Skip to main content
Subscribe to the Magazine

Get The Magazine

Subscribe & Save.

Digital Now Included!

Subscribe Now

Butter-Basted Duck Breast Recipe

Preparing a gourmet dinner in the outdoors is easy with this recipe from Traeger! These duck breasts are cooked in a cast-iron skillet and grilled until golden brown and crispy, then basted in a mixture butter, thyme, rosemary and garlic for a satisfying meal

Butter-Basted Duck Breast Recipe
This Butter-Basted Duck Breast Recipe is best served al fresco with a side of roasted vegetables and a glass of pinot noir. (Photo courtesy of Traeger)
Print Recipe

Serves: 2-4
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Recommended wood chips/pellets: Hardwood Big Game Blend

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium duck breasts
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 garlic clove

Directions:

  1. Take duck breasts out of the fridge and pat very dry. Score skin in a crisscross pattern with a sharp blade, being careful not to cut into the meat. Allow duck breasts to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  2. When ready to cook duck breasts, set grill temperature to high and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle the duck breasts generously with salt and pepper, then place them skin side down in a cold, dry cast-iron skillet. Place the cast-iron skillet in the preheated grill and close the lid.
  4. Check the duck after 20 minutes and see how the skin looks. You want to cook it skin side down until the skin turns a golden brown and crispy. This could take an additional 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the skin.
  5. Once you achieve a golden-brown and crispy skin, add the butter, thyme, rosemary and garlic to the cast-iron skillet.
  6. Flip the duck breasts over and cook, basting with the herb butter the whole time, for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reads 130-135 degrees F for medium-rare.
  7. Take the duck breasts out of the pan and let them rest on a cutting board, skin side up for 5 minutes.
  8. Slice the duck breast diagonally and serve immediately. Enjoy!

For more Traeger recipes, visit: https://www.traegergrills.com/recipes

Video That May Interest You



GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Sign Me Up

Recommended Articles

Quality Pre- and In-Season Energy for Hunters

Game & Fish Staff

Tips & Techniques for Off-Roading Outdoorsmen

Tony Martins

Tag the Best Pronghorn of Your Life This Season

Bob Robb

Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal

David Johnson

7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak

Drew Warden

How to Add Casting Distance to Reach Bigger Fish

Frank Sargeant

How to Get the Most from Cellular Trail Cams

Drew Warden

5 Steps to Quality Walleye Fillets

Scott Mackenthun

How to Choose the Right Tires for Hunting & Off-Road Use

Tony Martins

Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues

Andrew McKean

Preparing for the Ultimate Off-Road Adventure: All-Weather Pronghorn Hunt

Tony Martins

Recent Videos

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Hunting

Kali Parmley - Florida Turkey Slam #1

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Hunting

Kali Parmley - Florida Turkey Slam #2

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How and When to Fish a Buzz Toad

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Destinations

Polaris – Pack Up and Play On

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Gear

Polaris – Camping Adventures In Style

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: How to Find Bass in an Unfamiliar Lake

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Fishing

Bass Crash Course: Is Bait Color Choice Important?

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Gear

What Turkey Hunters Need to Know About TSS

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Learn

onX Hunt: Your Edge for Successful Spring Turkey Hunts

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Destinations

Cigars International – Enjoying the Finer Things

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Gear

Streamlight – Illuminating Your Adventure

It's fun to procure your own food while out camping, but you're going to want to have snacks along the way. Instead of r...
Destinations

Suckerpunch – Snacks While Securing Dinner

See All Videos
Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Game & Fish App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

Guns & Ammo

Guns & Ammo

Subscribe
Guns & Ammo
Subscribe
Hunting

Hunting

Subscribe
Hunting
Subscribe
North American Whitetail

North American Whitetail

Subscribe
North American Whitetail
Subscribe
Bowhunter

Bowhunter

Subscribe
Bowhunter
Subscribe

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

2023 Backcountry Hunter Fall

2023 Backcountry Hunter Fall

Buy A Copy
2023 Backcountry Hunter Fall
Buy A Copy
2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

Buy A Copy
2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations
Buy A Copy
2023 Hound

2023 Hound

Buy A Copy
2023 Hound
Buy A Copy
2023 Crossbow Revolution #2

2023 Crossbow Revolution #2

Buy A Copy
2023 Crossbow Revolution #2
Buy A Copy
2023 Tree Saddle Hunter

2023 Tree Saddle Hunter

Buy A Copy
2023 Tree Saddle Hunter
Buy A Copy
2023 Hunting Gear Guide

2023 Hunting Gear Guide

Buy A Copy
2023 Hunting Gear Guide
Buy A Copy

See All Special Interest Magazines

More You May Be Interested In

In-Fisherman
Fly Fisherman
Florida Sportsman
BassFan
North American Whitetail
Bowhunter
Wildfowl
Gun Dog Magazine
Guns & Ammo
RifleShooter
Shooting Times
Handguns
Firearms News
Outdoor Channel
The Sportsman Channel
World Fishing Network
My Outdoor TV

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Sign Me Up

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use