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    Home » Homemade Staples

    Homemade Corn Tortillas

    Published: Aug 15, 2019 · Modified: Mar 10, 2025 by Tammy Circeo · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Yum
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The moment I realized that making homemade corn tortillas was a thing I could do was the moment that my Mexican dishes took a turn for the better! Store-bought tortillas are fine, but I struggle to warm them efficiently to keep them from breaking apart. And there's nothing worse than all the filling of your taco falling out because it cracked!

    A stack of homemade corn tortillas

    Making corn tortillas from scratch is amazingly easy and once you've tasted the difference between what you can make and what you can buy, you'll always want the homemade ones.

    How easy is it?

    • 4 ingredients
    • No mixer needed
    • Takes less than 30 minutes

    The main ingredient is … corn, of course. Masa harina is the name of the flour used to make tortillas and many other Mexican or Latin dishes . It is made by grinding maize and then treating it with a lime and water solution.

    A cup of masa harina measured in a bowl

    To make corn tortillas, you mix the masa harina with salt and water to create a dough. I've made them plenty like that, but my favorite addition is a little fat. Bacon fat, to be exact. The dough is more pliable with this addition and, of course, tastier!

    Bacon grease in hot water

    I have a wonderful cast iron tortilla press that works really well, but you can also roll tortillas with a rolling pin or even press them with a flat-bottomed casserole dish. Those methods take a bit more muscle and precision, but that shouldn't stop you from making homemade tortillas. Mexican abuelitas have done it for many years!

    Tortilla press

    Use a quart-size plastic bag to press the dough between. I cut the sides open to make it easier. I've tried using pieces of plastic wrap and even parchment paper, but they get wrinkled easily and you have to keep replacing it. I've recently discovered these silicone rounds, though, that I will be ordering and they will fit the press perfectly. I haven't been able to rid myself of plastic completely, but I do try to reduce my use of it!

    Cut a plastic bag on each side to press the tortillas between

    Make balls of dough that are a little smaller than golf balls. I measured a few and they are between 15-20 grams in weight. That size makes the perfect 4-inch tortilla for street tacos! After a few, you'll start to recognize the feel of the size and you'll not worry about it so much.

    Ball of dough between the plastic bag

    Troubleshooting Homemade Corn Tortillas

    Add the water gradually to the masa harina. Mix it with your hands and stop adding water when the dough just holds together and doesn't stick to your fingers. If the dough is too wet, it won't come off of the plastic. The following photo is proof!

    Broken tortilla before it is cooked because the dough is too wet

    It should peel off easily and not be sticky, but if it is, just put the dough back in the bowl and add more masa harina … a little at a time to be sure you don't add too much.

    The tortilla peels right off when the dough is the right consistency

    I like to use my cast iron griddle to cook them because I can fit four to six at a time and keep rotating them around to cook them evenly. Also note that if they are not ready to be turned, they can stick to your spatula so don't get too anxious. It takes about a minute on the first side and just a bit more on the opposite. Don't try to work ahead … just roll and press as there's room on the griddle.

    Tortillas cooking on a cast iron griddle

    Et voila! The full recipe will yield 28-30 4-inch tortillas and they will stay warm for quite a while in this handy tortilla warmer.

    Tortillas in a ceramic tortilla keeper

    How to serve Homemade Corn Tortillas

    Use these tortillas for tostadas, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas ... anything you can think of! You can even cut them into wedges to fry into chips!

    Two Salsa Verde Braised Pork street tacos on plate with limes and grilled jalapeno

    Are you ready to throw a Mexican party? Here are some other recipes to round out your menu:

    • Salsa Verde Braised Pork
    • Restaurant Style Salsa
    • Guacamole
    • Emily's Carnitas
    • Pickled Jalapenos

    Recipe

    A stack of homemade corn tortillas with a sliced lime and a jalapeno beside

    Homemade Corn Tortillas

    Tammy Circeo
    Making corn tortillas at home is easy and they are so tasty!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 2830 4-inch tortillas

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups masa harina
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 tablespoons bacon fat, lard, or tallow
    • 1½-2 cups hot water

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the masa harina and the salt together in a bowl.
    • Melt the bacon grease in the hot water and gradually add it to the masa harina. Use your hand so that you can feel the texture of the dough. If it is too wet, it will stick to the press. If you've added too much water, even it out by adding a bit more masa harina. The dough should be a bit springy, not dry or sticky.
    • Cut a plastic bag up the sides or use silicone rounds to press the dough between using a tortilla press, a rolling pin, or a large, flat-bottomed baking dish. Make balls just smaller than a golf ball (about 15-20 grams in weight). Press them just before you cook them.
    • Heat a griddle over medium heat. Cook the tortillas about 1 minute on the first side, flip, and cook a few seconds on the other side.

    Notes

    Use for street tacos, enchiladas, or quesadillas. 
    You can also deep fry them for chips!
    Keyword corn tortilla, homemade corn tortillas, tortillas
    Yum

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    About Tammy Circeo

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Violet

      October 17, 2023 at 5:50 pm

      Thank you for this recipe.
      1) Is it possible to refrigerate the dough and use it daily?
      2) Is it possible to freeze the dough?
      3) Is it possible to refrigerate the rolled out tortillas and cook them over the next few days?
      3) Is it possible to freeae the rolled out tortillas and cook them later?

      Reply
      • Tammy Circeo

        December 14, 2023 at 11:20 am

        With all your questions, I think I need to add some more information in the body of the post!
        1) Refrigerating it will dry it out and it will harden making it more difficult to press.
        2) All things are possible! However, I don't think it would work very well. Refer to #1.
        3) Once the tortillas are rolled out, they need to be cooked right away. They will stick to each other or any wrap you might use to separate them.
        4) The answer to this would be the same as to #3.

        Reply

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    I have always loved nurturing and feeding people. My cooking style is influenced by my Southern parents, time living in Europe, and the foods available in the Pacific Northwest, where I lived for over 20 years. I cook from scratch and strongly support local farms and producers, believing that food plays a pivotal role in our quality of life.

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