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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Mains

    Honey Roast Duck

    Published: Dec 5, 2018 · Modified: Nov 6, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 36 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb
    Honey Roast Duck with a text title overlay.

    If you are looking for something a little bit different to serve on Christmas day or a Sunday Roast, then why not try this Roast Duck? Crispy and tender roasted duck with a little sweetness from the honey and orange and a hint of thyme, that just falls off the bone. The festive season doesn't have to be all about turkey, and your guests might appreciate the change. This post includes our top tips on how to cook duck too.

    A whole roast duck in a roasting tin next to orange halves and some honey.

    Most people only eat duck when it is shredded and served with hoisin sauce from their local Chinese takeaway, but it makes such a nice roast dinner alternative and this is one of our favourite duck recipes.

    If you have been put off cooking duck, don't be. It's really simple. Roasted duck gets the skin nice and crispy and you can just put it in the oven and forget about it until it needs basting. The honey and orange makes it taste simply amazing. This duck roast is the perfect lazy Sunday meal.

    If you are looking for more roast dinner meats to try, why not try our Slow Cooker Roast Beef , Slow Cooker Beef Brisket or Best Roast Chicken recipes?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to roast a duck - Step by step
    • Honey Roast Duck
    • What to serve with roast duck
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More roast recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • A nice alternative to a Sunday roast - If you are bored of roast chicken and beef, then this roast duck makes a nice change. It's not as difficult to cook as you might think either.
    • A new way to try duck - If you have only ever had duck pancakes, then you need to give this a try.
    • Great for feeding a crowd - If you are feeding a big family this Christmas, then this duck roast will be perfect for serving up to wow them with.
    • Freezes well - If you have leftovers, you can wrap slices of the meat up and keep in the freezer for quick and easy roast dinners.
    • Just 5 ingredients - This is so simple to make and you only need 5 ingredients.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe each with text overlay labels.
    • A whole duck - This is a whole duck recipe. You can usually find these in the supermarket around Christmas time (some supermarkets stock it all year round) or you can pick it up from your local butcher.
    • An orange - This adds so much freshness to the roast duck, and duck and orange are a classic combination.
    • Honey - Not only does this add a lovely sweetness, but it helps the duck skin get lovely and crispy too.
    • Thyme - Honey and thyme are a delicious combination, but you could swap it for rosemary if you prefer.
    • Sea salt and black pepper

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to roast a duck - Step by step

    One: Squeeze a little orange juice inside the duck and then place two orange halves and two sprigs of thyme into the bird's cavity. Season all over with sea salt and black pepper.

    An uncooked duck in a roasting pan. An orange half and thyme are in the bird's cavity.

    Two: Place the duck in a roasting tin and put in a preheated oven at 220°C/430°F/Gas 7. Cook for 20 minutes or until the skin begins to crisp, then reduce the heat to 190°C/370°F/Gas 5.

    A whole, partly cooked, duck in a roasting pan.

    Three: Cook for a further 40 minutes then remove from the oven. Drizzle the honey over the duck and sprinkle over thyme leaves and put back in the oven.

    A whole partially cooked duck in a roasting pan with honey and thyme leaves on top.

    Four: Baste regularly and check the temperature with a meat thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 74° the duck is cooked.

    A whole cooked duck in a roasting pan with a meat thermometer showing 74 degrees.

    Five: Once cooked, remove from the oven and let it rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes before serving.

    A whole cooked duck in a roasting pan.

    Honey Roast Duck

    Honey and duck are such a delicious combination and you only have to look at a Chinese restaurant menu to see that it is also a classic and traditional combination.

    We have kept the flavours simple with this roasted duck recipe and the honey combined with the orange give it just enough sweetness so you notice it, but it's not overpowering. The honey also helps the skin to get nice and crispy too.

    Other than some salt and pepper, the only other flavour you will taste on this duck is some thyme, which I always think goes really well with honey.

    Roast Duck in a baking tin being carved.

    What to serve with roast duck

    This epic honey roast duck is a must when it comes to a Sunday roast dinner. But, what is a Sunday roast without all the sides? And do we have some side dishes for you!? Take a look of some of these that go perfectly with this roasted duck:

    • Easy Roast Potatoes
    • Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
    • Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Easy Cauliflower Cheese
    • Air Fryer Parsnips
    • Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
    • The BEST Creamy Mashed Potatoes
    • Mustard and Honey Roasted Parsnips
    • Air Fryer Pigs in Blankets
    • Vegetable Mash
    • Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
    • Garlic and Parsley Roasted Carrots
    • Easy Sautéed Cabbage
    A white roasting tin with roast duck in it.

    FAQs

    Can roast duck be frozen?

    Yes, if you don't have many guests over and have lots of the meat left over, you can slice it up and wrap it up and it will keep in the freezer for 2 months. It will also keep in the fridge for 2-3 days, perfect for leftover roast sandwiches.

    How to store cooked duck

    Leftover cooked duck will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store at the bottom of the fridge. To freeze the duck, once cooled fully, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or put in air tight containers and freeze immediately. 

    How to defrost frozen duck

    Never let duck thaw at room temperature - always defrost in the fridge overnight and use within 2-3 days.

    How to do I know when duck is cooked?

    Don't leave anything to chance and get yourself a Thermapen meat thermometer so you can be sure that the meat is cooked to a safe temperature (74°C when it comes to duck and chicken). It gives an accurate reading in just 3 seconds!

    Is duck healthy?

