Arrange 2-3 inches apart with the breast side up. Roasted Cornish Hens are basted with a fresh herbs olive oil, roasted for browned crispy skin and finished with a zesty butter garlic sauce. Remove hens from packaging, rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
The easiest way to tell if a cornish hen is done is to use a meat thermometer. It should be inserted into the thickest part of the thigh and should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also tell if a cornish hen is done by cutting into it with a knife. If the juices are clear, it is done. Remove the Cornish hens from the refrigerator, pat thoroughly dry, and place on a small oven rack in the air fryer sheet pan. I like to cover the pan with foil, or line with parchment for easy clean up .
Give the Cornish hens a little massage with olive oil. That helps them get crispy beautiful brown skin. Season them, inside and out, with salt and pepper. Put them into a roasting pan large enough to accommodate the hens side by side. With blood oranges, fennel, rhubarb and potatoes perfectly roasted alongside the crispy skinned game hens, this spring dinner is packed with flavor. Bake uncovered at 425˚F for 45 minutes or until instant read thermometer registers 160˚F when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken breast.
Add just a tad more of that seasoning and the juice of a half of a lemon. We love to receive feedback from our wine club members! If you make this recipe, please let us know what you think and snap a photo to share with other wine club members.
Ingredients 1x2x3x
Simple dinner recipe.While this meal may look fancy, it is truly an easy recipe to put together. Everything cooks on one pan for a one-and-done weeknight meal. Meat from the breast is pulled from a finished grilled Cornish game hen.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness after 30 minutes and every 15 minutes after.
- I recommend the Thermapen or this cheaper alternative.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and set a rack to the middle position of the oven.
Potatoes or root vegetables are always a great side with roasted chicken too. I cooked this over the weekend and it tasted amazing. Cooking I always used to bake my Cornish hens, but this is definitely the way to go. I never even considered deep frying a Cornish hen until seeing this recipe, and after tasting this, I’m not sure I can ever go back to the old way. Remove the hens from the brine, pat dry, then cut the backbone off of the hens.
How to Butterfly (or Spatchcock) a Game Hen
If you’re totally committed to the full spread, too, I’ve pulled together some of my most popular Thanksgiving recipes and paired them down to feed two. You can find the full menu on Thanksgiving for Two. Roasted Cornish Hens with Stuffing make Thanksgivings extra special.
How Many People Can 1 Cornish Hen Feed?
Several people asked where I buy butternut squash seed oil. Expect a rise in sales of that as I send them your e-dress next. For even more news, information and recipes, sign up for thefree Earthy Delights email newsletter.