Tortillas

5 from 4 votes

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Homemade Tortillas are the perfect way to take taco night to the next level. This easy-to-make tortilla dough comes together in minutes and results in soft, buttery, restaurant-quality tortillas every time!

homemade tortillas in a tall stack on a round white plate.

If you haven’t made homemade tortillas before then you have got to try our simple tortilla recipe! These tortillas couldn’t be easier to make and taste just as good as what you would get at your favorite Mexican restaurant!

While some people like to use shortening, we use salted butter to make sure every tortilla is soft and full of flavor. Making your own dough means you can customize their size without any issues. Whether you are making street tacos with chicken, burritos or buffalo chicken wraps, you can make these tortillas as big or as little as you’d like!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Can be stored on the counter, in the fridge, or in the freezer.
  • Only uses a handful of ingredients.
  • Gives you delicious, restaurant-quality tortillas without any hassle.

Recipe Ingredients

portion bowls each with digitally labeled raw ingredients to make tortillas.
  • Flour—We recommend using all-purpose flour.
  • Baking Powder—To help give your tortillas a little bit of rise.
  • Salt—You can use coarse sea salt or regular table salt. 
  • Butter—Can be replaced with shortening.
  • Water—Very hot.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Tortillas

tortilla dough in a clear mixing bowl in progress.
tortilla dough in a clear mixing bowl in progress.

Step #1. Slice your butter and add it to a large mixing bowl with the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a fork or pastry cutter to combine the ingredients until the butter is broken down to small pieces.

Step #2. Add the water and stir to combine. Continue folding the ingredients together until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. 

tortilla dough in a press before cooking.
one homemade tortilla on a pan in the process of browning.

Step #3. Place your dough in a new mixing bowl that has been lightly coated in nonstick cooking spray or oil. Allow your dough to rest.

Step #4. Divide the dough into evenly sized balls and use a tortilla press to flatten them into discs. Cook your tortillas until they begin to brown on both sides. Serve and enjoy! 

Recipe FAQs

What is the best way to store my tortillas?

It is really up to you! We have stored our tortillas on the counter, in the fridge, and in the freezer. They are all great ways to store your tortillas, so it just depends on how soon you plan on using them.

Do I need to knead my tortilla dough?

Because there is no gluten being developed in this recipe, it is not necessary to knead your dough. Simply stir the dry and wet ingredients together until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and you will be good to go.

Why does my dough need to rest?

Allowing your tortilla dough time to rest gives the moisture in the dough time to distribute evenly. As a result, your dough will be less springy and will be much easier to roll out or press without sticking to any surfaces.

homemade tortillas piled onto a cooling rack.

How to Store Your Tortillas

There are a few different ways to store your tortillas, depending on how soon you plan on using them.

  • Countertop—Transfer your tortillas to an airtight container or large ziploc bag and keep them on the counter for up to a week. Warm up your tortillas in a pan on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
  • Fridge—To keep your tortillas fresh a little longer, store your tortillas in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Reheat your tortillas by throwing a few of them in the microwave for 20-25 seconds. Flip the tortillas over halfway through.
  • Freezer—You can store your tortillas in the fridge for up to 3 months. Before reheating your tortillas you will want to let them thaw in the fridge or on the counter. This will ensure they reheat evenly all the way through.

No matter how you choose to store your homemade tortillas, we recommend allowing them to cool down completely before packaging them up. Giving your tortillas time to cool will limit the amount of steam in your container or Ziploc bag. As a result, your tortillas will be less likely to stick together.

Make a double batch and save some for later because once you start making tortillas from scratch you’ll want them every time you make tacos.

Expert Tips

  • You can cook the homemade tortillas on the stovetop over medium heat or use an electric griddle. Using a large griddle is an easy way to expedite the cooking process; however, you’ll want to watch your tortillas carefully to ensure they are cooking evenly.
  • Be careful not to turn the heat up too much when cooking your tortillas. This can cause the outside of the tortilla to cook before the inside is finished.
  • If you don’t have a tortilla press them you can use a rolling pin. Sandwich your dough between two sheets of wax paper to prevent the tortilla dough from sticking to your rolling pin or the counter.
  • Using a tortilla press provides you with uniform looking tortillas while a rolling pin will provide unevenly shaped tortillas.
  • You can use any kind of oil to coat your mixing bowl. We typically use olive or coconut oil.

More Easy Dinner Recipes to Consider

homemade tortillas in a tall stack on a round white plate.
5 from 4 votes

Homemade Tortillas

Making homemade tortillas is a great way to upgrade your taco nights. With this quick and easy recipe, you'll enjoy soft, buttery, restaurant-style tortillas in no time!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Resting Time:: 20 minutes
Total: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 24 8-inch tortillas

Ingredients 

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 cup hot water
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Instructions 

  • Cut your butter into thin slices and add it to a large mixing bowl along with the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or large fork to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is broken down into pea sized pieces.
  • Add the water and use a large wooden spoon to stir the mixture until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Make sure no dry clumps of flour remain.
  • Transfer the dough to a bowl lightly coated in oil. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow it to sit for 20 minutes.
  • Divide the dough into 24 equal-sized balls and use a tortilla press to flatten the balls of dough.
  • Cook your tortillas on a skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute per side, or until they start to brown lightly.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can use a large electric griddle to expedite the cooking process. Be careful not to turn the heat up too much while cooking your tortillas. This can cause the outside to brown before the inside is finished cooking. If you do not have a tortilla press then you can use a rolling pin to gently roll each ball of dough into a disc.
  • You can store your tortillas in a Ziploc bag or airtight container on the counter for up to a week, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Before storing your tortillas, allow them to cool completely on the counter. This will prevent them from sticking together when stored.
  • When freezing your tortillas, try to freeze no more than 10 in a single container or Ziploc bag. This will help them thaw quicker and will help prevent them from sticking together.
  • You can use any kind of oil to coat your second bowl. The oil just helps prevent the dough from sticking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 24 tortillas, Calories: 81kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 88mg, Potassium: 15mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 0.04g, Vitamin A: 118IU, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 1mg
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5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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