Cornish Hen Recipe (Tender and Easy!)

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Want to impress your family with a delicious and easy meal at home?This is baked Cornish Hen Recipe It’s one of those “set it and forget it” meals that everyone will think you spent all day in the kitchen making. But in reality, Cornish game hens get the job done easily and quickly. dinner!

When I saw these in the store I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try baking them. To my surprise, roasted Cornish hen was even more tender than oven roasted or roasted chicken. Slow Cooker Whole Chicken I’ve done it before! (Turns out, they’re famous for it.) With aromatic herbs and spicy citrus, this recipe looks delicious enough for an at-home date night or holiday meal…without a lot of hands-on prep.

What is a Cornish hen?

Cornish hens, sometimes called Cornish pheasants, are a small chicken breed known for their tender meat. Despite the name, these hens are not game birds at all, but a type of domestic chicken. They typically weigh 1 to 2 pounds and are often baked whole or cut in half, making them elegant and easy to eat individually.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for Cornish pheasant, the role of each ingredient in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements see Recipe card below.

• Cornish Hunting Hens – You can usually find Cornish hens in the poultry section of most grocery stores or in the butcher shop. Look for plump birds with firm skin.
• sea ​​salt and black pepper
• garlic – Place whole cloves into the cavity of the bird to add flavor to the meat when roasted. If you don’t have any on hand, you can rub the skin with 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic powder in the seasoning mixture.
• fresh herbs – You’ll need fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs to fill the cavity of the bird, plus more chopped sprigs to season the outside. If you only have dried herbs on hand, use 1 teaspoon of each type on your skin and rub some into the cavities. You can also use other fresh herbs such as sage, parsley or marjoram to add a different flavor to your roasted Cornish hen.
• lemon – Since we are using both juice and zest, you will need fresh lemons. If you wish, you can substitute orange juice and zest for the lemon for a sweeter flavor.
• olive oil – This will add flavor and help the dressing stick. You can use other heat-resistant oils here, such as avocado oil.
• chicken soup – The broth in the bottom of the roasting pan helps keep the Cornish Hen recipe moist.I used low sodium chicken broth Just because that’s what I always buy, but you can use regular chicken stock or even Bone soup if you prefer.

How to Cook Cornish Hen

This section shows how to cook a Cornish hen in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details on the technique to help you visualize it.For full instructions, including quantities and temperatures, see Recipe card below.

1. Season with salt and pepper. Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels. Season the hens generously, inside and out, with salt and pepper.
2. Fill the cavity. Place garlic cloves, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs and lemon wedges into the belly of each hen.

3. Tie to seal. Tie the hen’s legs together kitchen rope and tuck the wingtips under the body.
4. Mix seasonings. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, chopped rosemary, chopped thyme, lemon zest and juice.

5. Season the outside. Brush the outside of the hens with the olive oil and herb mixture.
6. Add broth. Place the hen in a Comes with baking pan, chest down. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the pot along with the remaining lemon slices.

Tip: Cooking Cornish hens breast side down makes the breast meat juicier.

This is because the juices naturally settle into the breast meat as it cooks.

7. bake. Roast Cornish Hen Recipe, basted with pan drippings until golden brown and meat thermometer The thickest part inserted reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. rest. Remove from oven. Cover the top with aluminum foil and rest to let the juices settle.

Variations of Cornish Game Chicken

• Subdermal Complex Butter – I keep this Cornish Hen recipe simple for quick preparation as the meat is inherently tender.But if you want to make it even more special, make a batch compound cream Apply 1-2 tablespoons under the skin of each bird before stuffing the cavity.
• Grilled on a bed of onions – Instead of using a baking pan with a rack, cut the green onion into large chunks and place them on the bottom of the baking pan. Place the hens on top and proceed with the recipe as usual. The onions will give them a lift like a shelf but add extra flavor.
• add vegetables – For a one-pot meal, add hearty vegetables, e.g. Brussels sprouts or root vegetables, add to the pot halfway through cooking. (Toss them first with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you like.)

Storage instructions

• Shop: Place the meat (with or without bones) from the Cornish Hen recipe in an airtight container with the juices and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Meal Preparation: Made with leftovers chicken salad Sandwiches, or chop them up Cobb Salad or meal preparation Mason Jar Salad.
• Reheat: Just like chicken, you can reheat them in the microwave if desired, but they’ll stay juicier if you heat them in a 350 degree F oven.
• freeze: Store meat in an airtight freezer-safe container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

What to Serve with Cornish Hen Recipe

Depending on the size of the Cornish hens, each may be a whole or a half portion. Mine was 1.5 pounds, enough for two servings.If this is the case, use a sharp knife to cut them in half along the sternum and spine knife or kitchen scissors.

like chicken recipes, this Cornish game hen recipe goes well with a variety of side dishes. Here are some of my favorite elegant meals:

Cornish Hen Recipe (Tender and Easy!)

Easy, tender roasted Cornish hen recipe with garlic, fresh herbs and lemon! These game hens are juicy and flavorful with minimal effort.

Prepare: 15 Every minute

chef: 1 Hour

All: 1 Hour 15 Every minute

Serving size: 4 (Adjust according to recipe proportion)

raw material

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instruct

Click on the time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while cooking.

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels. Season the hens generously, inside and out, with salt and pepper.

3. Place 2 garlic cloves, 2 rosemary sprigs, 2 thyme sprigs and half a lemon (diced) into the belly of each hen (or as far as possible).

4. Tie the hen’s legs together kitchen rope and tuck the wingtips under the body.

5. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, chopped rosemary, thyme leaves, zest and juice of the second lemon.

6. Rub the olive oil and herb mixture all over the exterior of the hen.

7. Place the hen in a Baking pan with rack,, chest down. Pour the chicken stock into the bottom of the pot, along with the remaining lemon slices that are not suitable for the hens.

8. Roast Cornish hens in the oven 50-60 minutesor until the hen turns golden brown and meat thermometer The thickest part inserted into the thigh reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).Use the juice from the pan to baste it every once in a while 20 minutes.

9. Give the hen a rest 10 minutes Before serving. This helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat, making it more moist and juicy.

10. To serve, cut each hen in half with a sharp knife along the breastbone and spine knife or kitchen scissors. (If your hens are small, you can also eat them whole.) Serve with pan juices, if desired.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/2 Cornish Hen

nutrient content

Amount per serving. Serving sizes in recipe instructions above.

Calories Chapter 537

fat 41.7 grams

protein 35.5 grams

total carbohydrates 3.8 grams

net carbs 3 grams

fiber 0.8g

sugar 0.9 grams

Nutritional facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you’re getting different results?Please check out our nutrition policy.

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