Home » Grilling » Grilled Duck

Grilled Duck

Grilled Duck with Orange Sauce is a delectable dinner to serve for holiday meals, special occasions or for entertaining guests. A simple recipe for grilling a whole duck and delicious orange sauce for serving.

NEW Save the Recipe

Send Me The Recipe

Enter your email below and we will send it straight to your inbox!


Grilled duck turns out tender, juicy and full of delicious flavor with a crispy skin. If you have ever wanted to try cooking duck, it’s really easier than you think and makes a show- stopping main dish for any celebration.

grilled duck with orange sauce on a cutting board

Ingredients for Grilled Duck with Orange Sauce:

  • Whole Duck
  • Butter
  • Granulated Garlic
  • Fresh Rosemary
  • Olive Oil
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Paprika

For Orange Sauce:

  • Orange Marmalade
  • Orange Juice
  • Granulated Garlic
  • Ground Ginger
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Brown Sugar

How to Grill Duck: 

 

Thaw duck if frozen, drain well.

herb butter with a fork on a plate

  • Make the garlic and herb butter by mixing softened butter with garlic and rosemary. 

how to prepare a duck for grilling

  • Pat dry with paper towels on the inside and outside. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. 
  • Carefully make an X in just the skin of the back of the duck. This will help the fat to drain as it cooks. 
  • Flip the duck over and  loosen the skin over the breast and spoon butter mixture under the skin. 
  • Truss the duck with butcher twine. 
  • Place the duck on a wire rack and place over a foil roasting pan.

seasoned whole chicken on a wire rack over a roasting pan

  • Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and smoked paprika.

duck on a grill

  • Prepare a grill fire to 350°. 
  • Cook the duck over indirect fire with the lid closed. 

grilled duck - grill image

  • Keep the grill fire between 325° and 350°, cook for about 1 hour until duck reaches 165° using a digital meat thermometer. Test in the thick part of the thigh near the bone. Do not overcook the duck or it will be dry and flavorless.

grilled whole duck

  • Remove duck from the grill and allow to rest over the roasting pan for 15 minutes. 
  • Drain juices into the roasting pan. 
  • Move duck to a cutting board to carve. 

making orange sauce collage

  • Prepare the orange sauce by adding orange marmalade to a small sauce pan with orange juice, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Place over medium heat, cook 2 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and continue to cook until sauce starts to bubble. Remove from heat. 

sliced duck breast on a cutting board

  • Carve the duck and slice the breast.

plate of sliced duck with orange sauce and rice pilaf, pan of rice cutting board with duck

How to Store and Reheat:

  • Store duck in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Store orange sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks.
  • Reheat duck in a skillet coated with butter or olive oil over medium-low heat, cooking until heated through.

duck fat in a foil pan

Duck Fat:

Duck is extremely fatty and will produce a good amount of drippings that collect in the foil roasting pan. Pour the drippings into a glass container, cover and refrigerate.

The duck fat will separate from the juices. Skim the fat off and store in a separate container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months or freeze up to one year. Use the juices to make gravies, soups or stir it into your favorite casseroles and pasta dishes.

Uses for Duck Fat:

More Delicious Grilling Recipes to Try:

plate with sliced duck with orange sauce, mushroom rice

This Grilled Duck with Orange Sauce is an impressive main dish to serve for your next holiday gathering or celebration dinner with friends and family. A classic gourmet recipe that is so simple to make on the grill. 

IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE AS MUCH AS I DO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND A FIVE STAR REVIEW, AND BE SURE TO HELP ME SHARE ON PINTEREST!

grilled duck on a cutting board
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Grilled Duck

Grilled Duck with Orange Sauce is a delectable dinner to serve for holiday meals, special occasions or for entertaining guests. A simple recipe for grilling a whole duck and delicious orange sauce for serving.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Additional Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Grilling
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy duck recipe, grilled duck with orange sauce, how to cook duck
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 2045kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

  • 5-7 pound duck
  • 2 tablespoons softened butter
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Orange Sauce:

  • 1 cup orange marmalade
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • cup brown sugar

Instructions

  • Thaw duck if frozen, drain well.
  • Make the garlic and herb butter by mixing softened butter with garlic and rosemary. 
  • Pat dry with paper towels on the inside and outside. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. 
  • Carefully make an X in just the skin of the back of the duck. This will help the fat to drain as it cooks. 
  • Flip the duck over and  loosen the skin over the breast and spoon butter mixture under the skin. 
  • Truss the duck with butcher twine. 
  • Place the duck on a wire rack and place over a foil roasting pan.
  • Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and smoked paprika.
  • Prepare a grill fire to 350°. 
  • Cook the duck over indirect fire with the lid closed. 
  • Keep the grill fire between 325° and 350°, cook for about 1 hour until duck reaches 165° using a digital meat thermometer. Test in the thick part of the thigh near the bone. Do not overcook the duck or it will be dry and flavorless.
  • Remove duck from the grill and allow to rest over the roasting pan for 15 minutes. 
  • Drain juices into the roasting pan. 
  • Move duck to a cutting board to carve. 
  • Prepare the orange sauce by adding orange marmalade to a small sauce pan with orange juice, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Place over medium heat, cook 2 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and continue to cook until sauce starts to bubble. Remove from heat. 
  • Serve orange sauce with grilled duck.

Notes

How to Store and Reheat:

Store duck in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Orange sauce can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks.
Reheat duck in a skillet coated with butter or olive oil over medium-low heat, cooking until heated through.

Duck Fat:

Duck is extremely fatty and will produce a good amount of drippings that collect in the foil roasting pan. Pour the drippings into a glass container, cover and refrigerate.
The duck fat will separate from the juices. Skim the fat off and store in a separate container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months or freeze up to one year. Use the juices to make gravies, soups or stir it into your favorite casseroles and pasta dishes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 2045kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 101g | Fat: 158g | Saturated Fat: 54g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 93g | Cholesterol: 455mg | Sodium: 588mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 43g

 

 

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Beautifully prepared duck. Meat looks perfectly cooked. I will save this recipe for one of my Sunday family meals. Thanks!