Get ready to learn how to make ciabatta bread, a rustic Italian bread perfect for dipping in soups and creating delicious sandwiches.
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For bakers who have mastered a basic homemade loaf, the next challenge is to explore different styles of bread, from sourdough to baguettes. Most bread dough is a basic combination of flour, water, yeast and salt, and different preparations of these ingredients will result in different types of bread.
This loaf is no different—and with a bit of patience and time, you can learn how to make ciabatta bread all on your own.
What Is Ciabatta Bread?
Ciabatta bread is an Italian bread made of wheat flour, yeast and salt. It originated in the province of Rovigo, Veneto, Italy in 1982, in response to the popularity of French baguettes.
Ciabatta is a broad, flat loaf of bread, characterized by large holes within the crumb. The dough itself is much wetter than traditional French breads, but not as wet as a focaccia loaf. Unlike focaccia, which is a flatbread, ciabatta is formed into loaves for proofing and baking. Your finished ciabatta should have a crisp crust and a chewy center.
To create authentic ciabatta, you’ll start by making biga, which is similar to a sourdough starter. Flour, water and yeast are combined many hours before the dough is made—and then added to the dough to improve the flavor and texture of the finished bread.
Use your finished bread to make delicious appetizers, such as this Florentine ciabatta.
Stand mixer: This is an essential small appliance that every kitchen needs. It will come in handy when you mix the dough ingredients together and then use the dough hook to knead your ciabatta dough.
Pizza stone: Baking your bread on a preheated pizza stone will be essential to evenly cooking your bread and achieving a crisp crust.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the biga
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To prepare the biga, combine the flour, yeast and water in a medium bowl until the ingredients are all incorporated. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature overnight. The biga should stand for at least 8 hours but no more than 24 hours.
Step 2: Make the dough
April Preisler for Taste of Home
To prepare the dough, combine the biga along with the dough ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on the lowest speed setting until the ingredients are incorporated. Continue mixing for 4-6 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Switch from the paddle to the dough hook and increase the speed to medium, and knead for around 10 minutes. The dough should be shiny, but very sticky. Transfer the dough to a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let dough stand at room temperature until it doubles in size, around 1 hour.
Step 3: Fold the dough
April Preisler for Taste of Home
Using your fingers or a rubber spatula sprayed with cooking spray, fold the dough over itself by pulling at the edge of the dough, lifting the dough and bringing it toward the center of the bowl. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and fold again, repeating for a total of 8 turns. Cover the bowl again and allow to stand for another 30 minutes.
Step 4: Shape the dough
April Preisler for Taste of Home
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and cut in half. Turn each half of dough cut-side up and dust with flour. Gently press the dough into a 12 x 6 inch rectangle and then fold the short ends toward the center with a small overlap. You should be left with a 7 x 4 inch rectangle.
April Preisler for Taste of Home
Cut two pieces of parchment paper to 12 x 6 inches and flour liberally. Gently transfer the loaf to one of the parchment sheets, seam side down, and dust with flour. Repeat with second loaf and then cover with plastic wrap. Allow loaves to sit at room temperature for 45 minutes to an hour.
Step 5: Bake the ciabattas
April Preisler for Taste of Home
Adjust your oven rack to the lower middle position and preheat with pizza stone inside to 450° F. Allow the oven to preheat for at least 30 minutes before baking loaves. Before placing the loaves in the oven, fill a baking sheet with hot water and place it on the rack under the pizza stone.
Place the parchment sheets and loaves onto a pizza peel or inverted baking sheet. Gently poke the surface of the loaves with your fingers to stretch them out to 10 x 6 inch rectangles. Carefully slide the parchment sheets and loaves onto the pizza stone and bake for 22 to 27 minutes. The crust should be deep golden brown and the internal temperature should register 210° F.
Cool loaves on cooling rack for 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Other Methods for Making Ciabatta Bread
You can make delicious, chewy ciabatta bread in less time by skipping the biga step. By using a no-knead ciabatta recipe, you mix all ingredients together at the start of the process. You’ll still need 12-18 hours for the first proof; however, you take out the steps of kneading, folding and proofing. With this method you will still end up with a crispy, chewy loaf of bread; the preparation is just less traditional.
