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Home » Wild Game » Ducks and Geese » Easy Roast Duck Legs

Easy Roast Duck Legs

By Hank Shaw on December 17, 2015, Updated November 11, 2021 - 45 Comments

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4.97 from 31 votes
Easy roast duck legs in a casserole dish
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If you want to learn one duck leg recipe, this is it. Easy roast duck legs, and when I say easy, I mean so easy it’s barely cooking. 

Finished duck leg recipe in a casserole dish
Photo by Hank Shaw

This duck leg recipe is intended to get you close to the luxury that is confit: tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat with crispy skin. It will work with all store-bought duck legs, as well as with wild ducks and especially wild geese. 

I love duck confit, but it can be a project. These easy roast duck legs are very much like it, but it’s a far easier way to roast duck legs than traditional confit, which requires salt and time.

Confit, pronounced “con-fee,” is a French method of preserving meats by salting them down to remove moisture and then cooking very slowly in their own fat. It’s wonderful stuff, and I have a recipe for duck confit here. Why is it wonderful? because you get meltingly tender meat topped with cracker-crispy skin. It’s salty, meaty, easy to eat with a bonus of crisp — and humans are hard-wired to like crisp.

Uncooked duck legs ready for the oven
Photo by Hank Shaw

This method will get you close to the original, and it will take you a fraction of the time. The trick is to roast the legs in fat, in a small container that will just barely hold however many legs you happen to be cooking. This, more or less, will ensure that your legs are cooking in a bath of fat, not in the hot, dry air which will desiccate a wild duck or goose leg.

I used the legs from specklebelly geese in these pictures, and I recommend them highly. Canada geese, snow geese, and the legs from big ducks like mallards, canvasbacks, pintails etc. are also good choices, and of course you can do this with store-bought ducks and geese.

You want the skin on them, however. If, for some reason you have skinless legs, you will need to totally submerge them in the fat — and skip the crisping part in Step 3 of the recipe below. Snow goose legs cooked this way, then shredded, are amazing.

Try this duck leg recipe the next time you come across duck legs in the market, or have a good day duck or goose hunting. You will not be sad.

What do you do with your duck legs once they’re cooked? Eat them as is. So damn good. Crispy skin, meltingly tender meat, all they need is a bit of citrus or vinegar to balance them out.

Or you can shred the meat and put it into pasta or a salad, or in a tortilla, or in a sandwich like pulled pork BBQ. It’s incredibly versatile.

Finished duck leg recipe in a casserole dish
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4.97 from 31 votes

Easy Roast Duck Legs

This method can be done with really any small game leg. Duck and goose is a natural because they often have a lot of fat under the skin. But you can do this with pheasant legs, grouse legs, turkey legs, or even rabbit and squirrel legs. Obviously you'll need some extra fat with the skinnier animals, though. (Here's how to render your own duck fat) Butter or lard are good substitutes if you can't get duck or goose fat. And yes, olive oil works, too.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time2 hrs
Total Time2 hrs 10 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 250kcal
Author: Hank Shaw

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 pounds duck legs (or goose legs)
  • Salt
  • Duck fat, butter or lard

Instructions

  • Pat the duck or goose legs dry with paper towels. If you have store-bought duck legs, prick the skin of the duck all over with a needle or the point of a sharp knife. Do not pierce the meat itself. Piercing the skin gives the fat a place to seep out. Salt your duck legs well and set them aside, skin side up. Let them come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 90 minutes.
  • Put the legs in a small casserole. How small? You want the casserole to be just big enough to hold the legs. Now you need some fat. If the legs themselves are fatty, you will only need to pour a thin sheen of oil or melted duck fat on the bottom of the casserole, then place the duck legs close together, but not overlapping. If the legs are skinny, add enough fat to come about 1/4 inch up the sides of the dish.
  • Put the casserole in the oven and turn it to 300°F; if you have a digital oven, you could even go down to 285°F. Do not preheat the oven. Every duck has a different level of fat, so doneness is more an art than a science. But it will take at least 90 minutes, and probably two hours, and even 3 or 4 hours won't hurt them. After 90 minutes, check the duck: It should be partly submerged in melted fat and the skin should be getting crispy.
  • When the skin is starting to look crispy, turn the heat to 375°F. Check after 15 minutes. You’re looking for a light golden brown. Remove the casserole from the oven and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before eating. Save the accumulated fat for cooking vegetables, other meats or for keeping your skin shiny. I strain the fat through a paper towel, but you really only need to do this if you are saving the fat for several weeks or months; strained, it will keep for 6 months tightly covered in the fridge. Well wrapped, the duck meat itself will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Notes

Keys to Success

  • You need the meat to swim in fat. It won't work otherwise. If the notion of that much fat frightens you, you can use chicken or duck stock in a pinch. Not as good, but it will keep the legs from drying out. 
  • Once made, any of the sauces on this page will work well with your duck legs. Or go simple with black pepper and citrus. 
  • Your duck legs will keep a week in the fridge, and freeze well. 
  • To reheat, set them under a broiler or toasted oven to re-crisp the skin. The meat is perfectly good at room temperature, so you'll only really want to get that skin nice again. No need to overcook the legs on reheating. 

