We’re huge fans of duck, but since this is a less common protein, we often find ourselves wondering what to serve with roast duck.
Whether we are making our sous vide duck breast recipe, making air fryer duck breast, or searing and roasting duck, all of these side dish options are a perfect pairing for your main course.
These dishes could work if you make duck breast, duck legs, or even a whole duck.
Some of these side dishes compliment a classic Asian-style roast duck while other options are better for more of a classic French-style.
From salads, to vegetable sides, to starches, these dishes are a great side dish for dinner parties or special occasions.
We even added in some recipes to give you ideas on a delicious sauce accompaniment and even wine pairings.
Salads to Serve with Roast Duck
It’s a smart idea to serve a salad with your duck. There are so many incredible salad combinations and these salads compliment the flavors of the deck wonderfully.
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
This Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad features sweet apples, toasted walnuts, and nutty parmesan cheese, all tossed in a simple homemade dressing. It’s the perfect side dish to elevate your favorite Fall Recipes!
Fennel and Orange Salad
We love a good fennel salad! Sweet orange segments and thin slices of crunchy fennel drizzled in a tangy orange vinaigrette create a refreshing and vibrant winter salad. This Fennel and Orange Salad is a seasonal dish that offers a unique blend of flavors and textures, making it a perfect addition to your cold-weather menu.
Carrot Salad with Sesame Maple Vinaigrette
Bright, crunchy, fresh and flavourful, this unique grated Carrot Salad with Sesame Maple Vinaigrette transforms a few simple ingredients into a quick side dish that’s great with both peking duck or a more traditional roasted duck.
Roasted Pumpkin Salad
This Roasted Pumpkin Salad features greens, feta cheese, and almonds. The addition of roasted pumpkin adds a unique flavor and texture to the salad.
Arugula Citrus Salad with Goat Cheese
An arugula salad is a smart idea to add peppery flavor, but use citrus to balance the rich taste of the duck meat. This Arugula Citrus Salad with Goat Cheese is a great salad option for your dinner table. It’s bright citrus and pomegranate seeds add gorgeous color to your dinner table.
What Vegetables to Serve with Roast Duck
Crispy skin and flavorful red meat can make duck a very rich main course. To create a perfect balance, be sure to pick a vegetable side to serve with your duck.
Air Fryer Broccolini
This Air Fryer Broccolini Recipe is our go-to veggie side dish. Ready in only 8 minutes, the broccolini is the perfect combination of charred, crisp, yet tender. It is tossed in seasoned olive oil and then finished with lemon zest.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus bundles is a unique side dish that elevates veggies to something special! It will look beautiful next to a duck breast.
Maple Glazed Carrots
Add some sweet and buttery flavor to your side dish with these fresh and easy Maple Glazed Carrots! This simple recipe is made by coating fresh carrots in an irresistible maple glaze and cooking to caramelized perfection.
Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Maple Balsamic Roasted Carrots are the perfect side dish for any dinner. Simply toss them with a tasty vinaigrette, then roast them to tender caramelized perfection in your oven.
Creamed Kale
This easy recipe for Creamed Kale turns these healthy greens into a delicious side dish with just six ingredients in 30 minutes or less! Serve alongside a holiday meal or with your favorite protein on a weeknight for a dose of healthy comfort food.
Cauliflower Gratin
Perfectly balanced and baked to golden perfection, this Cauliflower Au Gratin is a modern take on a French classic. It is easy enough for weeknight meals and decadent enough for any holiday table.
Harissa Roasted Cauliflower
Harissa Roasted Cauliflower is a delicious dish with a flavorful punch. This versatile and easy-to-make recipe is perfect for both cauliflower lovers and those looking to add a little excitement to their meals.
Maple Miso Brussel Sprouts
These decadent brussels sprouts take under 15 minutes to make and are the perfect accompaniment to roast duck. Topped with sweet maple syrup and savory miso paste, Maple Miso Brussel Sprouts have a unique sweet-salty flavor that is seriously addictive!
Roasted Golden Beets
These golden beets are roasted in olive oil and herbs for a caramelized delight that’s a festive addition to any meal. The root vegetables act like a beet salad, but tastes cozier, in this Roasted Golden Beets Recipe.
Green Beans Almondine
Green Beans Almondine is a great side dish to add some greens to your plate. Ready in 15 minutes, the beans are bright and crisp and accompanied by shallots and almonds.
Red German Cabbage
German Red Cabbage is a delicious and colorful side dish that compliments roast duck perfectly. Made with red cabbage, apples, onions, vinegar, sugar, and spices, it has a sweet and sour taste that makes it a classic side dish for roast duck in Germany.
