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Homemade Flour Tortillas are easier to make than you think! Try this simple, authentic flour tortilla recipe, and enjoy warm, soft, foldable tortillas right from your own kitchen. Perfect for snacks, lunches, and everyone’s favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes!
The Softest, Easiest Flour Tortilla Recipe Ever!
Making homemade flour tortillas may seem a little daunting at first, but I promise they are easier than you think. After that first bite of a fresh, warm tortilla, I know you will agree they were worth the work!
Tortillas make a great snack in their own right, with a little butter and salt, maybe a squeeze of lime, or just rolled up warm right off the pan. Yum. Flour tortillas are the base for all kinds of Mexican and Tex-Mex goodies: homemade enchiladas (more on that later), tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos… However you serve them, tortillas are versatile and tasty, and oh, so good when made fresh.
If you’ve never made your own, no worries! With this easy flour tortilla recipe, making tortillas at home is actually not all that hard! I know that they sometimes have a reputation for being difficult, and to be fair, they do sometimes stick to the rolling pin, or to each other. But overall, tortillas are very simple to prepare, and all my tips will guarantee your success! Let’s get started!
Did you want corn tortillas instead? Try my favorite recipe for Homemade Corn Tortillas! Unlike flour tortillas, they are made with masa (corn flour) and are naturally gluten free.
What Ingredients Will I Need?
Tortillas only require a few kitchen staple ingredients, you probably already have them all on hand! (Full ingredient amounts and recipe directions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
- Flour: Nothing fancy here, just ordinary all-purpose flour. I don’t recommend using gluten-free flour here, since the dough needs to develop a significant amount of gluten.
- Lard: A small amount of lard moistens the dough, helps bind it together, and adds that soft richness you expect from a flour tortilla. Check below for alternatives.
- Salt
- Baking Powder: Some cooks don’t use baking powder, but it does add a nice lightness to the tortilla dough. It’s optional and you can skip it.
- Hot Water: A little hot water brings the dough together.
Do I Have To Use Lard?
My goal with this flour tortilla recipe, is to make the best authentic tortillas. I know, it’s not very common these days to use lard in the U.S., but it was once very common! And it really does make a flavorful, authentic tortilla like what you would get in Mexico. However, if you don’t have lard, or don’t want to use it, check below for some other options.
- Butter: Softened to room temperature.
- Shortening: Vegetable or butter flavored shortening.
- Oil: Any other neutral flavored oil like canola oil, vegetable oil or even oil oil will work. I have even seen recipes using coconut oil.
How Do I Make Flour Tortillas?
Okay, let’s talk about the process for making flour tortillas. There are definitely a few steps involved here, so if it’s your first time trying them, budget plenty of time so you won’t feel rushed. Here’s how you do it:
- Make the Dough. First, make the dough by crumbling together the flour, lard, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. I use my hands for this. Pour in the water, and stir to combine, until a dough forms.
- Knead the Dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured surface, and knead it for ten minutes. You could also knead it in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, for 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, knead in sprinklings of additional flour one at a time, until it’s very smooth but not dry. A dry dough will not make good tortillas.
- Let the Dough Rest. Cover the dough with a damp towel, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide the Dough into Balls. Cut the ball of dough in half. Then cut the halves in half to make four pieces of dough. Finally, cut each of those in half to make eight equal pieces. Tuck in the edges of each piece to form a ball.
- Roll the Tortillas. Cover the balls of dough with a damp towel, to keep them soft and pliable. Roll them, one at a time, into 8-inch circles, about ¼-inch thick. If you have a tortilla press, you can use that to press them into shape instead. A tortilla press makes shaping the tortillas go much faster.
- Cook the Tortillas. Heat a comal or a large skillet over medium heat. You don’t have to grease it. Just add one tortilla at a time, and cook it until you start to see bubbles form. Then flip the tortilla and cook the other side for about 20 seconds, and flip again to cook the first side 20 seconds more. You should see large bubbles forming. Set the cooked tortilla aside, and cook the rest. Cover the cooked tortillas immediately with a clean kitchen towel (or foil) to keep them warm and moist.
- Enjoy! Serve the tortillas however you like!
Helpful Tips and Hacks
Are you excited to try this four tortilla recipe at home yet? It is so rewarding! But before you get started, please take a moment to read these tips for the best tortillas, easily and simply.
- Tortilla Press: Hand-rolling tortillas is great, but they may not turn out as thin or even as you would like. They can also be difficult to get into a perfectly round shape. A basic tortilla press makes it much easier and faster to get the tortillas thin and round. Just roll the dough, place it in the center of the tortilla press and press down firmly.
- Stack with Care: When stacking tortillas to cook or store, it’s helpful to have sheets of parchment, wax paper, or foil on hand to prevent sticking. Stack gently, and don’t press them down into each other.
- Skillet Tips: Keep the skillet at a medium heat. Too hot, and the tortillas will scorch before they cook through. You can also wipe the skillet clean if flour starts to accumulate in it.
- Do I Need a Comal? A comal is a flat cast iron griddle used for cooking tortillas and other Mexican dishes, and they are super helpful for this recipe. However it is not necessary, you can also make tortillas in a cast-iron skillet or griddle, or just your favorite stainless or non-stick pan.
Scrumptious Serving Ideas
Naturally, you could use these homemade tortillas to serve your favorite tacos, or just eat them warm and fresh by themselves! However, you could also make a truly special dinner with tortillas as the base. Try one of these sometime – you’ll be glad you did!
