Roasted Cornish Hens

Looking for a delicious and wholesome game hen recipe that’s easy and affordable? Roasted Cornish Hens are small and roast into a wow-your-guests dinner. They require almost no prep and are guaranteed to be crisp, tender, and oh so fancy.

Chicken is usually my go-to poultry of choice and makes up some of my most popular recipes like Chicken Katsu Recipe, Chili Lime Grilled Chicken Bowls and Chicken Chile Verde. Roasted Cornish Hens are a great alternative and just as easy to make. A bonus is roasted hens bake much faster than a whole chicken and are less prone to drying out.

What are Cornish Game Hens?

If you’ve never roasted a hen, think of it as a small chicken. In fact, that’s exactly what they are. It’s a smaller breed that originated in England. They typically weigh 1 to 2 pounds each, instead of the 4+ pound starting weight of traditional chicken.

Hens are fully mature and the meat is super tender. If roasted whole, I like them better than chicken. The flavor is pretty much the same, but they bake much faster and are often more tender. An added bonus is you get a more crispy skin-to-meat ratio. 

Cornish hens are found in the frozen section of most grocery stores. It’s best to purchase them at least 3 days before baking, letting them fully defrost in the fridge.

How to Season Cornish Hens

The easiest way to season a cornish game hen is simply with olive oil, salt, pepper, and dry seasonings such as Italian seasoning and garlic. 

Pro tip: I like to sprinkle a bit of salt into the opening of the hens. This will help it penetrate from the inside, add flavor and make the meat more tender. You can also add the salt for up to a day and store the hens in the fridge before roasting to allow it to soak into the meat more.

Here are Some Seasoning Options

Mix and match however you like:

• Dried Italian seasoning
• Lemon pepper
• Paprika (regular or smoked)
• Garlic salt
• Greek seasoning
• Poultry seasoning mix
• Fresh chopped herbs (best as part of an olive oil mix and rubbed onto the meat)

Prepping the Hens

Preparing cornish hens is as easy as can be. Follow the steps below:

1. Rub with a bit of olive oil, then top with salt, pepper, and desired seasonings. Season the insides as well.
2. Place hens on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet or pan.
3. Bake as instructed in the recipe below. Let sit about 5 minutes at room temp, then serve.

How Long to Roast Cornish Hens in Oven

At 400º F a 1.5-pound Cornish hen should take about 50 minutes to bake. The final time depends on the size, but the internal temp should reach 165º F with a thermometer. 

Is High Heat or Low Heat Better?

Some roasted Cornish Hen recipes call for preheating the oven to really high heat, adding the hens, then reducing. Others call for a lower temp (350-375º) and longer baking times. To make things simpler, I suggest meeting in the middle. A single mid-high temp, which reduces the baking time, but still creates brown, crisp skin.

Do You Need to Bring the Hens to Room Temperature?

As with most meats, it’s best to let it sit at room temp at least 15–30 minutes before cooking. This allows for more even cooking. I’ve tried both ways and the hens are tender enough to skip this step. Just be sure to not overcook.

If cooking from room temp, you can cut back the baking time by about 5 minutes.

Roast the Hens with Veggies

To make this a simple, all-in-one meal, I like to add vegetables while baking. You can do this towards the end since most only take about 12-15 minutes to roast. If adding heartier veggies such as potatoes, you can add them at the beginning.

Some of my favorite veggies to roast with game hens are carrots, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and potato wedges.

Sides to Serve with Cornish Hens

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
• Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
• String Bean Casserole
• Au Gratin Potatoes
• Roasted Cauliflower and Leek Soup
• Potato Salad with Green Olives
• 5 Minute BLT Coleslaw Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Honey Sriracha Coleslaw

Roasted Cornish Hens Recipe

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels

Roasted Cornish Game Hens are small and roast into an easy fancy dinner that's both wholesome and delicious.

Recipe Cost: $9.50 | Cost Per Serving: ~$4.75

5 from 11 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Resting Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Chicken, Entree

Cuisine American, French

Servings 2 hens

Calories 748 kcal

Equipment

• Baking Sheet
• Foil or parchment paper, for easy cleanup
• Measuring Spoons
• Small Bowl
• Thermometer

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 whole Cornish hens about 1.5 pounds each
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

 

• Let the thawed hens sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes for more even cooking. Note: If frozen, thaw the hens in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before roasting.
• Preheat the oven to 400º F. Pat the hens dry and tuck wing tips under (optional, but prevents burning). Place the hens on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet or pan. If baking with vegetables, see the notes section below.
• Combine dry seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. Rub the hens with olive oil and sprinkle with the seasoning mix. Season the insides as well for better flavor. See note below for additional seasoning options.
• Bake for 45 to 55 minutes at 400°F, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165º F with a thermometer in the thickest part of the breast or thigh. The skin should be browned and crisp as well.
• Remove from the oven and let sit at room temp for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

It's best to defrost Cornish hens in the refrigerator, 1 to 2 days before roasting. They are usually frozen in stores, so be sure to purchase them in advance to allow for defrosting time.

Seasonings you can try:

• Dried Italian seasoning
• Lemon pepper
• Paprika (regular or smoked)
• Garlic salt
• Greek seasoning
• Poultry seasoning mix
• Fresh chopped herbs (best as part of an olive oil mix and rubbed onto the meat)

Flavor Variations: 

• Lemon-herb blend: Olive oil, lemon zest, oregano, thyme.
• Garlic-butter rub: Melted butter, garlic, parsley (brush under skin for the best flavor and to keep the skin crispy).
• Smoky paprika and rosemary: Deep flavor and gorgeous color.
• Honey-chili glaze: Brush on during the last 10 minutes for caramelization.
• Greek-style: Olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, oregano.
• Simple brine for extra juiciness: Brine in 3 tbsp salt per quart of water for 2–4 hours, or overnight while defrosting.

Recipe Tips:

• Pat the hens very dry before seasoning for the crispiest skin.
• Be sure to season the cavity, as it adds deeper flavor and tenderness
• Cornish hens cook faster than whole chickens, so start checking them early.
• Always check the thickest part for 165°F doneness before serving.
• If the skin browns too much before the meat is done, reduce the oven temperature slightly or tent the hens loosely with foil for the last 10–15 minutes.

Roasting times 400°F based on Cornish hen weight:

• 1 lb hens: 40–45 minutes
• 1.25 lb hens: 45–50 minutes
• 1.5 lb hens: 50–55 minutes
• 1.75–2.0 lb hens: 55–65 minutes

Roasting Cornish Hens with Veggies:

Here are some suggestions with cooking guidelines:

• Add starchy vegetables at the beginning: potatoes, carrots, parsnips, or Brussels sprouts.
• Add faster cooking vegetables during the last 12–15 minutes: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, or green beans

Nutrition Facts

Roasted Cornish Hens Recipe

Serving Size

 

1 hen

Amount per Serving

Calories

748

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

70

g

108

%

Saturated Fat

 

19

g

119

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

13

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

33

g

Cholesterol

 

455

mg

152

%

Sodium

 

1439

mg

63

%

Potassium

 

1112

mg

32

%

Carbohydrates

 

1

g

0

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

0.1

g

0

%

Protein

 

78

g

156

%

Vitamin A

 

523

IU

10

%

Vitamin C

 

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

 

86

mg

9

%

Iron

 

4

mg

22

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Baked Cornish Hens, Roasted Cornish Hen, Roasted Cornish Hens, Whole Roasted Cornish Hens

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