This recipe uses the slow-roasting method to yield moist, tender duck meat with crisp, golden skin. It’s served with a simple orange and rosemary sauce that’s not only delicious with duck but also works with other main dishes like chicken, pork, or even salmon.
Shopping for a Whole Duck: How Much to Buy
Generally weighing 5-1/2 to 6 pounds, Pekin duck (aka Long Island duck) is likely the most common variety you’ll find in your local market. It’s important to note that this weight includes the giblets, necks, liver, and heart.
When you factor in how much fat is rendered from the skin during the cooking process, you’ll find that a duck this size yields only about 4 servings.
If you’d like to serve a larger group, you could plan on using a turkey-sized roasting pan and setting two ducks on the rack end to end. Essentially the instructions would remain the same, you’d just want to double the sauce recipes to accommodate the extra meat.
Can’t find whole duck in your local supermarket? We recommend ordering online from D’Artagnan. Their Pekin duck is humanely raised with no antibiotics or hormones and we’ve always found it to be positively delicious.
Disclosure: This post contains links to products we use and can recommend with confidence. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases made through these links.
Why Slow Roasting Works for Duck
Roasting a whole duck does take a few hours in the oven, but the hands-on time is minimal so there’s plenty of time to prepare side dishes and relax with guests while the duck cooks.
We’ve spent some time researching a variety of sources for reliable instructions on roasting duck. If you do the same, you’ll find a big variance when it comes to time, technique, and temperature.
After testing a number of roast duck recipes over the years, we’ve settled on this recipe because:
- It’s the easiest way to make a roast duck that we’ve found.
- It doesn’t produce the smoke you can get with higher roasting temperatures.
- The skin consistently turns out crispy and golden.
- The meat doesn’t dry out – even near the ends of the drumsticks!
More Tips for Success
- Everyone’s oven is different, so if you find that you’re getting too much browning on some areas of the skin, shield them with foil.
- Rotate the pan every time you turn the duck. This helps for even browning.
- Coat your racks very thoroughly with nonstick spray to make turning the duck over as easy as possible. If you can, re-coat the rack every time you turn the duck. You don’t want to have any of that lovely, crispy skin stick to the rack!
Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with a whole roasted duck? Our dinner menu includes a perfectly-paired appetizer, salad course, vegetable, savory stuffing, and a light dessert.
- Apple Cranberry Chutney – This easy, make-ahead accompaniment for cheese and crackers pairs well with sharp cheddar, or a soft ripe cheese like Brie.
- Roasted Beet and Baby Spinach Salad – This is a pretty, composed salad topped with toasted walnuts and a creamy orange dressing.
- Savory Corn Bread Stuffing – Flavored with bits of bacon, sautéed onion, and thyme, this corn bread stuffing makes a nice contrast to the sweet and savory flavor of the duck.
- Garlic Braised Green Beans – This side dish is flavorful, but simple enough that it won’t distract from the star of your meal, the duck.
- Orange Spiced Poached Pears – Wrap up the meal with a light dessert of pears poached in orange juice and flavored with ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla.
Recipe Variation: Whole Roasted Duck with Spiced Pomegranate Sauce
If you’re planning to serve duck as an alternative to roast turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you might want to try our holiday-inspired spiced pomegranate sauce.
Lightly spiced with a combination of allspice, cinnamon, and ginger, it complements the duck nicely, and like our orange-rosemary sauce, it can also be served with Cornish hens, chicken, or pork.
The recipe calls for butter, shallots, pomegranate juice, orange juice, lemon juice, lemon zest, and the spices mentioned above. The quantities and instructions are included in the notes of our printable recipe.
More Roasted Poultry Recipes
All types of poultry taste great when roasted. When you’re not up to tackling a whole roast duck, consider making a roast chicken or Cornish hens. Or, for a bigger group, try a roast capon, or the king of all roasted poultry, a turkey.
Whole Roasted Duck with Orange Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Pekin, Long Island duck, 5 to 6 pounds
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large navel orange
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
For the Orange Rosemary Sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed if possible
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Thoroughly coat a roasting pan and rack with nonstick spray.
- Cut 4 slices from the center of the orange for garnish and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut the remainder of the orange into wedges and set aside.
- Remove the neck, giblets, liver and heart from the cavity of the duck and reserve for another use or discard.
- Trim away any flaps of excess skin from around the cavity and tail area. Rinse the duck in cool water and pat dry with paper towels inside and out.
- Season the duck’s cavity with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then stuff with the orange wedges and rosemary sprigs.
- Bend the wing tips under the bird and tie the legs together with cotton twine. Place the duck, breast side up on the prepared roasting rack.
- If you’re able, prepare the duck to this point and refrigerate uncovered overnight. This will help to dry the skin, making for a crispier end result.
- Set the duck aside for 1 hour to allow it to come to room temperature (do not cover).
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Using the tip of a sharp knife, prick the skin of the duck all over (1/4-inch spacing), being careful not to pierce all the way through to the meat.
- Rub kosher salt and pepper all over the duck, top and bottom, then place it in the oven and roast for 30 minutes.
- Remove the duck from the oven, turn it breast side down on the rack and continue roasting. It’s a good idea to rotate the pan in the oven as well to ensure even browning.
- Repeat this process every 30 minutes until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the duck’s thigh registers 165°F. Total cooking time should be about 2-1/2 hours.
- Once cooked, tilt the duck to drain the fat and juices that have accumulated in the cavity into the roasting pan. Tent loosely with foil and allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
- While the duck rests, prepare the sauce. Combine the orange juice, rosemary and mustard in a small saucepan and bring to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat.
- Cook, uncovered, until reduced to about 1/2 cup, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, add the vinegar, butter and orange zest and stir until the butter has melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- To serve, transfer the carved duck to a serving platter and garnish with fresh orange slices and sprigs of rosemary. Drizzle with sauce and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Everyone’s oven is different, so if you find that you’re getting too much browning on some areas of the skin, shield them with foil.
- Rotate the pan every time you turn the duck. This helps for even browning.
- Coat your racks very thoroughly with nonstick spray to make turning the duck over as easy as possible. If you can, re-coat the rack every time you turn the duck. You don’t want to have any of that lovely, crispy skin stick to the rack!
How to Make Spiced Pomegranate Sauce (recipe variation)
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 teaspoons minced shallot
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground ginger
- 3/4 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and sauté until softened, 1-1/2 minutes. Sprinkle with the allspice, cinnamon and ginger.
- Add the pomegranate and orange juices, increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a rapid simmer. Cook, uncovered, until reduced to about 1/2 cup, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and remaining tablespoon of butter and stir until the butter has melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm. Makes 1/2 cup.
Celia B. says
This was the first time I’d ever made a roast duck and it came out perfect. I forgot to buy fresh rosemary for the sauce, but it was still delicious with the duck. Next time I’ll be sure to include it though.
Lynne Webb says
Hi Celia,
So glad to hear the duck turned out well. Thanks for letting us know!