Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Maple-Dijon Glaze
A rich pan-seared duck breast finished with a sweet and tangy maple syrup and Dijon mustard glaze, capturing the essence of Quebec flavors. This French-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs duck breast, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 560 calories and feeds 2, 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
- 2 pieces (about 6 oz each) duck breast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 2 duck breasts and score the skin in a crosshatch pattern with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut into the meat. Season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Place the duck breasts skin-side down in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 6-8 minutes until the skin is crispy and golden brown and most of the fat has rendered out.
- Step 3: Flip the duck breasts and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes for medium rare, or longer to desired doneness. Remove from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Step 4: In the same skillet, reduce heat to low and add 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp unsalted butter, and 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until the glaze thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 5: Slice the duck breasts thinly and drizzle with the warm maple-Dijon glaze before serving.








