This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
If you’ve never made homemade flour tortillas before, you’re missing out on the softest and most tender flour tortilla you’ve ever had in your life! I can’t go back to store-bought tortillas now that I’ve made my own flour tortillas!
Table of Contents
Homemade Flour Tortillas Is My Sourdough Baking
Have you ever been to a truly authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant and watch them make tortillas by hand? When I was in California, all the breakfast burrito places we went to made fresh, in-house tortillas and the difference is there. It makes the burritos and tacos just so much more tender and has the right chew consistency.
Truthfully, for myself, I never truly thought to make homemade flour tortillas because it’s just so much easier to pick up a pack at the store when you’re in a pinch. Of course, that’s where you sacrifice quality, right? Convenience sometimes is greater than quality though but if you have the time, I encourage you to make these homemade flour tortillas!
Spend your next meal prep day and make a large batch of these homemade flour tortillas and then freeze them!
For ways to use these flour tortillas, you’re in for a treat! Homemade Chicken Enchiladas are a favorite in our household as are Homemade Crunchwrap Supremes. Making Chipotle Shrimp Tacos is a stellar choice too!
How to Make Flour Tortillas
- Add flour, salt, and baking powder to the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment and mix on low for 30 seconds to incorporate the dry ingredients.
- With the mixer running on medium low, add the vegetable oil and warm water and continue to mix until the mixture forms a smooth ball.
- Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and divide dough until you get approximately 16 equal portions then shape each portion into a ball then gently, using the palm of your hand, flatten out the dough. Cover flattened dough with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes before proceeding.
- After the dough has rested, roll each dough ball into a 6-inch diameter circle on a lightly floured work surface. Do not stack them on top of each other.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, place one dough circle in the middle of the pan and let cook for 1 minute OR until the surface of the dough starts to bubble and the bottom starts to brown. At that point, flip it and cook the same way on the other side, but for slightly less time, 20-30 seconds. You want the tortilla soft and to have little brown spots on it. You don’t want to cook the tortilla too much that it becomes crispy.
FAQs for Making Flour Tortillas
Yes! You can absolutely make these flour tortillas to be street taco size, regular taco size, or burrito size. Keep in mind you’ll have more or less dough depending on what size you make them.
Allow it to sit out at room temperature a bit longer. The gluten isn’t relaxed enough yet. You may have overworked it in the mixer.
If they’re from the refrigerator, put them on a plate and using a damp paper towel, cover the tortillas when you reheat them so they don’t dry out. Alternatively, you could use gentle heat in a toaster oven to reheat them.
If they’re from the freezer, put them directly into a skillet on the stovetop over low heat and gently warm them through until defrosted and softened.
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 cup (237 ml) warm water
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add flour, salt and baking powder. Mix on low for 30 seconds until dry ingredients are incorporated.
- With the mixer running at medium speed, add the vegetable oil and warm water.
- Continue to mix on low until mixture starts to come together and starts to form a smooth ball.
- Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and divide dough until you get approximately 16 equal portions then shape each portion into a ball then gently, using the palm of your hand, flatten out the dough.
- Cover flattened dough with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 15 minutes before proceeding.
- After dough has rested, roll each dough piece into a 6-inch diameter circle on lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin. Do not stack uncooked tortillas on top of each other.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, place one dough circle in the middle of the pan and let cook for 1 minute OR until the surface of the dough starts to bubble and the bottom starts to brown. At that point, flip it and cook the same way on the other side, but for slightly less time, 20-30 seconds. You want the tortilla soft and to have little brown spots on it. You don't want to cook the tortilla too much that it becomes crispy.
- Place cooked tortillas on a plate and continue cooking the rest of the tortillas.
Nutrition
Photographs by Meg McKeehan Photography
First time making tortillas. Turned out delicious. I made bigger (about 8 tortillas) and they were more regular store size. I also switched out vegetable oil with avocado oil. I cooked a little longer each side as well. Going to make my own tortillas from now on. Thank you
I’m so glad you tried making my homemade tortillas and are going to continue making them at home!
These are so so so good! I am still struggling with them shrinking though. Guess I’ll have to make a whole bunch more until I get them right! Hahaha! Oh no!!! Hahaha!!!
Can I use whole wheat flour in this recipe?
yes, you may
Im going to make them this weekend for the SB…it all sounds great but!!!!! Can I use corn can I use lard can I use my hands and can I scroll past your TV show….HAHHAHA sorry I read all the reviews( and the redundancy) and I really enjoyed ALL of them for 1 reason or another haha…Ill ask 1 question I didnt see ( I hope I didnt miss it) Is it ok to drink tequila before during and after!!! Cheers
Haha, always!
The flour tortillas were delicious…thanks so much ♥️
I’m learning how to cook, and I have a question. I know you’re not supposed to eat raw flour. But every tortilla recipe I’ve found calls for sprinkling flour on the surface, the pin, and possibly the tortilla dough itself.
Does cooking the tortilla dough in the hot pan kill any potential bacteria that may be in the flour and dough?
i don’t know the scientific answer to your question and due to liability reasons, i don’t want to say for sure what i personally think about raw flour. if you want, i suggest you do some research into this and make an educated decision about raw flour.
@John,
Hi Jonh, I grew up making tortillas, you only need a super light dusting so it doesn’t stick to the roller. And Good for you taking on this task, most people cant roll out a round tortilla, if you roll out a map, don’t give up…. Have Fun with it.😃😃😃
So easy and turns out great, better than store bought