- Tacos: Any tacos you love will be great in these fresh and warm tortillas, but here are a few of my favorites: Crockpot Chicken Tacos, Flank Steak Tacos, and Carne Asada Tacos.
- Cheese Enchiladas: Cheese Enchiladas are a comfort food like no other. Your family will feel truly cared for when they taste this hearty, from-scratch recipe, especially when you use homemade tortillas as the base.
- White Enchiladas: This amazing Mexican-American take on enchiladas is perfect for game day or any day! You’ll love the spicy, creamy, savory flavors at play in these Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas made with salsa verde.
- Taquitos: Another classic way to use flour tortillas. You’ll be amazed by how good a simple Cheesy Beef Taquito can be with freshly made tortillas! Or grab you air fryer and give these Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos a try!
- Desserts: Sweet tooth calling your name? Use up any leftover tortillas (I always make extra to make sure we have leftovers!) in these Cherry Cheesecake Tacos or authentic Buñuelos!
How to Store Tortillas So They Stay Fresh
These tortillas can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you place them in a storage bag and seal it while they are still warm, the steam in the bag will help prevent them from becoming hard. You can also reheat tortillas in a warm oven, if desired.
Can I Freeze Them?
Yes! Tortillas freeze well. Just stack them with squares of wax paper or parchment paper between each tortilla, so they don’t stick together. Stacks of 5 – 10 tortillas are usually the most practical. Place the stack into a large freezer bag, press out as much air as possible, and seal. Freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw to room temperature before serving or reheating.
4.8 from 10 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 8
Best Homemade Flour Tortilla Recipe
Classic Homemade Flour Tortillas are easier than you think! Try this simple, authentic recipe, and enjoy warm, soft, foldable tortillas right from your own kitchen. Perfect for snacks, lunches, and everyone’s favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes!
Prep Time20 minutes minutes
Cook Time15 minutes minutes
Additional Time30 minutes minutes
Total Time1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup *lard
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
Add the flour, lard, salt, and baking powder to a large bowl, and use a fork or your hands to crumble it into a crumbly mixture.
Pour in the water, and stir to combine, until a dough forms. Lightly flour a flat surface, and knead the dough by hand for 10 minutes, or in a stand mixer with the dough attachment for 5 minutes. Add only a small dusting of flour at a time, to prevent the dough from getting hard.
Cover the dough with a damp towel, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, and tuck in the edges of each piece to form a ball.
Cover the balls of dough with a damp towel. Remove one dough ball at a time, and roll in into an 8-inch diameter, ¼-inch thick disk (or if you have a tortilla press, you can press them into shape). If you are stacking the raw tortillas, make sure to place a square of parchment paper or wax paper between them to prevent sticking.
Heat a comal, or a large skillet, over medium heat. Carefully add one tortilla at a time, and cook just until you start to see bubbles form.
Flip the tortilla over, and cook for another 20 seconds, and then flip again and cook for another 20 seconds, until you start to see large bubbles.
Cover the cooked tortilla immediately in a towel (or wrap in foil) to keep warm, and repeat the cooking process with the remaining balls of dough.
Serve as tacos, or with butter, salt and lime juice if you like!
Notes
Lard: Using lard willmake a flavorful, authentic tortilla like what you would get in Mexico. However, if you don’t have lard, or don’t want to use it, check below for some other options.
- Butter: Softened to room temperature.
- Shortening: Vegetable or butter flavored shortening.
- Oil: Any other neutral flavored oil, like vegetable oil, canola oil, or olive oil will work. I have even seen some recipes use coconut oil.
Baking Powder: I know many recipes do not use baking powder, however I was given this tip by a friend from Mexico and it gives the tortillas a little lighter texture. You can feel free to leave it out if you would prefer.
Tortilla Press: Hand-rolling tortillas is great, but they may not turn out as thin or even as you would like. They can also be difficult to get into a perfectly round shape. A basic tortilla press makes it much easier and faster to get the tortillas thin and round. Just roll the dough, place it in the center of the tortilla press and press down firmly.
Comal: A comal is a flat cast iron griddle used for cooking tortillas and other Mexican dishes, and they are super helpful for this recipe. However it is not necessary, you can also make tortillas in a cast-iron skillet or griddle, or just your favorite stainless or non-stick pan.
Storage: These tortillas can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you place them in a storage bag and seal it while they are still warm, the steam in the bag will help prevent them from becoming hard. You can also reheat tortillas in a warm oven, if desired.
Freeze: Yes! Tortillas freeze well. Just stack them with squares of wax paper or parchment between each tortilla, so they don’t stick together. Stacks of 5 – 10 tortillas are usually the most practical. Place the stack into a large freezer bag, press out as much air as possible, and seal. Freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw to room temperature before serving or reheating.
Gluten Free: You can try using your favorite all purpose gluten free flour, some readers have commented they have had great success. Or try my favorite Corn Tortillaswhich are made with masa (corn flour) and are naturally gluten free!
Nutrition
Serving: 1, Calories: 262kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 622mg, Fiber: 1g
© Jessica – The Novice Chef
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Category: Bread
Categories:
- Bread
- Cuisines
- Recipes
- Side Dishes
- Side Dishes
More Classic Mexican Dishes
- Beef Picadillo
- Homemade Chorizo
- Mexican Chicken Adobo
- Homemade Tamales
- Chorizo and Eggs
- Homemade Pico De Gallo
- Arroz Con Leche
- Huevos Rancheros
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