Beer Bread

Looking for a way to use that random can of beer hanging out in the back of the fridge? Transform it into a loaf of deliciously-cheesy Beer Bread! Thanks to the beer, this super-easy quick bread recipe still delivers on the classic, yeasty flavor of a long-fermented loaf, but comes together in a fraction of the time. Best of all, there’s no kneading required.

WHAT IS BEER BREAD?

Beer Bread is a type of “quick bread” that uses the flavor and carbonation in beer to create a fluffy, buttery, tangy loaf in just an hour. Unlike most homemade bread recipes, this one doesn’t require any kneading, resting time, or additional yeast. We also included some shredded cheddar cheese to make our loaf extra rich and flavorful!

BEST BEERS FOR BEER BREAD

We chose a budget-friendly, light beer for our loaf, but almost any kind of beer can be used to make this recipe. Keep in mind: the beer you choose will influence the flavor of the bread, so make sure to pick something you like! How to choose the best beer for beer bread:

Light beers – Generally, light beers will create a light-colored loaf with an airy texture and a more subtle, malty flavor.
Dark beers – Darker beers like stouts and porters will give the bread a slightly darker color and more robust flavor than light beer.
Hoppy beers & IPAs – Since pale ales tend to be very bitter, they aren’t an ideal choice. That intense flavor will carry over and may give the bread a lingering sour aftertaste.

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVERS

Once fully cooled, wrap the loaf in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store the bread in the pantry or on the counter (for 1-2 days) or in the fridge (for 4-5 days). This bread also freezes beautifully. Tightly wrap the loaf in a layer of plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.

serving suggestions

This beer bread lands somewhere between a regular, sliceable loaf of bread and a savory, ultra-rich loaf cake. So the possibilities are kind of endless!

Slice it thick, toast it up, and slather each slice with softened butter, savory jam, or a generous serving of our Slow-Cooker Hot Buttered Apples!
This decadent loaf is also great with a Simple Side Salad or served on the side of a quick & easy main dish that’s protein- and vegetable-forward, like our Crunchy Kale Chicken Salad, Butternut Squash Salad, or Pesto Chicken and Broccoli Salad.
Or, simply rip and dip into a brothy soup or stew, like our 15-Minute Vegetable Curry, or Creamy Vegetable and Wild Rice Soup. A thick, hearty slice would also be a great alternative to the classic grilled cheese served alongside our Tomato Herb Soup!

Beer Bread

Transform a can of beer into a tasty loaf of Beer Bread! This easy, no-knead bread recipe is packed with flavor and only takes an hour.

Course Bread, Easy, Side Dish

Cuisine American, German

Total Cost $2.35 RECIPE / $0.29 SERVING

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 1 slice each

Calories 269kcal

Author Marion – Budget Bytes

Equipment

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour $0.30
1 Tbsp sugar $0.06
1 Tbsp baking powder $0.12
2 tsp salt $0.04
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese* $0.62
4 Tbsp butter, divided** $1.20
12 oz. beer (one regular-sized can) $0.92

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375℉. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and shredded cheese. Mix well.
Melt the butter in a small sauce pot. Use a pastry brush to coat the inside of a 9×5 loaf pan with butter. Set the remaining butter aside.
Add the beer to the flour mixture and stir until a thick batter forms. Transfer the batter to the prepared bread pan, making sure to spread it out evenly inside the bread pan.
Pour the rest of the melted butter on top of the bread dough.
Bake the bread for 45-50 minutes, or until deeply golden brown on top.
Once slightly cool (about 10 minutes), run a butter knife around the inside edge of the pan gently to loosen the edges, and then turn the bread onto a cutting board to slice and serve.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

* or Parmesan cheese
** If using unsalted butter, you may want to add an additional ¼ teaspoon of salt with the rest of the dry ingredients or sprinkle the same amount on top of the loaf just before baking.

Nutrition

An overhead shot of a half-sliced loaf of beer bread on a long, wooden cutting board surrounded by glass cups of beer, a can of beer, a butter dish and knife, and bowl of cheese, and a grey and white striped dish cloth.

How to Make BEER BREAD – Step by Step Photos

A white ceramic mixing bowl filled with piles of unmixed flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, sugar and shredded cheddar cheese.

Preheat the oven to 375℉. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.

An overhead shot of two hands preparing a metal loaf pan with a pastry brush next to a small skillet of melted butter.

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small sauce pot or skillet. Use a pastry brush to coat the inside of a 9×5″ loaf pan with about 1/2 tablespoon of the melted butter. Set the rest of the butter aside.

A white, ceramic mixing bowl filled with the mixed dry ingredients to make beer bread, a spatula is resting in the right side of the bowl and beer is being poured into the left side of the bowl from a glass liquid measuring cup.

Pour 12 oz. (1 1/2 cups) of beer into the flour mixture. Mix until a thick batter forms and no clumps of dry ingredients remain. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, making sure to spread it out evenly. Tap it on the counter a few times to help eliminate any air pockets.

A metal loaf pan filled with unbaked bread dough is being covered with melted butter poured from a small, white bowl on the left side of the frame.

Pour the rest of the melted butter (about 3 1/2 tablespoons) on top of the bread dough.

A horizonal image of a baked loaf of bread with a golden-brown, crunchy top in metal loaf pan.

Bake the beer bread for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is evenly golden brown and crispy. Let the bread cool slightly (about 10 minutes) in the loaf pan. Run a butter knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the edges, then flip the bread out onto a cutting board to slice and serve.

A vertical close up of a loaf of bread on a wooden cutting board with three slices slightly overlapping in the foreground of the image, and behind the cutting board is a small wooden bowl filled with shredded cheese and a can of beer is visible in the upper right corner of the frame.

As one of my favorite TikTok creators (@tanaradoublechocolate) would say: “It ain’t gonna slide down easy if it ain’t cheesy!” Hope y’all love this Easy Beer Bread as much as we do! ~Marion 🙂