Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (2024)

Published: Last updated: by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This homemade flour tortillas recipe is super easy to make with just 3 ingredients! There is nothing better than homemade flour tortillas for to make tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and more!

Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (1)

This easytortillarecipe is the best tasting homemade flour tortillas I have ever eaten and far better than store-bought. You only need 3 ingredients to make your own flour tortillas and it’s likely you already have the ingredients in your pantry!

Homemade Flour Tortillasare great for making your favorite Mexican food. From enchiladas to tacos and burritos, these easy tortillas will be the only way you will ever want to eat tortillas again.

Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (2)
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
  • 🥘 INGREDIENTS
  • 🔪 INSTRUCTIONS
  • 🙋 Recipe FAQ's
  • 💭 Tips
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🍽 Equipment
  • 🏫 What I've Learned
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

✔️ This easy tortilla recipe uses only 3 simple ingredients!

✔️ Traditional flour tortillas are perfect for taco Tuesday to make your favorite soft tacos.

✔️ Fresh homemade flour tortillas made at home are far better than store bought soft tortillas.

Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (3)


🥘 INGREDIENTS

This is one of the easiest recipes to make. I promise, once you have made this homemade flour tortilla recipe, you will never want to buy them in the store.

White whole wheat flour, this brand is the best!

Solid shortening: I use this solid vegetable shortening

Salt

Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (4)

🔪 INSTRUCTIONS

Making the dough

  1. Add the flour and shortening to a large bowl. Work the shortening into the flour with a pastry blender or your fingers until completely incorporated.
  2. Dissolve the salt in the water and pour ⅔ cup of the salt water over top of the flour mixture. Immediately work it in with a fork. The dough will be in large clumps.
  3. Scoop the soft dough onto your work surface and knead until smooth.

Shaping and resting the dough

  1. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball. Set the tortilla dough balls on a plate, cover with sheets of plastic wrap, damp cloth, or damp paper towel and let dough rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (5)

Making the tortillas

  1. After the resting period, heat a cast-iron skillet or a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Shaping by hand: On a lightly floured surface, roll out a portion of the dough into a 7-inch circle. Flatten a ball of dough with the palm of your hand, sprinkle with a little extra flour, then roll forward and back across it, rotating a sixth of a turn dough and roll forward and back again. Continue until it is a 7-inch circle.
  3. Using a tortilla press: Using two pieces of parchment paper, place one piece of paper on the press, place the dough ball in the center and top with another piece of parchment. Then press. Lift the tortilla press, and flip the tortilla over (still sandwiched between the parchment. Press firmly one more time. Then remove the tortilla and proceed to cook.
Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (6)

To cook the tortillas

  1. Lay the first tortilla on the hot griddle. After 30-45 seconds, when golden brown spots show underneath, flip it over. cook another 30-45 seconds more, until the second side is browned. Do not overcook or the tortilla will become crisp.
  2. Remove and wrap in a clean kitchen towel. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas and stack them on top of each other.

🙋 Recipe FAQ's

Is lard or shortening better for tortillas?

It all comes down to flavor and diet. Lard is animal product so if you are vegetarian, use the vegetable shortening, if you want a different flavor profile, use lard.

How do you reheat a tortilla?

Wrap the tortillas in a towel and place them in the microwave for 30 seconds. For just 1 tortilla, wrap and heat for 10 seconds. These can also be reheated on the grill for a few seconds on each side.

💭 Tips

  • Use a pastry blender or a fork to cut the shortening into the flour until you have pea sized crumbs.
  • Use hot water to aid in dissolving the salt better. Be sure the salt has dissolved into the water before using it.
  • Center the dough ball in a tortilla press to make thin tortillas that are more uniform.
  • Use a piece of parchment paper to separate the warm tortillas while stacking them after cooking and cover with a kitchen towel to keep them warm.

📖 Variations

  • Lard or coconut oil makes a great substitute for the shortening.
  • In a pinch, you can use all purpose flour in place of white whole wheat
Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (7)

🍽 Equipment

Tortilla PressorWooden Rolling Pin

Cast Iron Skilletorlarge cast iron griddle:I highly recommend the cast iron as it heats evenly and holds heat well. You want the tortillas to cook quickly without getting crisp and I feel the cast iron does the best job.

