Bacon wrapped duck is a delicious restaurant-quality dish that's easy to make in less than 1 hour. Tender duck breasts are generously seasoned and wrapped with bacon, then oven baked and glazed with maple syrup or honey. Serve with your favorite comfort food sides for an elevated meal that everyone will love!
For all duck lovers, i have more duck recipes like air fryer duck, delicious duck tongue recipe or duck gizzard recipe.
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Savory, smoky and sweet - bacon wrapped duck is a scrumptious entree that is sure to please! Because, honestly, isn't almost everything better when you wrap it in bacon?
This wonderfully easy recipe features mouthwatering bacon wrapped around duck breasts that are seasoned with a simple combination of garlic, fresh herbs, salt and pepper. We brush them with butter or oil, then oven bake for under 30 minutes. Or for even faster cooking you can grill the duck in less than 20 minutes!
To really boost the deliciousness, we finish the duck breasts with a maple syrup or honey glaze in the last few minutes of roasting. This adds just the right touch of sweetness and gives the bacon a beautiful golden shine.
The result is a perfectly tender, moist, and meaty main dish that no one can resist. And if you're looking for a side to complement this dish, blackened corn is a crowd-pleaser and pairs beautifully with the rich flavors of the duck
Duck naturally seems like a luxurious protein to enjoy for holidays and special events. But the bacon wrapping gives this entree a more casual feel... Which makes it perfect to pair with your choice of elegant or rustic side dishes for a satisfying meal that's fitting for any occasion! More of a chicken fan? Try this cast iron pan roasted chicken breasts recipe.
Recipe ingredients
Duck breasts. 2 large fresh or previously frozen and thawed boneless and skinless breasts. Each breast will yield approximately 2 servings (so 4 servings total).
Bacon. Choose you favorite type of bacon: Hickory smoked, hardwood smoked, or applewood smoked are all great flavor options.
Salt and black pepper. Just a bit of both to season the duck meat.
Garlic. Minced garlic has a delicious earthy and pungent taste.
Rosemary or thyme. Either is good and fresh is best. Rosemary has a slightly floral and sweet taste, while thyme is more earthy and deep.
Olive oil. Or use melted unsalted butter.
Maple syrup or honey. To glaze the baked or grilled bacon wrapped duck. This is optional, but I highly recommend giving it a try... The sweetness beautifully balances the savory duck and smoky bacon flavors.
How to make bacon wrapped duck
Start by getting your oven hot by setting it to 400°F (200°C). If you're using a grill, make sure it's pretty hot but not the hottest setting.
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Take your duck breasts (skinless, if you prefer not to have a thick layer of fatty skin under the bacon) and sprinkle them with salt and black pepper. Then sprinkle the chopped garlic and either rosemary or thyme on top. Now, wrap the bacon slices around the duck. Make sure it's wrapped tight. If the bacon doesn't stay put, use some toothpicks to hold it in place.
If you're using an oven, get a tray and cover it with foil. Put the bacon-wrapped duck on the tray. Take some olive oil or melted butter and brush it over the duck. Put the tray in the oven and let it cook for about 20-25 minutes. If you like your duck a bit sweet, brush some maple syrup or honey on it when there's about 5 minutes of cooking time left.
For those using a grill, put the bacon-wrapped duck on the grill. Cook one side for about 7-8 minutes. Flip the duck over and cook the other side for another 7-8 minutes. Brush with olive oil or melted butter while it's cooking to keep it juicy.
After cooking, take the duck off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. This makes it juicier when you eat it. Before serving, pull out any toothpicks you used. Now it's ready to eat!
Storage and reheating
To store the bacon-wrapped duck, first let it cool down. Once cooled, either wrap it tightly or put it in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge and try to eat it within 3-4 days for the best taste. For reheating, you have a few options:
Oven Method: Set your oven to 325°F . Place the duck on an oven tray and warm it up for about 8-10 minutes. Before serving, make sure it's properly heated throughout.
