Glazed Duck Leg Confit with Garlic and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-08 · Updated 2026-06-08

Tender duck leg slow-cooked in its own fat then finished with a garlic-thyme glaze for deep, savory richness. This French-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 210 minutes, pairs duck legs, duck fat, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 700 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 pieces duck legs
• 2 cups duck fat
• 6 cloves, smashed garlic cloves
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season 4 duck legs evenly with 1 tbsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Place into a deep oven-safe dish and cover with 2 cups melted duck fat along with 6 smashed garlic cloves and 4 thyme sprigs.
2. Step 2: Cover tightly with foil and cook in a preheated oven at 225°F for 3 hours until the meat is very tender and easily pulls away from the bone.
3. Step 3: Remove duck legs from fat and set aside. In a small saucepan, combine 2 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, heating gently until syrupy.
4. Step 4: Brush the honey glaze over the duck legs and broil on high for 3-4 minutes until caramelized and sticky. Serve warm.