16 Easy Sides To Serve With Duck Breast With A Delicious Flavor

Duck breast is the perfect combination of delectable moist meat with crisp skin and is often a popular choice in restaurants where it is served.

When you are making duck breast for dinner the last thing you want is beautiful meat that has been cooked to perfection to be placed on a plate alongside boring and plain sides.

We have compiled a list of 16 easy sides that perfectly complement duck meat and will help to elevate your meals.

The best part is that these 16 easy sides all take less than 30 minutes to make, allowing you to focus on the main event, your tasty duck breast.

Whether you pan-sear or roast your meat, these sides should be included in your meal.

Quick Table: 16 Easy Sides To Enjoy With Duck Breast

The below 16 side dish suggestions are in order of time, starting with the quickest side dishes to make and ending with an easy recipe that takes 30minutes. 

1. Easy 5-Minute Asian Cucumber Salad

This vegan and gluten-free side may not seem like a lot but its authentic Asian flavor pairs beautifully with duck breast.

If you want more of a crunch to this salad do not peel the cucumbers and leave this dish to marinate after it has been prepared for at least five minutes to allow the cucumber to fully soak up all of the delicious flavors that it is coated in.

Customize this recipe by adding ginger or additional vegetables, like edamame, red onion, or red peppers to achieve even more crunch factor to your dish.

Calories Per Serving: 100

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

2. Sesame, Ginger And Broccoli Slaw

Another Asian-inspired dish, this quick and simple slaw is an Asian-infused version of regular coleslaw. This cool dish is bursting in both color and flavor and will brighten up any meal.

The ginger works well with the natural flavors that come from the fatty duck breast and the lime juice adds an extra zing.

This side dish can be used for a whole range of meals and will soon be a part of your weekly dinner rotation because of its budget-friendly ingredients and long-lasting freshness.

Calories Per Serving: 85

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

3. Garlic Butter Sauteed Green Beans

Golden butter drenched green beans always taste good but this recipe adds an extra kick to the flavor of this tasty side adding fresh garlic into the mix.

This recipe only needs 4 ingredients, most of which are pantry staples, helping you to save both time and money.

Calories Per Serving: 74

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

4. Simple House Salad

Tasty doesn’t need to mean complicated. A simple house salad is the perfect side with almost every dish and can be made with whatever vegetables you have in your home.

While croutons are not essential they go well with the crunch of the crisp duck breast skin. Serve plain or add some orange sauce for a tangy, Asian-infused flavor.

Calories Per Serving: 314

Preparation Time: 12 Minutes

5. Honey Glazed Baby Carrots

Who knew baby carrots could taste so good! This three-step recipe couldn’t be easier and is the perfect side for any duck-based dish or simply on the side of duck breast.

These carrots can be served alongside another side dish or alone. 

Calories Per Serving: 139

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

6. Pear And Pomegranate Salad

Making duck breast for the holidays? Looking for a simple side that is sure to wow? This dish is beautiful to look at as well as tasting scrumptious.

Serve alongside duck breast and cranberry sauce for a simple dinner with a subtle nod to traditional holiday dishes.

Calories Per Serving: 153

Preparation Time: 12 Minutes

7. Oven Roasted Asparagus

There are so many ways to enjoy asparagus but sometimes asparagus side dishes can be overly complicated with numerous ingredients.

We are bringing it back to basics with this quick and easy recipe that only uses five ingredients.

Whack it in the oven as your duck breast turns golden and serve together for a crunchy feast for the senses.

Calories Per Serving: 123

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

8. Asian Ramen Noodle Salad

This recipe can be adjusted to serve any number of people and is wonderful for dinner parties as it makes such a large portion.

Duck is commonly found on the menu of most Asian establishments and so it is no surprise that Asian-inspired meals would make the perfect easy side dish with duck breast.

Calories Per Serving: 146.33

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

9. Caramelized Red Onions

This recipe may say burgers but caramelized red onions are a perfect side dish to go along with a duck breast.

The tangy flavor and subtle crunch complement the deep, rich flavors of the moist duck breast.

Calories Per Serving: 77

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes

10. Buttery Boiled Potatoes

Perfectly fluffy and drenched in gorgeous, golden butter, these potatoes are an incredible side dish. They are super fast to make and are the perfect way to soak up all of the juices from the duck breast.

Garnish with your herbs of choice to create a wider taste range. If you have any leftovers why not enjoy some smashed potatoes with eggs for your breakfast?

This side dish has so much to give!

Calories Per Serving: 25

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

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11. Mediterranean Couscous Salad

As delicious as duck breast is, it can be a very filling dinner, that is why this light Mediterranean couscous salad would be the perfect side dish.

