Cornish hens are so versatile and utterly delicious. These little birds can easily take on your favorite whole chicken recipe in a fraction of the time. Perfect for that WOW factor at a dinner party!
So this past Sunday I did a freezer cleanout and I happened to find these 2 lovelies. I had been craving roasted chicken but didn’t want to make a whole big bird.
That’s where cornish game hens come into play. they look like mini chickens well that’s because they actually are mini chickens. They can weigh between 1-2 pounds but the average is about 1.4 pounds.
Place breast side up on rack in shallow roasting pan. 5. Roast, uncovered, basting frequently with butter for 1 hour (if hen weighs over 1lb 2oz, roast 1 hour and 15 minutes) or until internal temperature on instant read thermometer reaches 180°F when inserted into inner thigh.
How to cook Cornish Game Hens
Cornish game hens cook pretty much identical to how you would make a whole chicken. Now I make one killer roasted chicken (both stuffed and unstuffed) so when it came to making these I went with an herbed compound butter rub.
I’ve never seen them fresh so mine are always found in the freezer section.
I thaw them in the fridge for 1-2 days. Never thaw poultry on the counter or at room temperature.
- Thaw the game hens and clean out the gizzards (they typically are in a little bag). You can save them and make gravy or add it to a stuffing. Totally your choice.
- Pat the birds dry and make your compound butter. (See below)
- Separate the skin from the breast meat and put the compound butter in there. Smush it down and help spread it out. What’s going to happen is that when the bird roasts, that butter, and all the herbs are actually going to infuse into the meat and not only make it juicier BUT add such incredible flavor!
- Add oil, salt, and pepper and bake!
How to make Compound Butter
I wrote up an entire post here on how to make it. Check out THIS post!
- For this recipe, I just took room temperature unsalted butter and added my herbs and aromatics to it – garlic and my favorite herbs.
- Combine the ingredients into a smooth mixture. At this point, you can roll into a log and refrigerate for serving later OR use it as I did in this recipe.
Tender Oven Roasted Cornish Hens-The Fireside Creator
FAQ
Should you cook Cornish hens on a rack?
Should Cornish hens be at room temperature before cooking?
What temperature is Cornish hen cooked?
Do you smoke Cornish hens breast side up or down?
How do you Cook Cornish hens breast side down?
Place the hens in a roasting pan with a rack, breast side down. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the pan, along with any leftover lemon wedges. TIP: Cooking Cornish hens breast side down makes the breast meat more juicy. This is because the juices will naturally settle in the breast meat as they cook. Bake.
How to Cook Cornish Game hens?
Try roasting the hens in the oven to get moist, tender meat or throw them on the grill to get their skin extra crispy. Preheat the oven to 375 °F (191 °C) and put the hens in a roasting pan. Lay a wire rack in the bottom of a big roasting pan and place 6 Cornish game hens on it.
Should Cornish hens be cooked side up?
Cooking the Cornish hens breast side up allows the skin to brown nicely, giving it a crispy texture and making for an attractive presentation. The juicy drippings and flavor also seep into the breast meat, making it moist and succulent. However, it may take longer for the legs and thighs to cook thoroughly, since they are facing downwards.
How long do you Cook Cornish hens in the oven?
Roast Cornish hens in the oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the hens are golden brown and a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Baste with the pan juices every 20 minutes. Let the hens rest for 10 minutes before serving.