Install using Composer doesn't create .htaccess file
Both drupal-composer/drupal-project and drupal/recommended-project create Drupal installations with a relocated DOCROOT, or web root.  So, the .htaccess folder isn't in the root of the installation.

You need to point Apache to the 'web' directory, which is where the .htaccess and index.php files are.  This is done at the Apache config level, not .htaccess level.

For example, on one of my servers, I have my git checkout in /var/www/prod.  The config looks like

DocumentRoot /var/www/prod/web
&lt;Directory /var/www/prod/web&gt;
  AllowOverride All
  Options -Indexes
  Options +FollowSymLinks
  Require all granted
&lt;/Directory&gt;