    Duck is an excellent source of protein and is similar in fat and calorie content to skinless chicken or turkey breast. Duck is also a source of zinc and selenium, which encourage good metabolism. It is also higher in iron than other poultry as duck is a red meat.

    What size duck do I need?

    We used a 1.3kg duck, which is what the cooking times in this recipe are for. If your duck is bigger or smaller than ours, then you will need to adjust the cooking time.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • If duck isn't your thing, then you could use this same recipe for chicken instead.
    • Swap the thyme for rosemary or marjoram if you have some that needs using.
    • A couple of cloves of garlic stuffed in to the cavity would add some nice extra flavour.
    • Don't waste the juices in the tin after it has finished roasting - use them to make gravy.
    • When the duck has finished cooking, it is important to let it rest before carving it, because all the juices will soak into the meat, making it more juicy.
    • Don't throw away the carcass, as you can make stock from it. Follow our recipe for Chicken Stock.

    More roast recipes

    • Roasted Lemon Asparagus
    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
    • Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

    If you’ve tried this Honey Roasted Duck recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Honey Roast Duck with an orange in the cavity.

    Honey Roast Duck

    If you are looking for something a little bit different to serve for Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving, then why not try this Honey Roast Duck?
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    4.67 from 48 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: British, French
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Resting time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 493kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 1.3 kg whole duck
    • 1 orange
    • 2 tablespoon Honey
    • 2 sprig thyme - whole
    • 2 sprig thyme - leaves only
    • Sea salt and black pepper

    Instructions

    • Squeeze a little orange juice inside the duck and then place two orange halves and two sprigs of thyme into the bird's cavity. Season all over with sea salt and black pepper.
      1.3 kg whole duck, 1 orange, 2 sprig thyme, Sea salt and black pepper
    • Place the duck in a roasting tin and put in a preheated oven at 220°C/430°F/Gas 7. Cook for 20 minutes or until the skin begins to crisp, then reduce the heat to 190°C/370°F/Gas 5.
    • Cook for a further 40 minutes then remove from the oven. Drizzle the honey over the duck and sprinkle over the thyme leaves and put back in the oven.
      2 tablespoon Honey, 2 sprig thyme
    • Baste regularly and check the temperature. When the internal temperature reaches 74° the duck is cooked (this should take around a further 20 minutes).
    • Once cooked, remove from the oven and let it rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    • If duck isn't your thing, then you could use this same recipe for chicken instead.
    • Swap the thyme for rosemary if you have some that needs using.
    • A couple of cloves of garlic stuffed in to the cavity would add some nice extra flavour.
    • Don't waste the juices in the tin after it has finished roasting - use them to make gravy.
    • When the duck has finished cooking, it is important to let it rest before carving it, because all the juices will soak into the meat, making it more juicy.
    • Don't throw away the carcass, as you can make stock from it. Follow our recipe for Chicken Stock.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 13.2mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy

      April 03, 2021 at 4:25 am

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight. Easy and DELICIOUS!!! I scored the skin before roasting but that was the only "adjustment" I made. My husband raved about it. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Dannii

        April 04, 2021 at 8:06 am

        So glad you all enjoyed it! It is one of our favourites.

        Reply
    2. Emilee

      November 26, 2019 at 1:29 pm

      If we have a 2kg duck, how will it effect the cooking time?

      Reply
      • Dannii

        November 26, 2019 at 8:53 pm

        You should roast a duck for 40 minutes per KG plus 10 minutes extra. That means a 2kg duck should take 90 minutes. However, saying that, we find that leaving it in the oven for a bit longer is best - I would suggest roasting for around 100-110 minutes. A meat thermometer will really help judge if the duck is cooked.

        Reply
    3. ved

      February 01, 2019 at 8:32 am

      Thank you so much for this sharing.

      Reply
      • Gene Chandler

        July 08, 2019 at 6:28 am

        I tried your honey duck impeccable

        Reply
        • Dannii

          July 09, 2019 at 11:59 am

          So glad you enjoyed it :)

          Reply
    4. naveed iqbal

      December 21, 2018 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      WOW,
      Thanks for great idea. Your duck looks so tasteful will try it soon.

      Reply
    5. Elaine Benoit

      December 16, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      I adore duck! I've never had it honey roasted but I bet it gives it such a nice flavor. Your duck looks so delicious and super easy!

      Reply
    6. Claudia Canu

      December 16, 2018 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      I usually don't have duck for Christmas but I'm so open to try this recipe. It looks delicious!

      Reply
    7. Allison

      December 16, 2018 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      This will be the perfect addition to our holiday meal! My grandparents always made duck, I haven't had it in years. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      December 16, 2018 at 1:47 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow the flavours in this dish have my mouth watering! We don't have duck too often but I certainly need to give this a try!

      Reply
    9. Ellen

      December 16, 2018 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      Such an impressive recipe! The duck is perfectly roasted and sounds amazing! My hubby would love this dish.

      Reply
    10. Barbara

      December 13, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      Great Idea. I love duck and I will try it.

      Reply
    11. Edyta at Eating European

      December 13, 2018 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      Oh gosh, I love duck. I make it for special occasions. Maybe I should make one this Christmas. You got me thinking. Your recipe looks amazing.

      Reply
    12. Natalie

      December 13, 2018 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      Wow that's one tasty looking roasted duck. I love the colour and I bet it taste just fantastic. This is perfect for upcoming Holidays.

      Reply
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