Ciabatta Bread Tips
How do I know when ciabatta bread is done?
If you have a probe thermometer, you can measure the internal temperature of the bread. When fully cooked, the internal temperature should register 210° F. You can also tap the bottom of the bread; it should sound hollow when it’s done.
How do you store ciabatta bread?
Make sure that your bread is completely cooled before storing. Tightly wrap your loaves in foil or an airtight plastic bag and store at room temperature. Storing in the refrigerator will force the bread to dry out quicker. When properly stored, the bread should last for 2-3 days.
What do you eat ciabatta with?
If you opt for turning your ciabatta dough into rolls, these are great for many different things! The texture and holes in ciabatta rolls are perfect for dipping in soups or wiping up sauces from a dinner plate. They are also perfect for creating hearty sandwiches, like these Chipotle Roast Beef Sandwiches.
Sandwich Ideas for Your Homemade Bread
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Ham and Swiss SlidersHam and cheese is a classic sandwich combo, but these cheesy melts take it to another level. A pan of slider-sized buns is quick to layer, and a glaze of brown sugar, poppy seeds and horseradish tops it all off. They’ll be the first to disappear from the potluck table.
Toasted ReubensReuben lovers tend to be very particular about their sandwiches, and this recipe wins top marks. Made with homemade thousand island dressing, corned beef and rye bread, this is a classic deli recipe you can make right at home.
Turkey Focaccia ClubA great club sandwich balances savory deli meat, cheese and bacon with sweet-tangy condiments. This top-rated club slathers on mayo, mustard, honey and cranberry sauce to pack a big flavor punch. Though delicious any time of year, this is often best served with leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving.
Parmesan Chicken SandwichesOne brilliant way to create a more exciting sandwich is to borrow fillings from your favorite meals. Here, breaded, saucy chicken Parmesan is served up in a handheld hoagie rather than on a bed of noodles, making it perfect for a quick family dinner.
Dilly Turkey MeltOne way to up your sandwich game? Turn up the heat—literally. Grilling sandwiches enhance their flavor. The heat sears the bread and encourages the filling flavors to mingle. Melting the cheese is just a bonus. Serve these melts for winter lunch or dinner with a warm side of soup.
Pineapple Chicken Salad SandwichesChicken salad is surprisingly versatile. Stir in fillings to add texture: crunchy chopped nuts, crisp grapes or sliced apples, chewy raisins, dried spices and fresh herbs. Here, sweet pineapple adds a juicy, tropical slant on your typical sandwich.
Gourmet Barbecue Beef SandwichesTender, flavorful beef is an easy sandwich filling, if you make it in the slow cooker! While this recipe calls for a fancy sandwich atop croissants, it will be just as tasty on a hard roll or on sliced crusty bread.
Shrimp Patty SandwichesCrispy, savory fish patties are a great seafood dish for skeptics. These savory cakes combine shrimp with haddock to maximize flavor without breaking the budget. Serve on burger buns or open-faced.
California Roll WrapsSushi is delicious at a restaurant, but a bit fussy for an everyday meal at home. These simple wraps aim to duplicate the flavor, combining rich imitation crab meat, spicy wasabi mayo and creamy avocado with an array of crisp, chopped veggies. You can use what's in season or in your fridge.
Cuban Sandwich BurgersThese burgers nod to the classic flavors of a Cuban sandwich, and they're a great summertime option when you have the grill fired up. Start with burger patties made from both ground beef and ground pork, then layer ham, cheese and pickles on top of the patties. Finish the burgers by smashing them down with a hot cast iron skillet for extra toasty buns.
Beef ‘n’ Cheese WrapsThe benefits of wrap sandwiches are plentiful: the tortilla is less bulky, so the sandwich is lighter and the fillings can shine. Wraps are easy to find gluten-free, and they're quick to, well, wrap up and take on-the-go. You can also slice a wrap into sections, skewer with a toothpick and turn them into appetizers.
Grandma’s Baked Ham Salad SandwichesNeed to eat up leftover ham? This old-fashioned ham salad recipe is just the ticket. The simple sandwich filling is packed with flavor but stirs together in minutes. Warm in the oven for a heartier meal or serve cold. Either way, it's great with potato salad.
