What Are Flour tortillas and How Can I Use Them?

If flour tortillas have turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use them with confidence and how to choose them, cook them, store them, what to substitute, and 283 recipes to try them in.

What are flour tortillas?

The flour tortilla is probably best known in the USA as the tortilla used to make burritos, a dish originating in northern Mexico. Wheat tortillas are also a traditional staple of the peoples of north,northwest and northeast Mexican states,and many southwestern US Native Americantribes.

In Mexico, a flour tortilla or wheat tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flatbread, made from finely ground wheat flour.

Tortillas vary in size from about 6 to over 30 cm (2.4 to over 12 in), depending on the region of the country and the dish for which it is intended.

In commercial production and even in some larger restaurants, automatic machines make tortillas from dough.

Nutrition

Where found

Flour tortillas are usually found in the bakery section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Flour tortillas are a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do flour tortillas weigh?

Related

Baked Products

Recipes using flour tortillas

There are 283 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Micro-Quick Quesadilla

If you're in a hurry, try this easy and delicious dish that can satisfy anyone's hunger!

Pinto Bean & Feta Cheese Quesadillas

Pinto bean and feta cheese quesadillas with a chunky bean puree seasoned with jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, and red onion. A hearty vegetarian quesadilla with a Mediterranean-Mexican mash-up.

Chile Cheese Tortilla Stacks

A crowd pleasing appetizer to take to any party or serve it with a Mexican Caesar salad for a meatless meal.

Chicken Quesadillas

Quick, easy and delicious. It's hard to go wrong with cheddar, chicken and hot sauce. A great way to have something tasty to eat within no time.

Salmon Pinwheels

Smoked salmon and cream cheese rolled up in flour tortillas with fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon, then sliced into bite-sized pinwheels. A make-ahead appetizer that's ready when you are.

Breakfast Burritos Anytime

Breakfast burritos loaded with crispy hash browns, scrambled eggs and bulk sausage rolled into warm flour tortillas, ready in 30 minutes. Serve with salsa for an anytime meal that holds up beyond the morning.

Spicy Burrito Bonanza

Loaded burritos stuffed with seasoned ground beef and spicy pork sausage, refried beans, fresh tomato, Monterey Jack cheese, and crisp lettuce. A 30-minute weeknight dinner the whole family will fight over.

Easy Bean Burritos

Easy vegetarian bean burritos: refried beans, seasoned taco filling, cheese, and taco sauce rolled in flour tortillas and warmed in minutes. A fast, freezer-friendly lunch or weeknight dinner.

Hot Black Bean Chili with Goat Cheese

Very hearty and flavorful. The goat cheese complements the chili nicely. I took the advice of the previous reviewer and let it simmer for a couple hours after I mixed everything together.

16 Minute Tortilla Pizza

These tortilla mini pizzas are very easy to make, it can be a quick and easy snack or appetizer ready in a flash.

Chicken Tortillas

Crispy fried chicken wraps rolled in warm flour tortillas with a smear of cream cheese, crunchy peppers, cucumber, onion, and fresh salad greens. A fast handheld lunch built on golden, paprika-spiced chicken strips.

Yummy Broccoli & Mushroom Quesadillas

This was my lunch today, packed with goodness and yumminess. I only made 1 quesadilla for myself, so I quartered the recipe. It was delicious, loved the oozing cheese and the flavorsome veggies. A great combination on both flavor and texture. I broiled the top for a few minutes to make it nice, brown and crispy. Will be making this more often for sure.

Double Corn Tortilla Cassarole

Layered corn tortilla casserole with Monterey Jack, sweet corn, green onions, and diced chili peppers in a tangy buttermilk-egg custard. A Tex-Mex weeknight dinner ready in 40 minutes flat.

Chicken of the Caesar Wraps

Tuna (chicken of the sea) Caesar wraps. A crunchy healthy version of a Caesar salad wrapped up in a flour tortilla.

Huevos Con Chorizo

Eggs with Chorizo sausage, wrapped in a tortilla and topped with bubbly cheese and salsa.

Broccoli & Mushroom Quesadillas

Made this recipe for lunch today, and these quesadillas turned out cheesy and tasty, I used the fresh basil, parsely and dried oregano, I also put some minced garlic before I spread mixture, and at the end of the baking, I turned up the oven to 400 F degree, gave the tortillas a little bit brown on the edges, but watch them carefully, only took 2 to 3 minutes, and result was outstanding, I think this is a very flexible recipe too, you can put whatever vegetables you want, the flavour should be still excellent!

California Quesadillas

Made this California quesadillas for breakfast this morning. It came out surprisingly delicious. As the photos show, they came out cheesy, oozy but not too sweet. The sweetness from the pear and figs balanced greatly with the brie cheese. It's a quick, easy and tasty recipe.

Asian Beef Tacos

The idea of Korean Tacos trucks and the delicious tacos they produce intrigued me. I developed this as my own version of an Asian flavored taco.

Chunky Tuna Salad Roll-Ups

These quick-easy roll-ups taste delicious and are also very nutritious. Use whole grain tortillas for a even heartier result.

BLT Quesadillas

A sophisticated French American twist on Quesadillas - Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato with some creamy goat cheese... num num.

Chicken & Black Bean Quesadillas

We made these quick and easy quesadillas for supper, they were delicious and filling. Used whole wheat tortillas, which made it even healthier. Great texture, a yummy-nutritious combination, definitely a keeper for a quick meal.

Philly Cheese Steak Wraps

The combination of sauteed sweet bell peppers, onions, roasted beef and gooey-melted cheese was super tasty, then wrapped with a whole-grain flour tortilla. A quick and well balanced meal on both flavor and nutrients is ideal for a busy week day.

Easy Ranch Tortilla Roll-Ups

Pretty pinwheel appetizers that are layered with ham & savoury ranch cream cheese. Only 5 ingredients with quick and easy prep.

Favorite Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Cheesy chicken enchiladas filled with chili-spiced chicken, rolled in browned tortillas, smothered in a tomato and kidney bean sauce, and baked under a three-cheese blanket. A hearty Mexican main.

Chicken Tortilla Wraps

These wraps are made with soft tortilla shells and filled with juicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and a generous drizzle of creamy dressing.

All 283 recipes