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Home » Air Fryer Duck

Air Fryer Duck

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Air Fryer Duck can be a perfect holiday meal or special occasion dinner. This roasted duck is made with our favorite seasonings, and is just dripping in flavor.

Golden and juicy full roasted duck in front of the air fryer, garnished and on a white marble table.

I usually make roasted duck in the oven but of course had to try this in the air fryer. The duck was done in no time, and was so juicy and full of flavor.

I was excited to try an air-fried version of our favorite dishes. This duck recipe makes the ideal roast duck dinner, without having the gamey taste of traditional roasted duck.

Golden duck on a white platter with a slice cut and on a fork.

If you are looking for other delicious recipes using poultry, you will love our Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken.

Find this recipe along with over 35 others for the ULTIMATE list of Air Fryer Thanksgiving Recipes.

What you need to make this Duck

I made this duck in my Cosori Air Fryer, and it was just over three and a half pounds. Just be sure that the duck size you get can fit in your basket or air fryer. I also highly recommend you use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your duck.

Ingredients needed to prepare duck. Whole duck, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings in small glass bowls.

Besides an air fryer, the ingredients you will need to make this duck are:

  • Duck
  • Olive oil
  • Fresh thyme
  • Fresh Rosemary
  • Minced or pressed garlic
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper

How to make Duck in the Air Fryer

Duck being brushed with olive oil using a pastry brush.

I started with a frozen duck, and let it defrost in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. Once the duck is thawed, remove the neck and any giblets that may be inside the duck. Rinse, and pat dry with paper towels. Let the duck sit until the seasonings are ready. 

Whole duck after being brushed with oil and seasoned before being cooked.

In a small mixing bowl, combine all of the seasonings together. Next, lightly brush olive oil all over the duck and then coat with the seasonings.

Once the duck is seasoned, transfer it breast side up, to the air fryer basket and air fry for at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, 45-55 minutes. Do not tie the legs during the cooking process, as they need to move freely so the juices and fat can drain from the duck. 

Uncooked duck in an air fryer basket, seasoned before being cooked.

The duck should have an internal temperature of 170 degrees F in the thickest part of the duck breast. Once that temperature is reached, let the duck rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

Juicy golden cooked duck in the air fryer basket.

FAQs

What does duck taste like?

Duck lovers in my family will say it tastes like a turkey, with more dark meat. Duck is just one of those delicious meats that is the perfect alternative to chicken, you have to try for yourself. 

What sauces can I serve with duck?

If you love our Air Fryer Lamb Chops, you will be very happy with our choice of seasoning for this dish. If you want to try different flavors, you can use an orange sauce, plum sauce, or even your favorite wing sauce. 

What goes well with duck?

A few delicious and easy side dish ideas would be to serve your duck with a bowl of Air Fryer Potatoes, Air Fryer Asparagus, or Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes. 

How many pounds of duck do I need to feed 4 people?

The USDA suggests to figure about one to one and half pounds of uncooked duck per person. An actual serving size of cooked duck meat should be 3.5-4 ounces.

Small bite of duck on a large serving fork.

MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES:  

  • Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Peach Glazed Chicken
  • Bacon Wrapped Chicken
  • Pecan Pie
  • Green Bean Casserole
Whole golden duck on a white platter with a sprig of thyme

Air Fryer Duck

Becky
Air Fryer Duck can be a perfect holiday meal or special occasion dinner. This juicy roasted duck is made with our favorite seasonings.
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Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Resting Time 10 mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 67 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Meat Thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole duck 3-4 pounds
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced

Instructions
 

  • If starting with a frozen duck, let it defrost in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. Once the duck is thawed, remove the neck and any giblets that may be inside the duck. Rinse, and pat dry with paper towels. Let the duck sit until the seasonings are ready. 
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine all of the seasonings together. Lightly brush the olive oil all over the duck and then coat with the seasonings.
  • Transfer the duck, breast side up, to the air fryer basket and air fry for at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, 45-55 minutes.
  • Do not tie the legs during the cooking process, as they need to move freely so the juices and fat can drain from the duck. 
  • The duck should have an internal temperature of 170 degrees F in the thickest part of the duck breast.
  • Once that temperature is reached, let the duck rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

Notes

Ducks are much fattier than chickens or other poultry. I cooked this duck at a lower temperature, to avoid the fat reaching the burning point. This eliminates smoke coming from your air fryer. If you are getting a lot of smoke, pause the cooking time, and quickly drain the spare duck fat from the basket. Repeat as necessary. 
Keep in mind air frying time may vary depending on size and wattage of air fryer. If using the rotisserie feature, there may also be a difference in cooking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 291mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 41IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.

©AirFryingFoodie 2021

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Comments

  1. Nick

    December 27, 2021 at 7:57 pm

    I tried this out and even after 55 minutes several parts of the duck registered at only 130 degrees. And the duck was thawed all the way through. It might have happened because the cavity had liquid collect in it - maybe this would work better breast side down.

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Welcome to Air Frying Foodie, where our recipes have been featured in the New York Times, MSN, MOM.com, Parade, and more. Here we share all of our favorite Air Fryer recipes from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Find out more about Jen and Becky in the ABOUT section in the menu. Read More about the Air Frying Foodies here...

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