Homemade Flour Tortillas (2024)

This simple flour tortilla recipe with only 3 ingredients is a healthy alternative to store bought versions. Packed with authentic Mexican flavor, you’ll want to add these tortillas to your next taco night!

There’s somewhat of a running joke in our family. My husband used to be the pickiest eater I knew. Not my kids.

Nope, it was Mr. Crumbs.

In fact, it would be easier to list what he WOULD eat (his mom’s fried chicken, steak, and authentic East Coast pizza being his three main food groups) than what he wouldn’t.

His eating habits are now COMPLETELY different.

• The man who didn’t like fish now requests Homemade Caesar Dressing for family dinners (and yes, he knows it contains anchovies).
• Mr. Crumbs once nearly lost his dinner when he realized his favorite risotto (which he had already eaten a second helping of) contained mushrooms. These days he asks me to sauté some to put on top of our pies on pizza night.
• The man who used to despise tomatoes not only requests Tomato Basil Soup almost every soup night but also puts a thick slice of tomato on his grilled vegetable sandwiches. In fact, the last time I made couscous, he asked me to cut the tomatoes bigger and add more!

Why did he change his tune? Recipes that taste delicious every time will do that for you.

It’s no wonder that the family looks to him for approval of new dishes and kitchen experiments. If it passes his taste test, you know it’s a winner. And he can’t stop eating these tortillas!

HOMEMADE TORTILLAS

These homemade tortillas are great because they’re:

• Free from hydrogenated oil, one of the foods on my no-no list
• Made from simple ingredients
• Authentically delicious
• Easy to make in large batches

INGREDIENTS FOR SOFT FLOUR TORTILLAS

You only need 3 ingredients for this flour tortilla recipe, plus a little warm water:

• Flour (all purpose flour, wheat flour, or Einkorn all work)
• Salt
• Coconut oil (in place of traditional vegetable oil, which contains hydrogenated fats)

Not only are these tortillas quick and easy but, at a cost of about $1.25 a batch, they are budget-friendly as well!

Psst…did you know that many salts contain MICROPLASTICS? It’s a sneaky toxin that may be in your everyday salt, and thus your everyday food (um, gross). I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because their salt is FREE of microplastics, and it tastes delicious! (PLUS, you can get your own FREE 8 oz penny bag of salt on this page! – Just pay shipping)

FLOUR TORTILLA RECIPE TOOLS

While you don’t NEED any special tools to make this flour tortilla recipe, there are a few things that can make it easier, especially if you end up loving this flour tortilla recipe and making batch after batch…

• I use this kitchen scale to measure out 1 oz portions. Then I press between two plates. (This tortilla press is on my wish list.) Pressing them flat makes it easier to fully roll out the tortillas without using too much flour.
• Although they’re not necessary to make delicious tortillas, a pastry cutter and a bench scraper can make the process easier. They’re great kitchen tools for making things like Easy Homemade Biscuits and Hamburger Buns too!

HOW TO MAKE TORTILLAS

Step 1. Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Step 2. Cut in the coconut oil until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. You can use a pastry cutter like this one, or simply use a fork. In a stand mixer, use the wire whisks to cut in the oil.

Step 3. Add the water (you don’t need hot water, but it should be warm to the touch) and knead the dough against the sides of the bowl a few times until it is smooth.

Step 4. Divide the dough into 20 equal portions, rolling each into dough balls (I weigh the dough into 1 oz portions to ensure they’re all even, but weighing is not necessary). I like to use this hand tool to easily cut through the dough.

Step 5. Allow the dough to rest for at least 10 minutes, or up to 2 hours. You can cover it with a towel or plastic wrap if desired.

Step 6. Preheat the griddle, cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, or oven to 400F.

Step 7. Working with one ball at a time on a floured work surface, knead and roll your ball into an approximately 6-inch circle. Rotate and flip the dough and add additional flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Working on top of a lightly floured surface of parchment paper is an option as well.

Step 8. When the griddle/skillet is hot, lay a tortilla across and cook for 30 seconds. Flip and cook the tortilla for another 15 to 30 seconds until small golden brown spots appear. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough. Stack the cooked tortillas and wrap them in a clean kitchen towel. Serve warm.

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLA RECIPE TIPS

The few minutes you spend rolling homemade flour tortillas are absolutely worth the effort. Here are a couple of tips to maximize your time in the kitchen and make this homemade tortilla recipe as easy as possible:

• I always make a triple batch when I make these, because it’s less work and clean up in the long run. Plus, I can stick the extras in the freezer and have them ready for a super fast dinner whenever I need them. They thaw quickly!
• You want the tortillas to be very thin after you roll them so that you can almost see through them. The thinner they are, the softer and more tender they’ll turn out after cooking. Use that rolling pin!
• If you start rolling out the tortillas and they keep shrinking back toward the center instead of staying rolled out, they need more resting time for the gluten to settle in the dough. Give them a few minutes and then try again.
• Making tortillas can be a great activity to get the family in the kitchen – one person can roll, and one person can cook.
• After cooking, wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel while you continue to cook the rest of the batch. This keeps them warm and pliable, perfect for tacos! You can also put them in a pot with a lid.

FLOUR TORTILLA RECIPE FAQS

MORE MEXICAN FAVORITES

Pair this flour tortilla recipe with these other healthy Mexican dishes. Prefer corn tortillas? Try these instead!

• Slow Cooker Carnitas
• Slow Cooker Refried Beans
• Southwestern Corn
• Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
• Ground Beef Taco Meat
• Chicken Enchiladas

Flour Tortilla Recipe

Print Recipe

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4.9 from 13 reviews

This simple flour tortilla recipe with only 3 ingredients is a healthy alternative to store bought versions. Packed with authentic Mexican flavor, you’ll want to add these tortillas to your next taco night!

• Author: Tiffany
• Prep Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 minute
• Total Time: 2 hours 16 minutes
• Yield: 20 1x
• Category: Sides
• Method: Skillet
• Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Scale

• 3 cups flour (any variety; I use Einkorn)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup slightly warm filtered water
• 5 tablespoons of coconut oil, butter, or lard (we prefer coconut oil)

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Instructions

1. Mix the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl.
2. Cut in the fat until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
3. Add the water and knead the dough against the sides of the bowl a few times until it is smooth.
4. Divide the dough into 20 equal pieces, rolling each into a ball. (I weigh the dough into 1 oz portions to ensure they’re all even, but weighing is not necessary.)
5. Allow the dough to rest for at least 10 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
6. Preheat a griddle, cast iron skillet, or oven to 400F.
7. Working with one ball at a time, dust your working surface and roll the ball into an approximate 6″ circle. Rotate and flip the dough and add additional flour as necessary to prevent sticking.
8. When the griddle/skillet is hot, lay a tortilla across and cook for 30 seconds. Flip the tortilla over and cook for another 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough. Stack the cooked tortillas and wrap them in a clean kitchen towel. Serve warm.

Notes

• If dough for homemade flour tortillas is too crumbly, add a little extra water (1 tsp at a time) until dough is playable and doesn’t tear!

Nutrition

• Calories: 98