Corn Tortillas

Homemade Corn Tortillas are so easy to make and once you try a batch, you’ll never buy them from the store again.

Ready in 30 minutes, these two-ingredient corn tortillas will make taco night your favorite night of the week. Making tortillas from scratch is easy and once you try it you’ll never go back to store-bought ones.

It took a while to muster up the courage to try making corn tortillas from scratch, but just like my Best Ever Flour Tortillas recipe, once you make these them at home, you’ll never want to buy store-bought again.

I was inspired to make my own after our 7-day Mexican Riveria Princess cruise where I had the BEST tacos I’ve EVER had. Since then I have been dreaming about tacos.

We’re already planning our next cruise adventure, but until then, this recipe for homemade corn tortillas will have to get me through and you can bet we will be making them weekly. They’re just too easy and have taken our taco nights to the next level.

You Only Need Two Ingredients

• Masa harina
• Water

Masa harina is a gluten-free flour made from corn that is soaked in an alkaline agent and then processed into a fine flour. Cornmeal is different and even tastes different because it doesn’t get the same treatment with the alkaline. So, be sure to use masa harina to make your tortillas. It’s also used to make tamales, too.

Tools You’ll Need

You will need a bowl to mix the dough and I also recommend using a cookie scoop to divide it. This makes it easy to portion the dough so all of your tortillas are the same size.

The key to making the best corn tortilla is using a cast-iron skillet. If you don’t have one, that’s okay but the taste and texture, when made in the cast iron skillet, is the best.

You can roll them out by hand with a rolling pin, but using a tortilla press makes it so much easier. Plus, you get perfectly round tortillas that are the proper thickness each time.

Whether you roll them out by hand or use a press you will also need parchment paper. This ensures the raw tortillas don’t stick. You can also use plastic wrap, but the parchment works really well for me.

How to Make Homemade Corn Tortillas

In a medium bowl, mix together with a wooden spoon masa harina and hot water until thoroughly combined.

Turn dough onto a clean surface and knead until pliable and smooth. If the dough is too sticky, add more masa harina; if too dry, sprinkle with water. Cover dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand for 30 minutes.

Divide dough into 15 equal-size balls. I use a cookie dough scooper and generously scoop – sometimes I get less than 15.

Use a press or roll out the dough out with a rolling pin. If you roll them out by hand, place the dough between to sheets of parchment. If you use a press, line both sides with the parchment as I show in the photo here:

Preheat a cast-iron skillet or skillet to medium-high.

Immediately place the tortilla in preheated pan and allow to cook for approximately 30 seconds or until browned and slightly puffy. Turn it over to brown on the second side for approximately 30 seconds more and transfer to a clean towel. Repeat the process with each ball of dough.

Keep the cooked ones covered with the towel. I just fold the towel in half and place them on one half and cover with the other. This allows them to stay warm and moist until ready to serve.

How to Store Them

We love these corn tortillas freshly made, but they will keep longer as long as they are properly stored in an airtight container.

• Refrigerator: keep them tightly wrapped and they will keep for one to two weeks in the refrigerator. To warm them up, place them between paper towels and microwave them for 30 seconds or so.
• Freezer: fully cool them and then tightly wrap them in plastic wrap. Place the stack in a freezer-safe bag or container and they will keep for a few months in the freezer. Thaw them at room temperature and warm them in the microwave.

Taco Recipes to Try

Once you’ve made your own homemade tortillas you will want to fill them with all of your favorite fillings. Here are some of our favorite taco recipes that you definitely will want to try:

• My Ground Pork Tacos are a quick and easy filling for tacos. Top them with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream for a really easy Taco Tuesday dinner.
• For a delicious weekend breakfast make a batch of Breakfast Tacos with Roasted Habanero Hollandaise Sauce.
• For a twist, make BBQ chicken tacos with my Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken. Top them with cheddar cheese, red onions and a dollop of guacamole.
• My Chile Colorado is a delicious red chile made with chicken and it’s perfect for serving in your fresh-cooked tortillas.

I cannot wait for our next cruising adventure, but I am thrilled that I can make corn tortillas that are as delicious as the ones we had in Mexico. I’m so excited to share them with you, too. I hope you give them a try!

XOXO San

Don’t forget to pin this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

More Mexican Recipes to Try

• Mango Salsa
• Mexican Corn Chowder
• Skillet Enchilada Bake