Flour Tortilla Recipe

This simple flour tortilla recipe uses pantry staples to make delicious, wholesome flour tortillas for your next taco night or favorite wrap, no special tools required!

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 Summer 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 Greek 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 this flour tortilla recipe!

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLA RECIPE

These homemade tortillas are great because they’re:

• Free from hydrogenated oil, one of my top foods to avoid (we skip the vegetable shortening in this recipe!)
• Made from simple ingredients
• Authentically delicious
• Easy recipe to make in large batches
• Freezer-friendly
• Not only are these tortillas quick and easy, but, at a cost of about $1.25 a batch, they are budget-friendly as well!

Prefer corn tortillas? Try these Homemade Corn Tortillas instead!

TORTILLA RECIPE INGREDIENTS

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

• Flour. You can use all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, spelt, or Einkorn flour to make tortillas.
• Salt. For flavor – no one wants bland tortillas!
• Coconut Oil. I use coconut oil for making flour tortillas, in place of traditional vegetable oil, which contains hydrogenated fats. It’s also better than olive oil for high heat. Coconut oil helps the flour tortillas turn out soft and pliable.

Some flour tortilla recipes call for baking powder or another leavening agent to make them turn out fluffy, but I haven’t found that to be necessary.

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)

TOOLS TO MAKE FLOUR TORTILLAS

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 them 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.
• 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 FLOUR 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 whisk 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.

Note: If the dough for the homemade tortillas is too crumbly, add a little extra water (1 teaspoon at a time) until the dough is pliable and doesn’t tear.

Step 4. Divide the dough into 20 equal portions, rolling each into a dough ball (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. Let the dough 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 to 400F or a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 7. Working with one ball at a time on a floured work surface, knead and roll the 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 or bubbles appear. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough. Stack the cooked tortillas and wrap them in a clean kitchen towel. Serve warm.

Store leftover flour tortillas in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature for up to 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to a week. Rewarm before using.

TIPS FOR MAKING FLOUR TORTILLAS

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

• Make a big batch. 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!
• Roll them thin. 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!
• Give them enough resting time. 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 flour 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 flexible, perfect for tacos! You can also put them in a pot with a lid.

SERVE HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS WITH

This flour tortilla recipe is perfect for your next taco night! Fill them with one of these yummy fillings…

• Ground Beef Taco Meat
• Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
• Corn Salsa Black Bean Tacos
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
• Slow Cooker Carnitas
• Spicy Salmon Tacos with Slaw
• Spicy Shrimp Tacos
• 40+ Taco Toppings

Homemade tortillas are also amazing rolled up with a little bit of melted butter and cinnamon sugar inside – YUM!

TRACKING MACROS ON TACO NIGHT

Tacos are one of my favorite meals to eat, not only because of the flavor, but also because they’re so versatile when I’m tracking my macros. I can make taco night fit with whatever I need!

Need more protein? Add more meat or beans directly to your tacos or on the side.

What about fat? Sour cream, cheese, and avocado will all add healthy fats to your plate. On the flip side, if you need a lower-fat meal, salsas and seasoned vegetables provide plenty of flavor, so you won’t be missing out if you need to skip the higher-fat condiments!

Watching your carbs? Enjoy flour tortillas (or corn tortillas, or rice) in moderation and fill your plate with protein and plenty of fresh veggies. Pile your favorite taco toppings on a big pile of shredded lettuce for a yummy taco salad.

HOMEMADE TORTILLAS FAQS

MORE RECIPES FOR FLOUR TORTILLAS

Here are even more ways to use these handmade flour tortillas!

• Chicken Enchiladas
• Sweet Potato and Black Bean Vegetarian Enchiladas
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
• Chicken Caesar Wraps
• Slow Cooker Refried Beans for bean burritos
• Tortilla Chips