Air Fryer Method: Preheat your air fryer to 325°F. Place the duck in the basket, ensuring they're not overlapping. Heat for about 5-8 minutes, checking to make sure it's hot and crispy before serving.
Expert tips
- Before wrapping the duck in bacon, pat the breasts dry with paper towels to get a crispier bacon wrap.
- Opt for thin-sliced bacon for easier wrapping and uniform cooking. Avoid thick-cut bacon.
- Use toothpicks to secure the bacon around the duck breast if needed during cooking.
- Consider pan-searing the bacon-wrapped duck breast briefly before transferring to the oven for added caramelization.
- Monitor the duck's internal temperature, aiming for about 135°F for medium-rare and 140°F for medium.
- Allow the bacon wrapped duck breast to rest for a few minutes after cooking for juicier results.
Frequently asked questions
A chewy texture typically means that the duck is underdone. If the center of the duck breast is still quite pink, return the pan to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes.
Just like chicken and other poultry, duck needs to reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be considered safe for consumption.
Many people enjoy duck more on the medium side versus medium-well, so you might choose to only bring the internal temperature to somewhere between 145°F - 165°F. But note that eating what is considered "undercooked" poultry does increase the risk of contracting a foodborne illness.
You likely will not find fresh duck at most grocery stores; however, many chain grocers do carry frozen duck breasts. Smaller independent butchers are usually able to order duck for you as well, so check with your local businesses. Alternatively, you can easily buy packages of frozen duck breasts online and have them shipped directly to you.
No, it is not necessary to first soak the meat before making this bacon wrapped duck recipe. The bacon and butter (or oil) provide plenty of fattiness to keep the duck meat perfectly juicy.
Wrapping each duck breast in several pieces of bacon slices will help lock in the juiciness. They come out of the oven (or off of the grill) irresistibly fork-tender and moist every time!
You may also like
- Air fryer duck legs
- Air fryer duck breast
- Duck fajitas
- Air fryer pheasant
- Air fryer quails
- Cornish hen recipe
Hope you will like this bacon wrapped duck recipe as much as we do. Rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.
Bacon Wrapped Duck Breast
Bacon wrapped duck is a delicious restaurant-quality dish that's easy to make in less than 1 hour. Tender duck breasts are generously seasoned and wrapped with bacon, then oven baked and glazed with maple syrup or honey. Serve with your favorite comfort food sides for an elevated meal that everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 2 duck breasts, boneless and skinless
- 8-10 bacon slices
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon rosemary or thyme, chopped
- Olive oil or butter for brushing
- Optional: Maple syrup or honey for glazing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) or set grill to medium-high.
- Season duck with salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary.
- Wrap each duck breast with bacon slices, securing with toothpicks if needed.
- For the oven: Place on a foil-lined tray. Brush with oil or butter. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Glaze with syrup or honey in the last 5 minutes, if desired.
- For the grill: Grill the wrapped breasts for 7-8 minutes each side, brushing as needed.
- Let rest a few minutes, remove toothpicks, and serve.
Notes
To store the bacon-wrapped duck, first let it cool down. Once cooled, either wrap it tightly or put it in an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge and try to eat it within 3-4 days for the best taste.
More notes:
- Before wrapping the duck in bacon, pat the breasts dry with paper towels to get a crispier bacon wrap.
- Opt for thin-sliced bacon for easier wrapping and uniform cooking. Avoid thick-cut bacon.
- Use toothpicks to secure the bacon around the duck breast if needed during cooking.
- Consider pan-searing the bacon-wrapped duck breast briefly before transferring to the oven for added caramelization.
- Monitor the duck's internal temperature, aiming for about 135°F for medium-rare and 140°F for medium.
- Allow the bacon wrapped duck breast to rest for a few minutes after cooking for juicier results.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 468Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 199mgSodium: 755mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 39g
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