Easy Soft Flour Tortillas You Can Make at Home
Soft, flexible delicious homemade flour tortillas in no time at all. Just flour, water, lard and salt and a bit of patience.
August 2025 update: I’ve been making flour tortillas this way for years but I shared this recipe with you all back in December 2023. It really is the best way to make them and its so fast and takes very little effort. I just freshened up the post is all, the recipe remains the same. Let me know what you think in the comments please!
👩🍳How to Make Soft Thin Homemade Flour Tortillas with a Simple Press Hack
I can’t even count how many times I tried making homemade flour tortillas and ended up with thick little gorditas instead. They were tasty, but I was chasing soft, thin, flexible tortillas like the ones from the store. After plenty of trial runs, I finally cracked it, and now they turn out exactly the way I wanted.
The trick that changed everything is a simple tortilla press hack. I line the press with a plastic bag, place the dough ball inside, and give it a press. Then I flip it over, still wrapped in the plastic, and press again. That second press makes them perfectly round, thin, and soft enough to wrap around anything from burritos to quesadillas.
And of course, tacos. I grew up eating my mom’s classic ground beef tacos and still love them, but now I like to experiment. Burrata steak tacos with blistered corn and arugula pesto are a favorite. Chili lime steak tacos, tandoori chicken tacos, and Jamaican jerk shrimp tacos are always in the rotation too. With a stack of homemade tortillas, it feels like taco night can go in a hundred different directions.
🛒 What You’ll Need to Make Flour Tortillas
🥣 How to Make Flour Tortillas
Start by adding the flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. In a separate microwave-safe dish, combine the water and lard. Heat it just until the lard is almost melted, but don’t let the mixture come to a boil. Once it’s ready, pour it into the flour and salt.
Attach the dough hook and let the mixer knead the dough for about ten minutes. Pause a couple of times to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, making sure to fold any stray flour back into the center. Be careful not to let the spatula get too close to the moving hook. By the end, the dough should feel soft and smooth without being sticky.
Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces and cover them with a clean kitchen towel. Let them rest on the counter for about half an hour. This gives the dough time to relax so the tortillas will roll or press out more easily.
While the dough is resting, set a cast iron skillet or another heavy skillet over medium heat so it’s hot and ready when you need it. Once the dough has rested, take one piece and place it between two pieces of plastic in a tortilla press. Press down firmly, then flip the plastic packet over and press again. That second press helps the tortilla keep its shape as it cooks.
Add to skillet
Wait for bubbles-
Flip
Transfer the tortilla to the hot skillet. As soon as you see bubbles forming on the surface, flip it over and cook the other side for another half minute or so. Remove it from the skillet and either keep it warm in a tortilla warmer or let it cool completely before storing.
For storage, stack the tortillas and place them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag, pressing out as much air as possible. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for about a week, though they may stiffen a little. For longer storage, freeze them with parchment paper between each tortilla to keep them from sticking together. When you’re ready to use them, you can reheat straight from the freezer in a skillet or wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave until warm and flexible.
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Easy Soft Flour Tortillas You Can Make at Home
Equipment
- Tortilla Press optional
Ingredients
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup lard
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
- In the bowl of a standmixer, add 3½ cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Add 1 cup hot water and ½ cup lard to a microwave safe dish. Heat for a couple minutes. Don't boil. And wait for the lard to be almost melted.
- Add water and lard to the flour. Use dough hook and knead the dough for 10 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides and toss the flour into the middle. Just be careful you don't get the spatula caught in the dough hook. It should be super soft and not sticky when you are done.
- Divide dough into 12 sections and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rest for 30 minutes.
- Heat a cast iron skillet or similar skillet over medium heat.
- Take the dough ball and place it between 2 pieces of plastic or similar barrier in a tortilla press. Press down once firmly. Flip the tortilla and the plastic over and press again firmly. This double press ensures your tortillas stay flat when you heat them.
- Place the tortilla in the hot skillet. When bubbles form on the top of the tortilla it is time to flip. Cook for an additional 30 seconds on this side.
- Remove hot tortilla from the skillet and store in a tortilla press or cool completely for storage.
Storage
Nutrition
FAQs
How do I know when to flip the tortilla while cooking?
Flip the tortilla when you see bubbles starting to form on the top and the bottom has some nice brown spots. It usually takes about 1 minute on the first side and about 30 seconds on the second side.
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour?
You sure can! Whole wheat tortillas have a slightly denser texture and a nuttier flavor, but they’re still delicious. Just note that the dough might need a little extra water since whole wheat flour absorbs more moisture.
What if I don’t have a tortilla press?
No worries! You can always roll out your dough with a rolling pin. Just make sure you roll them thin and evenly, and be patient!
Best Recipes With Tortillas
If you’ve got a fresh stack of tortillas ready, the possibilities are endless. For something cozy, try butternut squash enchiladas or creamy chicken enchiladas that skip the preservatives. If tacos are calling your name, tandoori chicken tacos, burrata steak tacos, and chili lime steak tacos all deliver bold flavor wrapped in a soft tortilla.
When you need a hearty meal, sheet pan pulled pork quesadillas and beef burrito casserole are perfect for feeding a crowd. And if you’re in the mood for something a little different, spicy orange beef wraps are a fresh way to mix things up.
You can also use homemade corn tortillas recipe that uses only three ingredients.