This roasted cornish hen recipe is an easy way to impress guests and it’s simply delicious.
Cornish hens are seasoned and roasted to perfection to produce tender, juicy meat with a savory, crispy skin.
The Only Cornish Hen Recipe You’ll Ever Need
- This recipe is easy to prepare but looks so elegant on the table!
- Great for smaller gatherings! They can even be stuffed with your favorite keto stuffing.
- Made with just a few ingredients, you’ll have it prepped quickly. Add a side of cauliflower rice and a simple salad and dinner is served!
- The result is delicious juicy meat with crispy skin. The perfect combination!
Simple Ingredients, Amazing Results
Cornish Hens: Most Cornish game hens are shrink-wrapped and without giblets in the frozen section. They are nearly identical in size, making it easier to bake more than one.
Seasoning Mix: These basic herbs and spices are likely already in the pantry. Try a DIY Italian blend or a light garlic herb blend.
Vegetables: Celery and onions add subtle flavor to Cornish game hens and soak up the seasoned drippings. The drippings make a delicious savory gravy as well.
Get Creative!
- Toss some whole radishes, brussels sprouts, zucchini, and colorful bell peppers into the pot in step 3.
- Tuck in some sprigs of fresh rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, or a slice of lemon into the cavity for an even more savory flavor.
Crafting The Perfect Cornish Hen
- Season the Cornish hen and place it on a ‘raft’ (full recipe below).
- Add the remaining veggies and bake.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Why Rest the Cornish Hen? The bird will continue to cook as it rests. Remove it from the oven when it reaches around 160°F and tent it with foil. This also allows the juices to be reabsorbed so they don’t all run out on the first cut for the most moist meat.
Save It and Savour It
Remove the meat from the carcass before storing it to avoid contamination. Freeze meat in a zippered bag for up to one month, and freeze the carcass to make stock.
Reheat the meat in the microwave, or air fryer, or add to a healthy stir fry, a cozy chicken soup, or make a zesty salsa chicken!
Pair Your Cornish Hen With…
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Roasted Cornish Hens Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish hens about 1½ pounds each
- 2 ribs celery
- 1 small onion quartered
Spice mix
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- In a bowl, combine all the spices together. Thoroughly brush the hens with the olive oil mixture. Twist the wings of the hens and tuck them under the body.
- Make a raft of the celery ribs on the bottom of an 8 x 12 baking pan with the hens on top. Arrange the onions around the hens.
- Place in the oven and reduce heat to 400°F.
- Bake 55-65 minutes or just until hens reach 165°F.
- Remove from the oven and loosely tent with foil for 10 minutes before cutting.
- Cut hens in half and serve.
Notes
- Always check for doneness using a meat thermometer to ensure the meat is thoroughly cooked. Safe poultry temperatures should reach 165°F but hens can be removed from the oven at 160°F because they will continue to cook as they rest under the foil.
- For an accurate temperature reading of the hen, ensure the thermometer does not touch the bone.
- Be sure to start the roasting at 450°F to initially sear the outside of the hens, locking in all the juices under the skin. Lower the heat to 400°F once the birds are in the oven.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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