I don’t think it matters where you are from, I think everyone will agree that one of the best treats in the world is a homemade flour tortilla. We are so lucky to have some of the world’s best Mexican (Tex-Mex) restaurants in the world here in San Antonio and warm, fresh tortillas are served at the table with every meal.
Whenever we dine out for Mexican food, those amazing little flat breads never last long once they arrive at our table. (… and we usually ask for more to take home!)
We also keep a package of store-bought tortillas around the house as some of my kids’ favorite easy meals and snacks are made with tortillas. They won’t say no to no-fuss dishes like breakfast tacos with egg and potatoes, bean and cheese tacos ( a fave for after school snack time) and quick sandwich rolls.
This is especially true of the four-year-old. She won’t touch a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but if I offer a soft taco as a snack I can’t serve it fast enough!
In one way or another, we honestly make (nearly) daily use of tortillas in place of regular sandwich bread around here.
It was my son who asked me to make them from scratch for the first time. He said the store-bought tortillas just weren’t as good as the “restaurant ones”. He is right. Those pre-made tortillas are definitely convenient, but they just don’t capture the joy of a warm, hot-off-the-griddle tortilla!
At first, making them from scratch seemed like a daunting task, but in fact it was super duper simple.
I mean really, really simple.
Like, so simple I couldn’t believe I’d never attempted to make them before!
So, here’s a traditional recipe for homemade tortillas that we have all become absolutely addicted to.
Using just 5 modest ingredients and a rolling pin, you can make some too and trust me, they are scrumptious!
Happy eating, y’all!!
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Recipe and blog post originally published December 9, 2016. Updated October 11, 2024
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Course: breads and rollsCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy8
tortillas30
minutes10
minutesMaking fresh, restaurant-quality tortillas at home is easier than you may think! Only a few pantry-staple ingredients are required to make a batch. Lard is the traditional fat used in tortillas, but vegetable shortening or butter may be substituted for it, if that is preferred.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1/4 cup lard (or sub vegetable shortening or butter)
3/4 cup warm water (you won’t use all of this)
extra 1/4 cup flour, set aside (for kneading)
Directions
- Combing flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium-size bowl
- Using your hands or a pastry cutter, add the lard into the dry ingredients. Cut the lard into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse sand.
- Add in the warm water, a little bit at a time, and mix ingredients until a shaggy dough comes together (with this recipe 1/2 cup water is too little, and the full 3/4 cup is too much. All little patience is need with this step)
- Place the shaggy dough ball onto a very lightly floured surface and knead the dough until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Place the smooth dough ball back into the mixing bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rest for about 10 minutes before the next step.
- Tear the dough into 8-10 even pieces and shape them into disks that are about 2 – 2-1/2 inches in diameter. As well as you can, round and smooth the edges on these little disks.
- Warm up your griddle or cast-iron skillet to medium heat. Using a rolling pin, roll each disk out into thin, 6-7 inch circles (I find it easiest to roll and cook just one tortilla at a time).
- Carefully transfer the raw tortilla to the warm skillet or griddle and cook on each side for just a minute or two until done. (Flip tortilla gently with tongs)
- Cover homemade tortillas with a clean kitchen towel until ready to serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe from A Little Fish in the Kitchen at www.alittlefishinthekitchen.com. All content is owned by Marcelle G. Bolton. Please contact the author for permission to republish.
I never wrote back to tell you how much I love making these tortillas! I have now met them several times, and they are so much better than store-bought. XO
David, please let me know how it goes! Thank you so much! 🙂
Hi there Grace, thank you!! :):)
Linda, thank you! I was late, but I made it to the party. Merry Christmas to you too!
this is something i've never ever endeavored to do, but your results are fabulous! nice work. 🙂
I have always wanted to make homemade flour tortillas! Thanks, Marcelle – this will be one of the first recipes I make in the New Year!
Great recipe. I have yet to make these, but I shall, thanks to you. I hope you share this at our link party today, Dishing It & Digging It. Merry Christmas to you.
Hi there Susan! I really hope you all enjoy them! Thank you!! 🙂
Hi there Cheri, let me know how it goes if you make some! Thank you!! Happy Holidays to you too!
Our grandsons love tortillas also! Next time they come over I will make some for them 🙂
Oh do these look delicious, there is a restaurant by us that makes them fresh as you are sitting there, we don't go often but I love that place, now maybe I could try and make my own;) delicious Marcelle!! Happy Holidays!!
Hi Angie, I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! Thank you 🙂
I make my own tortillas all the time. My recipe is slightly different from yours. But yes, homemade tortillas are so much better and EASY. Have an awesome day.
Hi Jeanne! Homemade tortillas are the best!! Thank you, hope you are having a wonderful week!
Perfect! I haven't made my own tortillas in a while…time to start a new batch! Thanks for sharing, Marcelle.