Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (2024)

It takes just three ingredients to make this super easy recipe for tortillas or unleavened bread. Whether you are wanting to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, Passover, or it’s simply Taco Tuesday in your household, this homemade flour tortilla recipe is for you.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (1)

Jump to Recipe

This 3-ingredient recipe for tortillas is so quick, easy, and versatile. I bet you even have the three ingredients you need to make these soft flour tortillas at home right now! They are flour, salt, and olive oil (plus water, but we’re not counting that). I can make a whole batch of these, start to finish, in about 10 minutes. I have the dough ready to go into the skillet in under five (I timed myself today). Have I convinced you to give it a go?

If I need to do a little more convincing, let’s talk about their versatility for a moment. You can use this recipe for tortillas to make a quesadilla, wraps for lunch, or as a side to accompany any main meal. Make a batch for Cinco De Mayo and celebrate in style with other Mexican-inspired dishes, like Mexican chicken casserole,sweet potato and black bean tacos, and Chipotle copycat guacamole.

How about using this recipe for tortillas next Taco Tuesday? Top your flour tortilla with whatever shredded or ground meat you like, such as beef, chicken, turkey, or pork. Then add sour cream, cheese, salsa, a squeeze of lime juice, and your other favorite toppings and the whole neighborhood will want to come to celebrate Taco Tuesday at your house!

Unleavened Bread for Passover

If you don’t celebrate Passover you may or may not know that Passover is a one-day Biblical Feast and it is immediately followed by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. And did you know that these soft tortillas are considered unleavened bread? Well, they sure are.

During that week, not only do those celebrating Passover not eat anything with leavening agents in it, but they also make it a point to eat unleavened bread each day of the Feast, per instructions.

Two years ago I shared my soft unleavened bread recipe with you, which makes some tasty little soft pita chips. That’s a favorite on its own but I also use it to make cinnamon sugar breadsticks, cheesy bread, and even as a crust for our Passover Pizza!

Okay, you must be convinced to try this recipe for flour tortillas now, right? Let’s get cooking!

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (2)

Recipe Ingredients

  • All purpose flour
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Just a little oil. You can use vegetable oil or olive oil.

I don’t count the water as one of the three ingredients because most of us are blessed enough to have that flowing from the faucets right now.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (3)

Stir all ingredients together in a large bowl.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (4)

Until a dough is formed.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (5)

Lightly flour a surface and turn the dough out onto that.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (6)

Knead dough just a few times until it is smooth-ish.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (7)

Divide dough into eight parts and roll each part into a small ball.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (8)

One at a time, roll each ball of dough out into a thin circle using a rolling pin, until they’re 6 or 7 inches in size.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (9)

Spray a nonstick cast iron skillet with cooking spray and place it over medium heat.

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (10)

Cook each tortilla for about a minute on each side or until lightly browned, then remove and continue until all are done. Enjoy!

Storage

  • When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, these homemade flour tortillas will last up to two days. You can serve them cold or reheat them quickly in a skillet.
  • You can also store them in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. After thawing overnight in the fridge, follow the above reheating instructions.

Recipe Notes

  • Okay, let me tell you why I have the ingredients in this order. I put them in countdown order because it is easier to remember that way. 3 tablespoons oil, 2 cups flour, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt. See? Easy to remember.
  • You can easily add extra flavor to your homemade flour tortillas with some herbs and spices. I recommend dried or fresh oregano, thyme, or coriander.
  • To make thicker wraps, add a teaspoon of baking powder to the dough when you add the other ingredients.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these tortillas gluten-free?

Yes, if you use almond flour, gluten-free oat flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour instead, these will become gluten-free tortillas.

Can I make this recipe in advance?

Yes, you can make your tortilla dough ahead of time. Tightly wrap it in either plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight before following the rest of the instructions.

Here are more of my favorite Mexican-inspired dishes to enjoy:

Taco Soup (The World’s Easiest Supper)

Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Tex-Mex Style

Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa Tacos

Taco Tot Casserole

Chicken Fajitas in Crock Pot

Mexican Cornbread Recipe by Mama

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (11)

3-Ingredient Recipe for Tortillas

This super easy 3-ingredient recipe for tortillas also works as an unleavened bread recipe. Enjoy this recipe from Passover to Cinco de Mayo.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: tortilla

Servings: 8

Calories: 159kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons oil vegetable or olive
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together with a spoon until a dough is formed.

    3 tablespoons oil, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough just a few times until smooth. Separate the dough into 8 sections and roll each section into a ball.

  • Using a rolling pin, roll each ball of dough out into a thin circle about 6-7 inches in diameter.