Mac & Cheese Pork SlidersThese decadent sliders top barbecue pulled pork with gooey mac and cheese. Swap packaged macaroni if you don't have time to make it from scratch. They're the perfect sandwich to make for a crowd.
Club Roll-UpsThe secret to a good roll-up? A good sauce! Tortillas can get very dry if left plain. This recipe combines both cream cheese and ranch dressing for a tart, tangy, creamy base for the meat and cheese filling.
Basil Chicken SandwichesEasy and elegant, this chicken sandwich is special enough to serve company but simple enough for everyday. Bottled salad dressing does double duty here, seasoning the chicken as it cooks and topping the sandwich buns. Serve with a fresh salad or veggie side.
Tangy Barbecue SandwichesPrepping a big batch of barbecue beef is simple in the slow cooker. It's a crowd-pleaser on game day, but it's also worth making when it's just the family. Freeze leftovers for a busy week when you want a meal ready-to-go.
Tuna Melt on CornbreadSometimes, the best way to make a familiar sandwich feel fresh is to change up the bread. Instead of sticking with white bread, branch out—think crusty rolls, English muffins or even sliced cornbread like this tuna melt recipe.
Pressure-Cooker Tandoori Chicken PaniniThis Indian-inspired recipe cooks up in a jiffy thanks to the pressure-cooker. While some sandwiches feel too simple for dinner, this one doesn't; bold spices, sweet chutney and chewy naan make for a satisfying meal.
Gouda Turkey ClubThe ingredient list for this club sandwich looks simple, but the method deploys a cool trick. Mix mayonnaise with shredded cheese and seasonings. The result is a hearty, flavor-packed dressing that complements the simple sliced turkey and avocado perfectly.
Beer-Braised Pulled HamIt's tough to beat hot ham and mustard on rolls, but this recipe gives it a try, slow-cooking the pork in beer to add lots of flavor. Serve on pretzel buns, as suggested, for a Bavarian twist, or go with classic hard rolls.
Italian Steak SandwichesNo need to cook steak from scratch to make a good steak sandwich. This recipe dresses up deli roast beef with a broth of fresh garlic, herbs and spices. Nobody would guess the beef didn't braise for ages on your stovetop!
Cuban-Style Pork SandwichesThese traditional Cuban-style sandwiches win rave reviews for the excellent homemade sauce. Pro tip: if you don't have a panini press, you can finish hot sandwiches under the broiler, or in a hot cast iron pan on the stovetop, topped with another heavy pan or pot.
Italian Meatball SubsSavory, hearty meatball sandwiches make a cozy fall or winter dinner. Serve them on top of a bun squishy enough to absorb the tasty tomato sauce.
Basil-Tomato Grilled CheeseGrilled cheese is delicious, but it definitely feels like an item on the kid's menu. Jazz it up with basil and fresh tomatoes.
French DipLike everything French, the French dip sandwich feels fancy: rolls piled with seasoned beef and served alongside a dish of sauce. But, like anything from a slow cooker, they're easy to make. You can prepare the beef a day in advance and gently rewarm before assembling the sandwiches.
Slow-Cooked Turkey Sloppy JoesDon't forget sloppy joes! The sandwich gets associated with cafeteria food, but when made fresh, the saucy sliders are packed with flavor and a great family meal. Serve with snappy green beans or lightly steamed broccoli.
Cobb Salad SubOne of our favorite cold sandwiches, this sub packs all the flavors of a Cobb salad into a portable, shareable sandwich. You can swap the bread for tortillas to make individual wraps, too.
Ultimate Pastrami SandwichesSome sandwiches are a labor of love, but worth every bit of preparation. Take this restaurant-inspired pastrami sandwich with its perfect balance of fillings. Homemade cabbage slaw adds a fresh crunch, waffle fries add savory crispness, and the provolone and pastrami are pure comfort.
Grilled Goat Cheese & Arugula SandwichesGooey, cozy grilled cheese can absolutely be elegant, and this recipe proves it. Serve this grown-up grilled cheese alongside a bowl of tomato soup (cold in summer, steaming in winter).
Sweet & Smoky Pulled Pork SandwichesThis ultra-tender pulled pork tastes like it spent days on the smoker, but it's really made in the slow cooker. The secret? A well-seasoned sauce and a low, slow braise. Make sure to use a good store-bought barbecue sauce to finish.
