Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. This will ensure that your tortillas bake evenly and get nice and crispy. While the oven heats up, prepare your workspace.
Set four oven-safe cereal bowls on a large rimmed baking sheet. This will make it easy to transfer your shaped tortillas into the oven later on.
Next, take a large 12-14 inch skillet and place it on the stovetop over medium heat. You want it hot enough to fry the tortillas but not so hot that the oil smokes.
Pour 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil into the skillet. Allow it to heat up until shimmering. This indicates that the oil is ready for frying.
Once the oil is hot, gently place one of the flour tortillas in the skillet. Use tongs to swirl the tortilla, ensuring it gets coated in oil. After flipping it over, swirl it again to coat both sides.
Fry the tortilla for 30 to 45 seconds on each side. You’re looking for it to puff up with large bubbles. The bigger the bubbles, the better your tortilla bowl will be!
Be careful not to let the tortilla turn dark; it should be a lovely golden-brown when done. Once ready, use the tongs to transfer the tortilla to one of the cereal bowls.
Gently tuck the tortilla down into the bowl to create a bowl shape, being careful not to deflate those beautiful bubbles you’ve created.
Repeat the frying process with the remaining tortillas. Once they’re all shaped and in their bowls, it’s time to bake!
Bake the tortilla bowls in the preheated oven for 9 to 10 minutes, or until they are very crispy. Once done, let them cool before filling.