Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Spiced Paprika Rub

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-28 · Updated 2026-06-28

Tender duck breasts with a savory crust of paprika, salt, and pepper, pan-seared to golden perfection and served with pan juices. This French-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs duck breasts, paprika, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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, skin-on, boneless, about 6 oz each duck breasts
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 duck breasts skin-on and boneless, about 6 oz each, then combine 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper in a small bowl and rub evenly over the skin and flesh sides of each breast.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat until shimmering, then place the duck breasts skin-side down and sear for 7 minutes without moving until the skin is deep golden and crispy.
3. Step 3: Flip the duck breasts and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes for medium-rare, or longer for desired doneness, then remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly and serving with the pan juices.