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Protein: 31g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 131mg | Sodium: 127mg | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 2mg
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Filed Under: Ducks and Geese, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

Avatar for Hank Shaw

Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet's largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for NateNate says

    January 4, 2023 at 9:00 pm

    I was apprehensive about this recipe because it seemed too easy to be true but boy, was I wrong. I used to convection roast setting on my oven at the same temperatures and they were slightly overdone (my fault) after about 90 minutes + the extra 15 at 375°. I added the optional thyme as well as some minced garlic. The legs came out perfectly minus the small part that was overdone. Skin was perfectly crisp, and the meat fell right off the bone. Great recipe!!

    Reply
  2. Avatar for Sheila YaoSheila Yao says

    August 21, 2022 at 4:29 pm

    I made with very fat 4 Pekin duck quarters and they came out exactly as described in the recipe, meat is tender and juicy and skin crispy. And they swam in almost 1/2 inch fat! I served them with small tortilla , cucumber, celery and plum sauce . Thank you Hank for this delicious recipe!

    Reply
  3. Avatar for Mr.944Mr.944 says

    July 9, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    Just made duck legs for the first time ever, used this recipe I am shocked how good it turned out. Thanks for sharing this one!!!!

    Reply
  4. Avatar for Bonnie OBonnie O'Leary says

    July 5, 2022 at 9:53 am

    This. is. the. best. duck. recipe. ever.

    Crispy, tender, absolutely divine. It will be our forever more recipe from now on!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for katherine dandiekatherine dandie says

    February 13, 2022 at 11:42 am

    Could I add fresh thyme sprigs or crushed garlic to the dish while it cooks?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Hank ShawHank Shaw says

      February 20, 2022 at 10:36 am

      Katherine: Absolutely!

      Reply
  6. Avatar for RavioliollieRavioliollie says

    February 4, 2022 at 5:29 am

    A can’t miss recipe. We restrain ourselves so as to keep this wonderful recipe, well.. wonderful.

    Reply
  7. Avatar for KristineKristine says

    January 29, 2022 at 3:22 pm

    THIS is my ‘go to’ duck leg recipe. We eat duck legs prob once/ twice a month now…. thank you! I’ve gotten use to having duck fat in the fridge now and that sure comes in handy too. I make a blueberry/ port sauce to top it off sometimes (look for a recipe that includes fish sauce or anchovies… trust me 🙂 but its even good with none at all.

    Reply
  8. Avatar for Cheryl AntonCheryl Anton says

    January 7, 2022 at 11:06 am

    I’ve made this recipe several times and it comes out perfect every time. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Avatar for Spencer KielarSpencer Kielar says

    December 16, 2021 at 8:25 am

    Tried this last night but it didn’t turn out. Not sure why. Used a cast iron pan as my cooking dish as I didn’t have a small enough proper casserole dish. I added 1/2 cup of rendered duck fat even though the legs were very fatty. Put them in the oven when I first turned on the oven to 285. I took them out after 90 min, they were very dry but still swimming in fat. When I chopped them up they had the texture of hard bacon bits/jerky. Any suggestions for me to try next time?

    Reply
    • Avatar for Hank ShawHank Shaw says

      December 16, 2021 at 8:27 am

      Spencer: Sounds like the fat didn’t come up enough to “confit” the legs. They will absolutely get dry if the meat is not submerged in fat. Also, 90 minutes isn’t very long. Were they store-bought or wild birds?

      Reply
    • Avatar for AdrianAdrian says

      September 28, 2022 at 3:23 am

      Hi Spencer,
      I would suggest that the cast iron was overly conductive (transferred too much heat) to the legs, ceramic or glass would be required with these instructions. I’d try again with the right kind of dish.
      cheers,
      Adrian

      Reply
  10. Avatar for Lola ReneeLola Renee says

    November 25, 2021 at 5:40 pm

    Thank you! Making it now!

    Reply
  11. Avatar for DebiDebi says

    October 3, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    This is my go to duck leg recipe. It turns out perfect and delicious each time. It’s simple and by far the easiest and best way to do duck legs. I’m usually cooking Long Island duck.

    Reply
  12. Avatar for Allegre NeeAllegre Nee says

    July 12, 2021 at 7:58 am

    PERFECT crispy duck skin, tender and flavorful meat. Will definitely make again.

    Reply
  13. Avatar for Tim MartinTim Martin says

    October 29, 2020 at 8:53 am

    Best snow goose I have ate !!!

    Reply
  14. Avatar for John McNamaraJohn McNamara says

    October 28, 2020 at 5:58 am

    Such an easy and delish recipe. Worked out perfect for quesadilla night.

    Reply
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Hi, my name is Hank Shaw; I’m a James Beard Award-winning author and chef. I started this site back in 2007 to help you get the most out of all things wild: fish, game, edible wild plants and mushrooms. I also write cookbooks, have a website dedicated to the intersection of food and nature, and do a podcast, too. If it’s wild, you’ll find it here. Hope you enjoy the site!

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