All Your Favorite Types Of Bread, Explained (2024)

This variation on whole grain bread—for which the seeds of the whole grain have already begun to germinate—has been picking up in popularity lately in health food circles as a healthier version of the (already-pretty-healthy) whole grain loaf. Whether or not it actually has these purported health benefits still remains to be seen, but we do know that it's a lovely, sugar-free alternative to most other breads. It's also easier to digest than those made from whole wheat grains.

Try it in this (very cheesy) air fryer grilled cheese recipe from Delish.

Tortillas, naan, and pita breads are some of the most commonly used flatbreads here in the U.S, but did you know that there are almost 30 other cultural varieties? Flatbreads are, more generally, thin, flat breads made with flour, salt, and some type of liquid (commonly water or yogurt). This makes them extremely versatile and excellent for quick meals like homemade pizza. Even your beloved sandwich wrap is a flatbread. Who knew?

Try a unique version with this spinach artichoke flatbread recipe from Delish.

One of the most famous types of flatbread, the tortilla, is native to Mexico, and is usually made with wheat or corn flour. This gloriously chewy bread is notoriously simple to make—you just need water, flour, and a little bit of salt—and is built to support almost any combination of meat, cheese, vegetables, or anything in between. Everything tastes better on a tortilla!

Try them fried and oh-so-crispy in this chicken flautas recipe from Delish.

Chances are if you've been to France, you got extremely excited when you saw baguettes hanging in bakery windows. And unlike most cuisine stereotypes, this one actually holds some weight: the baguette is just as much a staple in French cuisine as we foreigners make it out to be. It's a thin, long bread with a crispy crust that's made from a very lean dough, and has a wonderfully aerated interior that results from the slow fermentation process during preparation. It's also the staple bread for quite a few international sandwiches, like the Vietnamese banh-mi.

Try it in this homemade banh-mi recipe from Delish.

Most commonly found in dinner roll form, potato bread gets its ultra-recognizable texture (and flavor) from potato starch, potato flour, or even mashed potatoes, making it soft, springy, and slightly sweet. So if you've just made a huge batch of mashed potatoes and you don't quite know what to do with it, rest easy: you can work it into a potato bread that's super easy to make at home.

Try it with this best-ever tuna melt from Delish.

No, unfortunately, this isn't a bread made from Sprite or Coca-Cola. Instead, this traditional Irish staple is a variety of quick bread that uses baking soda and buttermilk to leaven the bread, a reaction that usually requires little to no rising time. This makes it a little more dense than your typical sandwich bread, but you'll find that soda bread has a perfectly aerated crumb that makes for a moist and crumbly bite. Yum!

Get creative with these Delish soda bread recipes.

How could we forget one of our favorite, most versatile breakfast foods? Originally made from just flour, water, and lard, this fun, circular, unleavened quick bread is a staple of North American cuisine, and can be used for nearly anything from chicken sliders to country ham sandwiches.

Try your hand at making our buttermilk biscuits yourself, or work canned biscuits into this amazing chicken bacon ranch bubble-up bake from Delish.

Spelt bread is usually made entirely with spelt flour (a distant cousin of wheat), and has a distinctly nutty flavor. Technically, you can make almost any of the breads on this list with spelt flour (yep, there's spelt focaccia, and it's yummy)— just replace any wheat flour with spelt and there you have it. Perfect for those looking to cut down on milled or blanched wheat— though it is important to mention that it's not a wheat substitute for those with celiac disease or wheat allergies.

Try it in this pumpkin gingerbread recipe from Delish.

Commonly associated with Southern BBQs, cornbread is a sweet, filling bread that goes perfectly with a rack of oven-baked ribs (or two— we're not telling). It's a type of quick bread (sometimes called batter bread) made with cornmeal, and has a distinct, chewy crumb. It may contain bits of corn kernels, but that usually depends on preference.

Try these amazing honey butter cornbread muffins from Delish.

Ciabatta (which translates in Italian to "slipper"!) is an Italian bread made with wheat flour, salt, yeast, and water. Though its texture and crust vary slightly throughout Italy, the essential ingredients remain the same. Ciabatta is best for sandwiches and paninis, naturally.

Use it for Delish's Caprese garlic bread.

Unlike white bread, whole-wheat bread is made from flour that uses almost the entire wheat grain—with the bran and germ intact. This means more nutrients and fiber per slice! This bread is also great for sandwiches or, our personal favorite, egg in a hole.

Try it in avocado toast six ways from Delish.

Sourdough is a yeasted bread made from a starter, a.k.a. a fermented mixture of flour and water. Starters are living things and can make many batches of bread—plus they can be kept alive for a VERY long time! Because of its starter base, well-baked sourdough has a substantial crust with a soft, chewy center and large air bubbles. It makes a BOMB grilled cheese!

Try it in our cranberry Brie pull-apart bread.

Rye bread is made with a combination of bread flour and rye flour, giving it an assertive rye flavor and a tight crumb. Caraway or dill seeds are often added for an earthy flavor. Rye bread is also essential to deli classics like pastrami and corned beef sandwiches.

Try it cut into strips and toasted with this baked Reuben dip from Delish.

Originating in the Middle East, pita is a leavened flatbread made of wheat flour. They are cooked at high temperatures, causing the liquid in the dough to escape. This forms a large air bubble in the center, which becomes a pocket when cut in half—great for a hand-held falafel sandwich. They're also perfect for dipping when cut into wedges and toasted.

Try it with this easy homemade falafel recipe from Delish.

Focaccia is an Italian bread typically baked flat in a baking sheet or pan. The dough is similar to pizza dough, and is sometimes flavored with fresh herbs and garlic. A final coating of olive oil before baking gives it a distinctly delicate yet crunchy crust. Focaccia is often enjoyed on its own, but it's also great for dipping in soup and alongside meat and cheese—among other things!

Try it in this apple and sausage focaccia stuffing from Delish.

Multigrain bread is exactly what it sounds like: Bread loaded with grains like barley, flax, millet, and oats. Multigrain is super hearty, with a rich earthy flavor. Perfect for your morning avocado toast.

Try it in our avocado egg in a hole from Delish.

Brioche is a French bread made with eggs and butter. It's super light, with a tight crumb and subtle sweetness. It has a superbly soft crust that gets its golden hue from an egg wash, which is applied just before baking. Want to make the best French toast ever? Brioche is the way to go.

Try it in this peanut butter stuffed French toast from Delish.

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