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These oven roasted Cornish hens are so festive and delicious! Perfect crispy spiced golden-brown skin and juicy succulent meat – this is the only recipe for Cornish game hens you’ll ever need!
Cornish game hens are miniature chickens that are perfect for entertaining! There is something about these little game hens that makes them look so much more impressive than the plain regular roast chicken :) Especially when the Cornish hens are perfectly roasted and browned, everybody’s mouth will water when they see them on a platter, so delicious!
Baking Cornish hens in the oven is really easy. All you need to do to make perfectly roasted Cornish hens is rub them with melted butter and spices and bake in the oven for 1 hour at 400F – doesn’t get easier than that!
There are many recipes for baked Cornish hens that make things much more complicated then they need to be. For example, they require you to change the oven temperature throughout the baking process or make you constantly baste the birds with their juices. Basting is way too much work – having to open the oven, take out the Cornish hens, baste them, put them back in – that defeats the whole purpose of the oven being the lazy cooking method. If I’m baking something in the oven, I don’t want to have to deal with it until it’s completely cooked and ready to come out for good!
A great news is that this roasted Cornish hens recipe doesn’t require basting or messing with the oven in any way. Just put the Cornish hens in the oven, set the timer for 1 hour and then when the timer beeps you’ll take out perfectly crispy browned juicy birds! By the way, I also have a really easy roast turkey recipe that doesn’t require basting and makes a perfect turkey every time with virtually zero effort – check out my perfect roasted turkey recipe.
How can you get away without basting the Cornish hens? Easy – just rub them with melted butter before putting them in the oven! Melted butter keeps them moist and also makes the skin brown beautifully!
Another thing that makes these oven roasted Cornish hens so amazing is the homemade spice mix. The Cornish hens are rubbed with a mixture of Italian herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. There is something about homemade spice mixes that makes them so much more flavorful that ready-made! For another awesome spice mix recipe, check out my homemade taco seasoning recipe – once you try it, you’ll never want to use store-bought!
If you like these easy roasted Cornish hens recipe, you will also love these recipes:
Cranberry Roasted Brussels Sprouts – my favorite way of cooking brussels sprouts, these make a perfect side dish to go with Cornish hens!
Two Roasted Chickens – how to roast two chicken with potatoes at the same time, can use Cornish hens in that recipe instead of chickens!
Rainbow Roasted Vegetables – a platter of colorful roasted vegetables, their presentation is amazing, can roast at the same time as Cornish hens!
Best Ever Roasted Potatoes – the crispiest roasted potatoes, so golden brown and simply perfect!
Pomegranate Fruit Salad – so festive and colorful, perfect for any holiday gatherings!
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Perfect Baked Cornish Hens Recipe
These amazing Cornish hens are rubbed with spices then baked in the oven to perfection! Their skin is so golden brown and crispy and the meat is so juicy! This is the only Cornish hens recipe you'll ever need!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet or pan with parchment paper or foil.
Make a spice mix - put salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs seasoning and paprika in a cup and mix until combined.
Rub the melted butter all over the Cornish hens.
Sprinkle the Cornish hens with the spice mix and rub it all over the Cornish hens so it's evenly distributed.
Put the Cornish hens on the baking sheet breast side up.
Put the Cornish hens in the oven and bake for 1 hour.
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FAQs
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.
What temperature should Cornish hens be cooked to? ›
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.
What is the purpose of a rack in a roasting pan when preparing Cornish hens? ›
Roasting Cornish hens on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet also helps elevate the birds so that the thighs cook as quickly as the breasts. Cornish hens are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and their juices run clear.
Should Cornish hens be room temp before cooking? ›
Allow your hens to sit out of the fridge at least an hour before cooking to come to room temp then preheat the oven to 350°. Quarter up the onions, peel the garlic leaving it whole, and quarter the lemon (remove zest before cutting).
Should Cornish hens be cooked breast up or breast down? ›
Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath.
How do you keep Cornish hens from drying out? ›
Place in oven and roast for 45 minutes or until meat tested with a digital meat thermometer registers 180 F. Tips: To prevent loss of moisture, let chicken rest for 5 to 8 minutes before carving. To maintain a crispy, crunchy skin, do not tent bird with foil after removal from oven.
Do you have to remove anything from a Cornish hen before cooking? ›
Some Cornish game hens come with giblets and some do not. If yours does, you need to remove them from the cavity before cooking. After we rub them down with oil, I place the Cornish hens in a 9x13 baking dish, I combine the seasonings in a small bowl, and I season both sides.
Is a Cornish hen a baby chicken? ›
The current official definition of a Cornish hen is as follows: A “Rock Cornish game hen” or “Cornish game hen” is a young, immature chicken (less than 5 weeks of age), of either sex, with a ready-to-cook carcass weight of not more than 2 pounds.
How do you tell if a Cornish hen is done without a thermometer? ›
Stick a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh. If the juices run clear, it's done. If the juices are a little pink, cook it a little longer and try again.
Can one person eat a whole Cornish hen? ›
Cornish Hens are just baby chickens but they taste completely different. They present really well when serving and cook in a short period of time. I like serving them for dinner parties or for the holidays. Typically 1/2 a Cornish hen is enough for one person but someone with a good appetite could eat a whole one.
Lay a wire rack in the bottom of a big roasting pan and place 6 Cornish game hens on it. If you don't have a wire rack that fits the pan, bunch up a few pieces of aluminum foil and place these on the bottom of the pan. You can easily cut this recipe in half or a third if you only want to make 2 or 3 hens.
Can I use a casserole dish instead of a roasting pan? ›
We've already established that a roasting pan is basically an extra-large casserole dish. If you have a 9x13-inch casserole or baking dish, you can make this work for smaller roasts like chicken or game hens. For a full-sized turkey, go with an oversized baking dish with relatively high sides.
Are Cornish hens pink when cooked? ›
Bake in preheated 450 degree Fahrenheit oven for 20 minutes. Once 20 minutes is up, reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and continue to bake for another 40 – 50 minutes (until skin is crispy and light brown and the meat, when cut into, is no longer pink).
Is a Cornish hen 165 or 180? ›
The hens are done when they reach 165°F in the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Serve the chickens by placing one on each plate with sides.
What is the best way to eat Cornish hens? ›
Because of their small size, Cornish hens are perfect as a serving for one person or split in half when served with some delicious sides. I love pairing this easy roasted Cornish hen recipe with my Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes; Italian Oven Roasted Vegetables; or Brussels sprouts... Lots more ideas below!
How do you get the gamey taste out of Cornish hens? ›
The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.
How do you take care of a Cornish hen? ›
Typically raised for meat production, Cornish game hens are a common choice among poultry keepers. To keep your own flock, build a coop that provides adequate space and protection from predators. Maintain the right temperature, provide food and water, and clean the coop daily to help prevent disease.
Do you have to truss a Cornish hen? ›
Trussing Cornish hens, or any poultry, is never required. But, doing so ensures your bird cooks evenly without drying out.
