Five spice duck legs with warm pickled fennel cherries and persimmons

10 Duck Leg Recipes That Everyone Loves

POSTED: 03/17/2022

Duck legs are best when cooked low and slow. Whether you slow-cook them in duck fat for a traditional confit dish, braise them in a rich sauce or roast them in the oven and then incorporate them into your favorite dish, the result is tasty, tender meat that will melt in your mouth.

Because duck leg meat offers a rich flavor that blends well with a variety of cuisines, you can use it in any number of dishes. Feel free to substitute it for chicken or red meat in your favorite recipes or peruse our broad collection of duck leg recipes for inspiration.

For a basic duck leg recipe, try the preparation outlined in the “How to Cook Duck Legs” instructional video from Maple Leaf Farms. If you are interested in trying a dish with more complex flavors or applications, check out these nine popular duck leg recipes.

1. Duck Confit - Traditionally seasoned duck legs slowly cooked in their own fat until the meat is fall-of-the-bone tender.

2. Duck Cassoulet - A classic, easy-to-prepare favorite that features a hearty blend of duck confit, bacon, pancetta and sausage over seasoned beans.

3. Duck Tacos - Seasoned duck leg meat lends a unique rich flavor to a common family favorite.

5. BBQ Duck Legs - Bring your barbecue to a whole new level with these spicy baked duck legs.

6. Duck Poutine - A quick and easy take on poutine that amps up the flavor with tender duck leg meat and a rich gravy made with duck fat and duck stock.

7. Duck Schnitzel - Brussels sprouts and beurre noisette provide a beautiful balance to the rich flavor of the breaded duck leg meat.

8. Canard Au Vin - For a classic French dish, try this recipe for braised duck legs in a rich wine sauce.

9. Harvest Duck Ragu - Fresh fall flavors blend well with an authentic Italian duck dish in this rich braised duck leg recipe.

10 . Five Spice Duck Legs - Challenge yourself with this recipe! Warm pickled fennel, cherries and persimmons dress up this sous vide duck leg dish.

Don’t look past duck legs the next time you are meal planning. They are perfect at the center of classic comfort foods or as a flavorful addition to your family favorites.