Mushroom Marsala
Mushroom Marsala is an easy side dish with bold umami flavors. The richness of this dish makes it perfect to serve with roast duck!
Brussel Sprouts Gratin
This Brussels Sprouts Gratin with cheese sauce is based on Julia Child’s Choux de Bruxelles à la Mornay, Gratinés, and is a rich vegetable side dish made with homemade béchamel.
Rice, Potato and Starch Side Dishes to Serve with Duck
These are the best side dishes that act as a filling component on the plate. From rice to potatoes, these starchy side dishes pair perfectly with delicious duck.
Creamy Parmesan Polenta
When you’re looking for something different than potatoes, reach for creamy polenta. This Creamy Parmesan Polenta Recipe is cheesy, flavorful, and tender. It’s one of our favorite sides to serve with duck.
Southern Brown Butter Corn Pudding
Nutty flavor from brown butter takes this Southern Corn Pudding Recipe to the next level. Once you dump all the ingredients into a casserole pan and bake it, you’ve got an amazing side dish that is better than cornbread!
Creamy Garlic Risotto
You have to try this Creamy Garlic Parmesan Risotto! This recipe is creamy, filled with cheesy garlic flavor and really simple to make. It’s a one pot recipe and ready in only 30 minutes!
Rice Pilaf
Try making this Rice Pilaf recipe. It’s a classic rice dish that’s easy to make at home and will be an elegant delicious side to any meal!
Duck Fat Potatoes
You can never have too much of a good thing! Why not use some duck fat to make this Roasted Duck Fat Potatoes recipe! You’ll have tender potatoes with a perfect, crisp exterior, with lots of flavor from using duck fat instead of regular oil. It’s like an elevated version of french fries.
Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes
Smooth and creamy Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are so full of buttery goodness, you won’t want to make any other kind of mashed potatoes again! Made with hearty russet potatoes, lots of butter, and so many different kinds of seasonings, Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are loaded with flavor.
Colcannon
Elevate your roasted duck experience with a side of traditional Colcannon, a creamy and comforting Irish dish that masterfully blends smooth mashed potatoes with the fresh, green goodness of kale or cabbage. This delightful pairing not only complements the rich flavors of the duck but also adds a heartwarming, homely touch to your meal.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
You can never go wrong with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes! This popular potato dish pairs so well with so many entrees, and roast duck is no exception.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Roast potatoes with a crunch! These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are golden-brown on the outside and creamy and flavorful on the inside for an easy side dish that pairs well with roasted duck and poultry!
Quinotto
This Vegetable Quinotto (Red Quinoa Risotto) recipe is creamy, hearty, and so easy. Homemade Quinotto is probably the most impressive method for cooking quinoa.
Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice
This wild rice pilaf features cranberries and pecans. It’s full of sweet and earthy flavors and a great choice to add more flavor compared to plain old white rice. Try making this Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice Recipe with your duck.
Sauces to Serve with Duck
If you are looking for a sauce for your duck, consider these options:
Blackberry Sauce
The Raspberry Balsamic Sauce we used on this blue cheese and steak appetizer is a great option for roast duck as well.
Demi Glace Sauce
A rich sauce with a veal base, a bit of our Demi Glace Sauce from our Beef Tournedos Rossini Recipe can also work on duck breast.
Mushroom Sauce
The creamy mushroom sauce in our Beef Wellington Recipe adds umami to your duck dish.
Store Bought Sauces
Look for store-bought sauces as other toppings to serve with your duck. Fruit forward sauces cut through the richness of the duck. There are also a number of Asian sauces that are a perfect pairing.
- Plum sauce
- Orange sauce
- Peking sauce
- Cherry sauce
- Red Wine sauce
What Wine to Serve with Roast Duck
Similar to pairing wine with any red meat, we recommend reaching for a bottle of red wine to compliment your favorite roast duck recipe. These wine varieties are a good choice:
Pinot Noir
The most popular wine pairing with duck is pinot noir. The red varietal compliments the duck without overpowering the flavor. No matter how your duck is prepared, pinot noir is a safe bet.
Merlot
A merlot is also a great pairing option, much like a bottle of pinot noir. The ripe fruit flavors work really well with a roast duck.
Mourvèdre
For a slightly smokier option without overpowering the meat, consider a Mourvèdre wine.
Gewurztraminer
If you really would prefer a white wine, consider a German Gewurztraminer or even a dry Riesling, this is best for duck a l’orange or a duck prepared with fruit.
Looking for More Side Dish Recommendations?
Check out these other side dish pairing guides:
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