Two Cornish game hens can feed two adults and one or two young children. It’s also great to cook these little birds if you don’t want leftovers. Remove and discard giblets from cavity of thawed game hen. Rub the skin and inside cavity with a tablespoon of the melted butter. Place hen in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle generous amounts of salt & pepper all over the skin.
Place both hens on a baking tray and start by drizzling olive oil on all sides. Then, sprinkle salt and pepper on each side. You will want to season the meat to taste, so err on the side of under-seasoning so that you can add more later once you can taste it. We also recommend that you season the inside cavity with just salt. We also recommend that you season the inside cavity with just salt – more on this in just a second.
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Tie the legs of each hen together with cooking twine to keep stuffing in. Click here for my entire collection of slow cooker recipes. Again for moisture and flavor, you’ll add pieces of butter all over the chicken. This is one of the best things about this recipe – virtually no clean-up! All you will need is a crockpot and some basic kitchen supplies. Cost-effective – Save on buying precooked whole chicken in the deli.
Not only that, but you only need about 5 minutes to prep the Game Hens then the Instant Pot will do the rest. Cornish hens look like petite chickens. Whole, they can easily fit in the palm of your hand.
- Add the garlic, onions, sugar and salt to a food processor and process until they are finely chopped.
- Many people think the Cornish game hen tastes just like chicken.
- Cornish hens (usually weighing around 1-2 lbs.) are a small breed of chickens so this is why a chicken brine and dry rub work well for cornish hens as well.
Remove hens from the oven; reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F . An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F . With blood oranges, fennel, rhubarb and potatoes perfectly roasted alongside the crispy skinned game hens, this spring dinner is packed with flavor. If you didn’t thaw your cornish game hens and need to start dinner right away, cook them in the Instant Pot and have dinner ready in under an hour. Keep in mind that the game hens will continue cooking during the natural release time. This is an important part of the cooking stage.
I would like more info on cornish hens for a dinner party of about 20. Should i cook them all at the same time? Do i elevate them on a rack so as not to sit in juices?
Recipe Tips
Stuff the cavity of the hen with rosemary, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, the lemon wedge and the garlic cloves. I’ll often roast Cornish hens if I’ve invited friends over for dinner. Cornish hens are easy to cook and they make such an elegant presentation at your dinner table. If you’re cooking for one, consider making one for yourself, it’s as easy to cook as a chicken and incredibly delicious too. Cornish hens also tend to have more white meat than regular chickens. If you’re looking for a smaller bird with lots of flavor, then a Cornish hen is a good choice.
Air Fryer Cornish Game Hen
Sautéed vs. raw vegetables on top of the chicken really make a difference in the flavor. Onion and bell pepper, and saute for approximately three minutes. This great collection of Cornish Hen Recipes is perfect for special occasions and company meals. If you’re wondering how to cook Cornish hens, or just need some new Cornish Hen Recipes, you’ve come to the right place.