🏫 What I've Learned

  • Making homemade tortillas is not hard. The first time I made these I knew I would never buy tortillas from the store again. These are just as good, if not better than those you would get from a Mexican restaurant!
  • This is an easy tortilla recipe to make with very little effort.
  • The tortilla press is awesome! It takes a little effort to learn how to use it at first, but it makes the most perfectly shaped tortillas.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these easy flour tortillas warm as a side toGrilled Avocado with Cilantro Lime Cream. I also like to use them to make this Shrimp Enchiladas Recipe or Cheese Enchiladas with Red Sauce.

Serve the soft flour tortillas warm or toasted with your favorite dips. Some of our favorites are Spinach Artichoke Dip, Jalapeno Bacon Cheeseburger Dip and I love to spread Mom's Easy Cheese Ball Recipe on tortillas and make pinwheels.

Storage

Store cooked tortillas in an airtight container or a ziploc bag that has had the air pressed from the bag. Tortillas can be stored up to 3 days on the counter, 1 week in the refrigerator, and 3 months in the freezer.

Fiesta Tortilla Roll Bites

Easy Green Chicken Enchilada Recipe - low carb

Low Carb Spicy Shrimp Tortilla Soup

Grilled Stuffed Burritos

Cheese Enchiladas with Red Sauce

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!

When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!

If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating

📖 Recipe

Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (9)

Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe

Shelby Law Ruttan

This homemade flour tortillas recipe is super easy to make with just 3 ingredients! There is nothing better than homemade flour tortillas for to make tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and more!

4.33 from 91 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 minutes mins

Rest Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 52 minutes mins

Course Breads

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 12

Calories 166 kcal

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

Instructions

Making the dough

  • Combine flour and shortening in a large bowl. Work the shortening into the flour with a pastry blender or your fingers until completely incorporated.

  • Dissolve the salt in the water and pour ⅔ cup of the salt water over top of the flour mixture. Immediately work it in with a fork. The dough will be in large clumps.

  • Scoop the soft dough onto your work surface and knead until smooth.Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball. Set the tortilla dough balls on a plate, cover with sheets of plastic wrap or damp cloth or paper towel and let dough rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.

  • After the resting period, heat a cast-iron skillet or a large frying pan over medium-high heat. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a portion of the dough into a 7-inch circle. Flatten a ball of dough with the palm of your hand, sprinkle with a little extra flour, then roll forward and back across it, rotating a sixth of a turn dough and roll forward and back again. Continue until it is a 7-inch circle. Dust tortilla with flour as needed while rolling.

  • If using a tortilla press: Using two pieces of parchment paper, place one piece of paper on the press, place the dough ball in the center and top with another piece of parchment. Then press. Lift the tortilla press, and flip the tortilla over (still sandwiched between the parchment. Press firmly one more time. Then remove the tortilla and proceed to cook.

  • To cook, lay the first tortilla on the hot griddle. After 30-45 seconds, when air bubbles pop up and golden brown spots show underneath, flip it over. cook another 30-45 seconds more, until the second side is browned. Do not overcook or the tortilla will become crisp.

  • Remove and wrap in a clean kitchen towel. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas and stack them on top of each other.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 166kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 153mgFiber: 1g

Keyword Flour Tortilla Recipe, Homemade Flour Tortillas, Homemade Tortilla Recipe

Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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About Shelby Law Ruttan

Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz

    Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (18)
    These are amazing!! So much better than the grocery store tortillas I've been buying!!!

    Reply

  2. Jennifer

    Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (19)
    This recipe sounds so easy to make, I’m going to give it a try!

    Reply

  3. Karen

    Can you make these with gluten free flour?

    Reply

    • Martha Darnell

      Sou is delicious and just I was looking far. Can't wait to try it.

      Reply

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Easy Homemade Tortillas Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the key to making tortillas? ›

If you're making flour tortillas, the key is to mix the dry ingredients (flour and salt) together with the fat until the consistency resembles coarse sand. Then, once you add the warm water, the texture should be very tacky and stick to your hands easily.

