned.
Flip to Brown the Top
- Once the bottom is done, gently invert the bread using two clean lids. Flip it over onto the first lid. Flip it again onto the other clean lid to get the top side back up, then gently slide the pan over the focaccia bread to invert it back into the pan.
- Let it cook for another 15–20 minutes to brown the other side.Now your easy stovetop focaccia bread is ready!
Video
Notes
Serving Ideas
This easy stovetop focaccia bread is perfect for:- Sandwiches: Slice horizontally and stuff with your favorite fillings.
- Pizza base: Add toppings and reheat for a few minutes.
- Dipping: Serve with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Side for soups or salads.