  • Lightly spray a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place it over medium heat. Add tortillas, one at a time, and cook for about one minute on each side, or until lightly browned. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Okay, let me tell you why I have the ingredients in this order. I put them in countdown order because it is easier to remember that way. 3 tablespoons oil, 2 cups flour, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt. See? Easy to remember.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal

Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (12)

Easy Recipe For Tortillas (3 Ingredients Only) (2024)

FAQs

How to make tortillas on the stove? ›

Directions
  1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Stir in water and oil. ...
  2. Divide dough into 8 portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 7-in. ...
  3. In a greased cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook tortillas over medium heat until lightly browned, about 1 minute on each side. Serve warm.
Jan 22, 2024

What makes a good tortillas? ›

The best supermarket flour tortillas are soft but not limp, and chewy but not gummy. We want a tortilla that's confidently wheaty, with no distracting chemical flavors. It should be thin enough to see light through, just slightly stretchy when tugged, and flaky when pulled apart.

Do you need baking soda or baking powder for tortillas? ›

I tested a few different variations and found that just a little bit of baking powder yielded the best texture albeit a very minor difference compared to the version without baking powder. So, if you don't have baking powder then you can omit it altogether. The tortillas will be just as good!

Can you cook tortillas in a frying pan? ›

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add about ½ inch vegetable oil and heat to 350 degrees. Add one tortilla to the skillet and cook until it is blistering but still soft, 10 to 15 seconds. Using tongs, turn tortilla over and then immediately fold to form a taco shell.

Do you have to use baking powder to make tortillas? ›

Baking powder—this is an optional ingredient. Tortillas can be made without it. They are tender and just as delicious without. Neutral oil—Any neutral tasting oil such as vegetable, corn, canola, avocado or grapeseed oil.

Is corn or flour better for tortillas? ›

When it comes to nutrition, corn tortillas have the advantage of being made from whole grains, with fewer calories, sodium, and carbs but more fiber than flour tortillas. They're also gluten-free. As for cooking and eating, some people complain that corn tortillas break easily.

What are the three types of tortillas? ›

Plus, try our recipe for Chicken and Guacamole Tacos.
  • Corn Tortillas. Offering a firm, chewy texture, corn tortillas come out ahead in a side-by-side nutrition competition with other types. ...
  • Flour Tortillas. ...
  • Whole-Wheat Tortillas. ...
  • Chicken and Guacamole Tacos.
Apr 24, 2021

Are homemade tortillas better? ›

These Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas are so much better than anything from the store. Homemade tortillas are extra soft, doughy, and chewy. I like to add salted butter, for extra deliciousness. Fresh flour tortillas are so easy to make at home and pretty difficult to mess up.

Why don t my homemade tortillas puff up? ›

You need ample moisture that can react with the heat in order for it to ultimately convert to steam and puff. If your masa has too little moisture, the tortilla in development will dry out before it can ever puff. A proper mixing/kneading process is critical to ensuring well-distributed and even moisture.

Why do my homemade flour tortillas get hard? ›

If you overcook them, the tortillas will become hard, but you also don't want to undercook the dough. As a safety net, you can place your tortillas in tin foil to let them gently continue to cook after you've removed them (via Baking Needs).

Why are my homemade tortillas dry? ›

What makes flour tortillas hard is not adding enough lard or oil and water and not kneading the dough for the required amount of time, and NOT allowing the dough to rest in a warm place at least 30 minutes before making flour tortillas.

How long should flour tortilla dough rest? ›

Pro Tip: Resting for at least 15 minutes relaxes the gluten so you can roll them out into smooth discs of deliciousness. Once the dough has rested (don't skip this step!!), you are ready to roll the tortillas out and to cook them.

How long do you let tortilla dough rest? ›

Rest the dough.

Set them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and let rest at least 30 minutes (to make the dough less springy, easier to roll).

Why is baking powder used in flour tortillas? ›

Sodium Bicarbonate:

During tortilla production, it is necessary to have some of the leavening occur early in the process, enabling uniform distribution of gas cells. The sodium bicarbonate should then release carbon dioxide just prior to the press and oven.

How to make tortillas without a tortilla maker? ›

Take something heavy with a flat bottom like a cast-iron skillet, pie plate or baking dish and press the dough down to make a flattened tortilla. If your tortilla doesn't look quite flat enough, use a rolling pin to flatten in further. Try to make each tortilla even in size, about 5-6 inches wide in diameter.

Can you cook tortillas directly on a glass top stove? ›

So I just tried it and can report back that yes, indeed you can. i just heated a corn tortilla right on the glass with some beans and cheese and boom! didn't have to wait for the pan to heat. yum!

How to brown flour tortillas? ›

Heat a griddle to medium heat. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the dough balls one at a time with a rolling pin. Cook the tortilla on the hot pan until bubbles grow large, flip over and cook again until light browning shows.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6255

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.