15-Minute Bread Machine Greek Bread
A Mediterranean-inspired bread machine loaf combining tangy feta cheese and briny olives with warm spices. The dough develops in the machine while you relax, emerging as a golden, rustic loaf perfect for soaking up olive oil at dinner or serving alongside soup. This version skips kneading by hand and lets the bread machine handle the heavy lifting, making homemade Greek bread accessible on busy weeknights. Serve warm with butter or use for sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk, warmed to 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¼ cup ripe olives, slicedKalamata olives0.25 cupnone
darker, more robust flavor
Instructions
- 1
Warm milk to 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2
Place milk, olive oil, salt, feta cheese, bread flour, sugar, and yeast in bread machine pan in order suggested by manufacturer.
- 3
Select basic bread setting and choose crust color and loaf size if available.
- 4
Check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1-2 tablespoons water or flour if needed to reach proper consistency.
- 5
Just before final kneading cycle (listen for machine signal), add sliced olives.
- 6
Bake according to bread machine directions until complete.
Tips
Milk temperature matters: too cold slows yeast activation, too hot kills it. Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy.
Add olives late to prevent the bread machine from breaking them into tiny pieces during kneading.
Check dough consistency at the 5-minute mark; bread machines vary in how they incorporate flour.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days. Freeze wrapped loaf up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature.
Prepare ingredients in advance and store milk separately. Assemble in bread machine pan up to 2 hours before baking.
Slice warm and serve with butter, olive oil, or alongside Mediterranean meals. Use for sandwiches when cooled.
Common Mistakes
Use milk that is too hot to avoid killing yeast
Add olives early to prevent them from being pulverized during mixing
Skip the 5-minute dough check to avoid dense or dry bread
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make this without a bread machine?
Yes. Mix ingredients by hand, knead 8-10 minutes until smooth, let rise 1-1.5 hours until doubled, add olives before final rise. Bake at 375F for 30-35 minutes. Timing will vary.
What if my dough looks too wet or dry after 5 minutes?
Dough should be slightly tacky but hold together. If too wet, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. If too dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Bread machines vary in their flour absorption.
How long can I keep this bread?
Room temperature in an airtight container lasts 3 days. Frozen, it keeps 2 months. Toast slices if bread hardens.