By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On January 18, 2023

Making this easy homemade gluten-free tortilla recipe is easier than you think. This step-by-step recipe is dairy-free and vegan, and you can roll them out easily with a rolling pin or use a tortilla press. It’s up to you! Mexican evenings will be great using these for burritos, tacos, and wraps.

According to WebMD, corn tortillas are a clear winner in terms of nutritional value. But flour tortillas are more durable and can hold more fillings inside of them. 

The choice is up to you. I love both regardless of nutritional content. If you prefer corn tortillas, make your own homemade, fresh gluten-free corn tortillas using this recipe with only three ingredients and a few simple steps. 

GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLA RECIPE

Making this gluten-free tortilla recipe is easier than you think and it’s a lot less expensive than buying them at the store.

With just a few ingredients that you probably already have, you can make these gluten-free flour tortillas. These gluten-free flour tortillas are flexible, they have the perfect texture, and they can be frozen and reheated.

This gluten-free tortilla recipe includes tips, setting you up for success. You can roll the gluten-free homemade tortillas out with a rolling pin or use a tortilla press. (We recommend this affordable cast iron tortilla press!)

WHY YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLA RECIPE

Simple to make - These gluten-free tortillas are simple to make, and they use minimal ingredients.

Cost saving - They are high-quality tortillas but at a fraction of the cost of store-bought tortillas.

Ingredients readily available - The ingredients are relatively easy to find, and they store well.

INGREDIENTS IN THIS GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLA RECIPE

There are only five or six ingredients in this gluten-free tortilla recipe, depending on if your gluten-free flour blend has xanthan in it.

All-purpose gluten-free flour blend – for this recipe we used Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour or my gluten-free flour blend.

Xanthan gum – Xanthan gum helps to bind the ingredients and hold these gluten-free flour tortillas together. If your blend includes it, omit it.

Baking powder – Helps with texture and gives it a little rise. Reduce to ½ teaspoon if your blend includes baking powder.

Salt – For flavor.

Shortening – For flavor, texture, and to help bind the ingredients together.

Water – You’ve probably seen mixed messages on the water. Some recipes call for extra cold water, and some call for hot water. You can use room temperate water or warm water in this gluten-free tortilla recipe.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLA RECIPE

Skillet - The best skillet to use is cast iron, like this one here. However, you can also use a nonstick skillet at a slightly lower temperature.

Tortilla press - You can roll the gluten-free tortillas out with a rolling pin or use a tortilla press. We recommend this affordable cast iron tortilla press.

If you have any questions about making this gluten-free tortilla recipe, please leave a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

HOW TO MAKE THIS GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLA RECIPE

1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt.
2. Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the shortening is the size of small peas.
3. Add ½ cup water and give it a good stir. The dough will be dry. Add in the remaining ¼ cup water and stir.
4. Work the dough with your hands until it starts to come together into a ball.
5. Place a piece of wax paper on your counter. Sprinkle gluten-free flour over the surface. Turn your dough onto the floured wax paper. Knead the dough with your hands until smooth. If the dough is too wet, add additional flour and knead it; if the dough feels dry, knead 1 tablespoon of water into it.
6. Heat cast iron skillet over low-medium heat. Roll dough into 12, 2-inch dough balls. Place one dough ball onto your floured wax paper. Place another piece of wax paper on top and using a rolling pin, roll into about ⅛^th inch thick.
7. Carefully remove the top piece of wax paper, flip the tortilla over into your hand and carefully remove the second piece of wax paper.
8. Increase the heat to medium. Place the tortilla into the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes or until it starts to brown. Flip the tortilla over and cook another 2-3 minutes. You can roll out the next tortilla while it cooks, or you can have a helper do it.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions in this gluten-free tortilla recipe, please see the complete recipe below.

WORKING WITH GLUTEN-FREE FLOURS

When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour.

The best method really is to weigh the gluten-free flour, but I don't have the ingredient weights for all my recipes yet.

HOW DO YOU RE-HEAT GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS?

Re-heat these gluten-free tortillas either in a pan over low heat on the stovetop or microwave them in between two damp paper towels for 10-15 seconds.

SHOULD I GREASE THE SKILLET I COOK THE TORTILLAS IN?

No, you don't need to grease your skillet with oil, you can just go ahead and cook your tortillas.

WHY IS MY GF FLOUR TORTILLA DOUGH CRUMBLY?

Add more water if you find your dough is crumbly, you may have added too much flour.

CAN I FREEZE GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS?

To freeze gluten-free tortillas, first let them cool to room temperature. Once they are cooled, place a piece of parchment paper in between each tortilla, and place them in a zip lock bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

If you have a food saver, they’ll keep for up to 6 months in the freezer.

HOW DO I DEFROST FROZEN GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS? 

