This savory baked duck is stuffed with tender buckwheat & baked alongside a colorful bouquet of carrots, apples, & celery. Tender, juicy, & irresistible!
Baked duck isn’t just a dish you have to wait to eat until you gather around the Christmas or Thanksgiving table. Much like most whole-roasted chicken or turkey recipes, all it requires is a solid marinade, a little patience, and the help of a meat thermometer. This recipe will teach you all you need to know about nailing this elusive protein and turning it into a melt in your mouth experience.
The Key To Moist Baked Duck
There are several ways to make a whole roast duck moist and juicy. In this recipe, we turn to a tried-and-true Slavic marinade that always works – mayonnaise! That’s right, you’ll use an overnight garlicky mayonnaise marinade to tenderize the duck and lock in a slightly tangy flavor into the flesh.
The Easiest Way to Make Baked Duck
Roasting a whole duck only requires 6 simple ingredients and a sturdy roasting pan. Here’s how to do it…
- Make the Marinade: In a small bowl, mix the mayo with garlic parsley salt.
- Marinade the Duck Overnight: Rub the mayo all over the outside of the duck and place it in the roasting pan. Cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and allow it to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
- Prepare the Duck: The next day, stuff the cavity of the duck with the cooked buckwheat. Use a paper towel to wipe the mayo mixture off of the duck. Assemble the sliced apples and chopped vegetables around the bird and season them with salt.
- Bake the Duck: Cover the roasting pan with foil and bake the duck in the oven on the center rack for 90 minutes at 375°F. Remove the foil with 15 minutes of cooking time left to crisp the skin. Allow the duck to rest for a bit, slice it with a sharp knife, and enjoy!
Hot Tip: The veggies will be pretty tender after cooking and you can discard them or eat them if you like. They are mostly there for their flavors!
5 Tips & Tricks for Perfect Baked Duck
From our kitchen to yours, find a couple simple tips to help you knock your baked duck out of the park.
- Don’t skip the overnight marinade. This step is so crucial. Duck tends to lean on the tougher and drier side, so an overnight marinade is key to making it juicy and moist.
- Remove all the marinade for crispy skin. Thoroughly wipe off all the marinade before baking to duck. Letting it sit overnight is more than enough and any lingering mayo will prevent the skin from crisping up to it’s full potential.
- Tuck the wing tips under the legs. To prevent the delicate wings from burning, tuck them under the legs before baking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. Unsure if the duck is finished cooking? Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast to ensure it’s reached 165°F.
- Tweak the stuffing. Feel free to up level the buckwheat stuffing with garlic cloves, cranberries, pomegranate seeds, freshly cracked pepper, thyme, or even bacon.
Save the duck fat! All those delicious juices that form on the bottom of the roasting pan are liquid gold. Transfer them to a jar and pop them in the fridge for roasted potatoes, eggs, and veggie side dishes. YUM!
What to Serve Alongside Your Baked Duck
For a fancy dinner at home or your next special occasion, serve your baked duck alongside air fryer asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes. For a fresh side, tack on a berry spinach salad or a beet quinoa salad with fresh oranges (citrus pairs so well with duck!).
FAQ
Should you cook a duck covered or uncovered?
You’ll want to first cook the duck covered with aluminum foil to look in the juices and protect the skin from drying out. With 15 minutes left, remove the foil to allow the skin to crisp and turn golden brown.
How long should you let the duck rest?
Before going at the duck with your carving knife, give it 15 minutes to rest at room temperature. This will help to lock in the juices and make each slice super tender.
How do you cook duck so it’s not tough?
The key to making sure your duck isn’t tough is to marinate it overnight and to also ensure that you bake it covered for most of the cooking time.
What color should cooked duck be?
Medium cooked duck will be slightly pink on the inside. If you don’t like any pink, cook the duck to 170°F.
Can you use a frozen duck?
Yes, you can. Allow it to completely thaw in the fridge overnight and follow the directions as noted.
More Meaty Recipes to Try
- Spatchcock Chicken (Crazy Easy) – Quick & easy roasted chicken
- Spatchcock Duck – Infused with citrusy flavor
- Simple Roast Turkey Recipe (The BEST) – Super simple roast turkey
- Roasted Stuffed Duck Recipe – Juicy, rice-stuffed duck
- Spatchcock Turkey Recipe (Easiest Recipe) – Speedy whole turkey recipe
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 duck
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp garlic parsley salt
- 3 cups cooked buckwheat
- 2 apples
- 1 bunch celery
- 2 carrots
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the garlic parsley salt. Rub the mayo mixture all over the outside of the duck and place it in a baking dish. Cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to marinate in the fridge overnight.
- The next day, stuff the duck with cooked buckwheat. Wipe off mayo the mixture from the outside of the duck.
- Cut up the apples, carrots, and celery. Assemble them around the duck and season them with salt. Cover the baking dish with foil.
- Bake the duck for 90 minutes at 375°F. Remove the foil wrap for the last 15 minutes to allow the skin to crisp up. Serve right away while it's still hot and enjoy!
Thank you for this recipe! I cooked already 4 ducks using it. I am very happy with the results. I appreciate you teaching me a proper way to cook the duck!
I'm thrilled to hear that you've had such great success with the recipe and learned a thing or two! 🙂 Cooking four ducks is quite an achievement, - so glad you enjoy this delicious dish!
This is the only way I will do a roasted duck.
The meat just melts in your mouth!
Thank you so much for this recipe.
I'm thrilled to hear that you loved the roasted duck recipe! It's wonderful to know that the meat turned out so tender and flavorful for you. Thank you for sharing your feedback – it means a lot to me. Happy cooking!
Recipe calls for "2 tbsp garlic parsley salt"
Is this 2 tbsp of each garlic, parsley, and salt or two tablespoons of all three combined?
Thanks
Hey Donald, It's all three combined. Most grocery stores carry this seasoning - it's called Garlic Salt.
We don’t have ducks at the market where I am from. Is this for wild duck? Do you prep the duck right after shooting it or leave it with its feathers for a few days?
Hi Alaska, I don't hunt, so I do not know the proper ways to prep a duck. 🙂 You could use this recipe for wild duck though. Enjoy!
How long would you cook a 6 pound duck? 150 minutes and 15 minutes not covered at 375? Would a stuffed 6 pound duck feed 6 people with other trimmings?
Hey Phyllis, I think 90-120 minutes but it depends on the dish you use. I would ensure by checking the thickest part to reach 165F. I think it should be plenty to feed 6 people. Enjoy
Can one use crème fraiche or Greek yogurt in place of mayo?
Hi Pamela- I haven't tried either of those. Please keep me posted if you use an alternative ingredient and how the duck comes out! Enjoy!
What size was this duck?
This is an average size 3-4lb of duck.
Looks mouthwatering!
Will try.Thanks
Thank you Nata! I love how you always comment 😉