What makes a good tortillas? ›

The best supermarket flour tortillas are soft but not limp, and chewy but not gummy. We want a tortilla that's confidently wheaty, with no distracting chemical flavors. It should be thin enough to see light through, just slightly stretchy when tugged, and flaky when pulled apart.

Why do my homemade flour tortillas come out hard? ›

Adding too much flour to knead or to roll out the tortillas will also create hard and dry tortillas.

Why aren't my homemade tortillas soft? ›

If your tortillas are not soft there can be several reasons: You did not use all purpose flour. You did not use a cast iron pan. Your pan was not hot enough.

How to make tortillas better? ›

Martinez suggests laying the tortillas out on a baking sheet in a single layer and baking them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around 15 minutes until they're golden brown and crispy. Toasting totally transforms their flavor; as he said, "they'll taste like toasted corn without any of the off-flavor."

Do tortillas need baking powder? ›

So, if you don't have baking powder then you can omit it altogether. The tortillas will be just as good! However, the version I tested that had more baking powder resulted in a thicker, doughy tortilla that wasn't as pliable and was harder to roll when making a burrito or wrap.

What are the three types of tortillas? ›

Plus, try our recipe for Chicken and Guacamole Tacos.
  • Corn Tortillas. Offering a firm, chewy texture, corn tortillas come out ahead in a side-by-side nutrition competition with other types. ...
  • Flour Tortillas. ...
  • Whole-Wheat Tortillas. ...
  • Chicken and Guacamole Tacos.
Apr 24, 2021

What does baking powder do to flour tortillas? ›

Baking powder: Baking powder acts as a leavener, giving the tortillas a slightly pillowy texture. Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor of the flour tortillas. Lard: Lard, a common baking ingredient in Mexican cuisine, adds flavor and helps create the perfect flour tortilla texture.

How long do you let tortilla dough rest? ›

Place all of the dough in your bowl and cover with a warm, damp paper towel or place a lid on the bowl. Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes. Heat a griddle to medium heat. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the dough balls one at a time with a rolling pin.

What does baking soda do in tortillas? ›

TORTILLA BLENDTM Sodium Bicarbonate can specifically target the attributes of height and volume, uniform cell structure, bready texture, toast point color and reduced translucency. Sodium Bicarbonate: Timing of the leavening reaction is key to obtaining the best tortilla texture, height and opacity.

Does too much baking powder make tortillas hard? ›

Many people claim it makes the tortillas hard if too much is added. Other people claim the tortillas wont be fluffy and soft without the baking powder. I have prepared them countless times with and without and have enjoyed both versions.

What is a substitute for lard in tortillas? ›

Although traditionally made with lard, these tortillas are equally delicious using butter, shortening, or vegetable oil as the fat. If you choose to use oil, add it with the water in step 3.

Why don t my homemade tortillas puff up? ›

You need ample moisture that can react with the heat in order for it to ultimately convert to steam and puff. If your masa has too little moisture, the tortilla in development will dry out before it can ever puff. A proper mixing/kneading process is critical to ensuring well-distributed and even moisture.

Why do my handmade tortillas crack? ›

If your oil is too hot, the outside will cook more rapidly than the inside, creating a hard exterior that will inevitably rupture and crack. Dry tortillas crack and break. Hydrated ones don't.

What is the secret to making corn tortillas? ›

Hydrate your masa properly: This is the best tip to get your tortillas to puff. If after combining and kneading the ingredients the masa still cracks around the edges, it needs more water.

How to make tortillas better for tacos? ›

Heating up the tortillas before you fill them makes every taco recipe that much more savory and delicious, so don't skip this step! Tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas are too delicious for a cold tortilla.

How do you make tortillas that don't crack? ›

You can prevent cracked tortillas by pressing a test tortilla before you roll the rest of the dough into balls. If your test tortilla is indeed cracked (read: dry), simply add more water a tablespoon at a time, testing between each addition until the dough produces tortillas with smooth, even edges.

What keeps tortillas from breaking? ›

Covering cooked tortillas in a wet paper towel and wrapping tightly in aluminum foil will preserve them for a day or two (although honestly, these guys are meant to be enjoyed immediately). Using a ceramic tortilla warmer or steaming them before serving will keep them pliable.

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