This salad is bursting with fresh, crisp flavors and complements the rich flavor of the duck breast.

This couscous dish can be made in advance and stored for up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Calories Per Serving: 238

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

12. Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

The perfect no-fuss gluten-free and vegan side. This recipe is fool-proof and makes the perfect bed of roasted vegetables to place your duck breast on top of.

Play with this recipe to make it your own or make it with festive root vegetables for a delicious seasonal side.

Calories Per Serving: 108

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

13. Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

A modern twist on honey-glazed Brussel Sprouts, this side dish is perfect if you are using a honey-based glaze on your duck breast.

The dash of sriracha gives this unique dish an extra bit of oomph that is sure to be loved by all foodies.

Calories Per Serving: 132

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

14. Easy Mushroom Risotto

A simple vegetarian and gluten-free risotto recipe that yields delicious restaurant standard results, all from the comfort of your own home. 

This recipe is blended with deep flavors and white wine in the sauce makes it the perfect dinner party side. This recipe can be adjusted to suit vegan diets but simply swapping the butter for a vegan butter substitute. 

Calories Per Serving: 648

Preparation Time: 1 Hour

15. Crispy Grilled Potato Wedges

If you do not have an air fryer it can be difficult to find a simple and fast way of making french fries or wedges.

This crispy grilled potato wedges recipe takes just 30 minutes with only 10 minutes of that being for prep.

Potatoes are delicious with most foods and these herby wedges make for a side dish that will be loved by people of all ages.  

Calories Per Serving: 254

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

16. Creamy Mashed Potato

This recipe is slightly out of the 30-minute range but it is so worth it. Mashed potatoes can be hard to get right but with this easy-to-follow recipe, you will be able to produce the perfect mash every time.

This is the perfect side dish at any time of year with its creamy texture and gorgeous taste. It is food for the soul in its simplest form.

We hope that the above side dishes bring some color and flavor to your meals and that you enjoy combining these delicious flavors with tender and delicious duck.

Calories Per Serving: 401

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duck Healthy To Eat?

Duck meat in moderation is very healthy meat as it is an excellent source of protein. Its distinctive fatty content makes it different from any other meat and also gives this type of poultry its incredible flavors.

Duck meat is similar to steak in its nutritional value but is fattier than chicken breast. Duck meat is often referred to as a type of red meat in the kitchen, although it is from a bird. 

Is Duck Breast Difficult To Cook?

Duck is mostly roasted in order to cook the meat. This process requires care and patience in order to prepare a delicious piece of meat.

If your duck meat is properly roasted it can be beautifully moist with crisp skin but achieving this can challenge cooks of any standard.

When cooking duck breast the meat is often pan-seared. This process does not take as long as roasting a full duck and can also be more efficient if you are only making food for a small number, preventing any food waste.

If you are cooking at home duck breasts would be easier to cook than a full duck.

What Flavors Go Best With Duck?

Duck is often found in Asian food and so it is commonly eaten with spicy, sweet, and sour flavors.

For sweet and sour flavors, pair the duck meat with balsamic vinegar, orange sauce, or fresh fruit.

Duck also works well with warm flavored spices such as vanilla, fennel, cinnamon, and Chinese five-spice powder.

How Long Can Duck Breast Be Refrigerated?

Fresh duck meat can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. By leaving the fresh meat in the refrigerator the taste of the duck can further develop, giving you a delicious piece of meat.

After cooking duck meat you should only refrigerate for a maximum of three to four days.

Check your meat’s use by date which can be found on the packaging as manufacturers will have prepared the meat in different ways which will affect the shelf life of the meat.

You will be able to know when fresh duck meat has gone bad when it develops a slimy texture and for cooked duck meat you will be able to tell by the smell.

16 Easy And Quick Sides To Serve With Duck Breast

The ultimate guide to easy and exciting side dishes to serve with duck breast.

Ingredients

• Easy 5-Minute Asian Cucumber Salad

• Sesame, Ginger And Broccoli Slaw

• Garlic Butter Sauteed Green Beans

• Simple House Salad

• Honey Glazed Baby Carrots

• Pear And Pomegranate Salad

• Oven Roasted Asparagus

• Asian Ramen Noodle Salad

• Caramelized Red Onions

• Buttery Boiled Potatoes

• Mediterranean Couscous Salad

• Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

• Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

• Easy Mushroom Risotto

• Crispy Grilled Potato Wedges

• Creamy Mashed Potato

Directions

• Pick a recipe from the list above
• Click the recipe name and visit the website
• Collect the ingredients and cook the food
• Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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