Chipotle Roast Beef SandwichesThese savory, slightly spicy sandwiches taste restaurant-worthy, but they're made with simple deli roast beef! The trick is to toast the buns, which primes them to absorb more of the yummy sauce (which is just jazzed-up mayo). It's a great summer sandwich for warm nights eating out on the patio.
Cranberry Turkey WrapsIt's easy to make a rich sandwich taste great, but lightening up a sandwich recipe without ending up with a bland, sad sammie is the real trick. This wrap is packed with alternative (and tasty) ideas. Low-fat condiments are an easy switch, and you can add accents to milder meats like dried cranberries, sliced oranges and chopped pecans.
BLT Waffle SlidersIt's hard to beat a good BLT sandwich, but here's one way: Serve them on waffles! BLTs as the new breakfast food is definitely something we can get behind.
Pear and Roast Beef SandwichesLove roast beef but craving something lighter? This sandwich eschews the usual cheese-and-butter toppers in favor of brighter flavors: tart Greek yogurt, savory feta, juicy tomatoes and pears.
Caesar Chicken WrapsSandwiches and wraps are a great place to use up leftover cooked chicken. These easy wraps can go so many directions. Serve with a big salad for a light dinner, corn on the cob for a heartier summer supper or pair the wrap with an apple for lunch.
Weeknight Chicken Mozzarella SandwichesThese chicken sandwiches have an easy way of flavoring—instead of dredging chicken breasts in plain breadcrumbs, it calls for garlic breadcrumbs. (Use stale bread leftover from spaghetti night!) It might seem like a simple change, but it's one that infuses lots of flavor into the crispy chicken.
Cuban SlidersCuban ham sandwiches get the slider treatment in this top-rated, crowd-pleasing recipe. The sliders are easy to make in a 13x9 pan; you don't even need to separate the package of rolls! Simply slice across, layer on the fillings and bake under a buttery sauce.
Cheesy Chicken SubsIf you're tired of throwing chicken on a bun, try this inspired sub sandwich. Cook mushrooms and onions until they're brown and fragrant, then add the chicken, which you've dusted with Ceasar salad seasoning. To finish it up, slide the open sandwiches under a broiler to melt cheese on top.
Makeover Reuben MeltLove Reubens but not the indulgence? Try these simple sandwiches, which are also quicker to prepare. They swap fresh slaw mix for the sauerkraut, and a homemade thousand island dressing made from low-fat milk. It's one of our favorite lightened-up comfort foods.
Chicken & Caramelized Onion Grilled CheeseEverything is better with caramelized onions! The trick is to go nice and slow, letting the onions cook until they're truly melted and super-sweet, which takes a good half-hour at least. Go ahead and make more than you need: they keep well in a jar in the fridge, and taste good on sandwiches, salads, burgers, pastas and pizza.
Turkey & Swiss Biscuit SlidersAnother overlooked sandwich base? Biscuits! This recipe calls for making from-scratch biscuits, but of course you can use store-bought dough, or even leftover biscuits.
Cashew Chicken Salad SandwichesYou can't have enough chicken salad recipes! The secret ingredient in this mix is chopped cucumber, which adds a fresh, summery flavor. Serve with a simple one-step summer side dish.
Shredded French DipThis top-rated sandwich recipe stars a beef roast so tender it practically shreds itself! Serve on a crusty roll that can stand up to dipping in the savory sauce.
BBQ Chicken SandwichesA quick homemade barbecue sauce makes these chicken sandwiches extra special. As a bonus, you can adjust the seasonings to suit your appetite, upping the salsa for extra spice, the ketchup for extra sweetness or adding smoked paprika for heat.
Cashew Turkey Salad SandwichesSo-called salad sandwiches aren't especially healthy, despite their name, but this recipe lightens things up. Tossing cubed turkey (or chicken) in low-fat mayo and plain yogurt maintains all the flavor but less fat. Dried apricots and cashews add pleasant crunch and chew to the mix.
April is a food and travel lover, wine enthusiast, ice cream obsessed and the vision behind the blog, Food n' Focus. Her favorite cuisine is Italian and loves to cook international recipes.
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Updated: Sep. 07, 2023