You can easily defrost gluten-free tortillas in the refrigerator overnight. Just make sure to refresh them by softening them in a hot skillet for a few moments on each side. Also, make sure the skillet is very hot before you place the tortilla on it. 

HOW DO I MAKE MY GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS SOFT AND STRETCHY? 

To make your gluten-free wraps soft and stretchy, you can use a high-quality all-purpose gluten-free flour (like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour) and xanthan gum that will hold all the ingredients together.  

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A TORTILLA PRESS?

No worries, you can use a rolling pin and roll them out in between two pieces of parchment paper or wax paper. I’ve included photos to show you both methods.

TIPS FOR MAKING GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS

Spoon the flour - Make sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup then level, otherwise you’ll end up with a dry dough.

Don’t overmix - Don’t overmix the gluten-free flour tortilla dough.

Room temperature - Use room temperature water or warm water for this recipe.

Use a wooden spoon - It’s best to use a wooden spoon when stirring in the water.

Use the correct pan - Cast iron skillets work best when making tortillas. I don’t recommend non-stick pans.

TIPS FOR HANDLING GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR DOUGH 

To make your gluten-free wraps dough soft, add more warm water by the tablespoonful until it holds together and almost feels a bit greasy. 

Then, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes. After that, work with ¼ of the dough at a time. 

Frequently Asked Questions

CAN YOU MAKE FLOUR TORTILLAS WITH GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR?

You can use gluten-free flour for flour tortillas recipes too! Just make sure to use xanthan gum to bind the ingredients and hold gluten-free flour tortillas together (again, if your blend includes it, feel free to omit it).

WHAT ARE GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS MADE OF?

You can make these gluten-free flour tortillas using only six ingredients: 

• All-purpose gluten-free flour blend
• Xanthan gum
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Shortening
• Water

ARE GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS HEALTHY?

Generally, some gluten-free flours have more nutrients than others, which makes them healthier choices to include in your diet. Gluten-free flour tortillas are also a great option for people with celiac disease and those who avoid gluten for other reasons. 

DO GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS TASTE DIFFERENT?

Gluten-free tortillas have a bit different taste than traditional flour tortillas. Some people describe this taste as similar to potatoes.  

WHICH GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR BLEND IS BEST FOR GF FLOUR TORTILLAS?

For this recipe I have used  Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour or my gluten-free flour blend.

HOW DO YOU USE A TORTILLA PRESS?

Line a tortilla press with a small plastic bag that is open on all sides, but one side (the seam). Lightly dust the inside of the bag with gluten-free flour.

Roll dough into 2-inch balls and place a dough ball into the floured bag on the press. Close to flatten. Slide the bag off the tortilla press. Gently remove the gluten-free tortilla from the bag. TIP: You can also make a smaller dough ball to make it taco size or a larger dough ball for a burrito size. There are a variety of tortilla presses to choose from and is worth the investment if you make these often.

WHAT’S THE BEST PAN/SKILLET FOR COOKING GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS? 

The best skillet to use is cast iron, like this one here. However, you can also use a nonstick skillet at a slightly lower temperature. The most important step is to make sure the skillet is very hot before you add the first shaped round. 

HOMEMADE GLUTEN-FREE WRAPS

If you love gluten-free wraps you can now make your own at home. Use this gluten-free flour tortilla recipe to make your favorite gluten-free wraps.

These tortillas are pliable, and they are perfect for making gluten-free wraps. If you are on a low-carb diet, try these low carb tortillas.

WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS?

• Gluten-free tacos - Use our homemade gluten free taco seasoning and your choice of ground meat to make the best tacos.
• Gluten-free enchiladas - While we like to use gluten free corn tortillas in our enchiladas, these gluten-free tortillas are also amazing.
• Instant Pot salsa chicken - We love a quick dinner, and we especially love it if it includes tacos.
• Instant Pot fajitas - We love making fajitas and they are especially good with homemade gluten-free tortillas.

WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN YOU USE THIS GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLA RECIPE?

Make it sweet - You can place butter on it and then a generous amount of cinnamon sugar for a sweet treat.

Add some cheese - for a fun kid's snack.

WHAT STORE-BOUGHT GLUTEN-FREE TORTILLAS CAN I BUY?

While we prefer to make our gluten-free tortillas from scratch, here are a few store-bought brands that our readers like:

• Mission Gluten-Free Tortillas
• Food for Life Gluten-Free Brown Rice Tortillas
• Siete Foods Almond Flour Tortillas
• Siete Foods Cassava Flour Tortillas
• Maria & Ricardo's KETO Tortillas
• Toufayan Bakery Gluten-Free Tortilla Wraps

Do you have a favorite store-bought tortilla? Let us know in the comments below.

Did you make these gluten-free tortilla recipe? Did you enjoy them with gluten-free tacos or did you make a gluten-free wrap? Let us know in the comments below.