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Cornish hens are so versatile and utterly delicious. These little birds can easily take on your favorite whole chicken recipe in a fraction of the time. Perfect for that WOW factor at a dinner party!
So this past Sunday I did a freezer cleanout and I happened to find these 2 lovelies. I had been craving roasted chicken but didn’t want to make a whole big bird.
That’s where cornish game hens come into play. they look like mini chickens well that’s because they actually are mini chickens. They can weigh between 1-2 pounds but the average is about 1.4 pounds.
How to cook Cornish Game Hens
Cornish game hens cook pretty much identical to how you would make a whole chicken. Now I make one killer roasted chicken (both stuffed and unstuffed) so when it came to making these I went with an herbed compound butter rub.
I’ve never seen them fresh so mine are always found in the freezer section.
I thaw them in the fridge for 1-2 days. Never thaw poultry on the counter or at room temperature.
- Thaw the game hens and clean out the gizzards (they typically are in a little bag). You can save them and make gravy or add it to a stuffing. Totally your choice.
- Pat the birds dry and make your compound butter. (See below)
- Separate the skin from the breast meat and put the compound butter in there. Smush it down and help spread it out. What’s going to happen is that when the bird roasts, that butter, and all the herbs are actually going to infuse into the meat and not only make it juicier BUT add such incredible flavor!
- Add oil, salt, and pepper and bake!
How to make Compound Butter
I wrote up an entire post here on how to make it. Check out THIS post!
- For this recipe, I just took room temperature unsalted butter and added my herbs and aromatics to it – garlic and my favorite herbs.
- Combine the ingredients into a smooth mixture. At this point, you can roll into a log and refrigerate for serving later OR use it as I did in this recipe.
Cooking Times of Cornish Game Hens
As mentioned above the average size is about 1.4 pounds each. For hens larger than 1.4 pounds, you’ll want to increase the baking time to 50-60 minutes when the temperature is reduced to 350F.
You’ll still cook it the same amount of time at 450F but when it’s reduced to 350F, that’s when you’ll want to bump up the cooking time.
That being said, the BEST (and safest) way to determine that they are done is to check the birds in the thickest part of it (not touching a bone) with a meat thermometer. It should read 165F.
What to serve with Cornish Game Hens
Honestly, pretty much anything.
Roasted Cornish Hens
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1.25 hours
- Category: Poultry
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: American
Cornish hens are so versatile and utterly delicious. These The Ultimate Roasted Cornish Game Hens can easily take on your favorite whole chicken recipe in a fraction of the time. Perfect for that WOW factor at a dinner party!
Ingredients
- 6 Rock Cornish Hens, thawed (~1.4 lb each) *See note
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F. Remove birds from wrapping, remove gizzards (inside stuff) and pat dry inside and out. Place a cooling rack on a baking pan. Place them breast-side up on the cooling rack inside of the pan.
- In a bowl combine the butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme to make a soft, but spreadable herbed butter. Carefully separate the skin from the breast. Spread about 2 tablespoon of the butter between the skin and breast of each bird. Smooth skin back down to cover the meat. Rub the olive oil all over the birds and sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
- Roast at 450F for 20 minutes. the reduce the heat to 350F. Continue roasting about 40 more minutes or when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165F. Baste occasionally with pan juices. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
If your hens are larger than 1.4 lbs each you’ll want to increase the cooking time when the temperature is reduced to 350F to about 50-60 minutes.
The most important thing is to check the temp!
Andre says
Just wonderful tasty tender I wrap in a loose foil bake 35minutes closed then I open the foil for another half hour. I made a sour cream cucumber salad with I will definitely make this again
TKWAdmin says
Thank you so much Andre! I’m so happy that you loved these! Oh do tell me more about your sour cream cucumber salad! Do you use dill in yours?
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Andre Wilson says
Yes I used fresh dill and Sour cream I compliment the hens perfectly
Yahzmeen says
Do i need to reduce the time if i’m only making 2 hens?
Yahzmeen says
Do i need to reduce the time if i’m only making 2 hens
TKWAdmin says
No you don’t.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Maxine says
Well I just made this recipe and it’s not cooking yet. But it smells wonderful. I seasoned the 4cornish hens. I put in the fridge for 3hours. Because I didn’t want to cook before guest arrive. I never cook Cornish Hens because everytime I’ve had them they have been dry. Stay tuned
TKWAdmin says
I just bought 2 more cornish hens to make this weekend. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Julia says
Absolutely delicious. Will actually use the herb butter separately with toasted bread. Used the “fake” butter as I am dairy intolerant and it was beautiful and spectacular. I did cover the hens for first half hour so it cooked a bit more thoroughly inside as we like it. Meat fell right off the bone.
TKWAdmin says
Thank you so much Julia! I just bought more cornish hens over the weekend as I’m craving these. They are so simple and delicious. I’m so happy you loved it as much as we do!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Carolyn says
Cook uncovered the entire time? I don’t want to serve dry birds. Thanks!!
TKWAdmin says
Carolyn,
Hi 🙂 The bird will not be dried out due to how you massage and coat the meat under the skin. I’ve been making this recipe for decades and have not once had a dried bird.
Covering the hens (or chicken or turkey) will prevent browning and leave the skin soft and mushy. You’re roasting the bird – thus the initial high heat then reduction to the lower heat. Roasting is defined as a dry heat method of cooking.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Nicole says
Thank you SO much! I finally learned to bake a delicious chicken. Even though I’m 35 I’ve never felt confident enough to try it until today I made this recipe for my grandmother & she really enjoyed it!
I’m not afraid of baking chicken anymore.
TKWAdmin says
Hi Nicole!
OMGosh, thank you so much! You have no idea the smile you just put on my face. This, THIS is why I do this – to know that I can inspire one person to tame the kitchen and conquer a fear or gain confidence to make something. Truly, thank you! I’m thrilled you and Grandma loved it!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Tima says
SO yummy!!! I happened to have a fresh rosemary, thyme and basil mix from the store and used that to melt along with the butter and garlic. SO GOOD!!! I did these for Christmas dinner instead of doing a turkey! I can’t wait to do them again!
THANK YOU!!
TKWAdmin says
Hi Tima!
Thank you so very much! I’m thrilled that you loved these! I love making these when I’m craving that big roasted ‘bird’ dinner but don’t have the time to make a huge turkey. I love that you made these for Christmas too! Great thinking!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Jessica Hahn says
Oh Kitchen Whisperer what I wouldn’t give to be your neighbor! You HAVE to write a cookbook!
I made this on Sunday for a family dinner. The kids loved the fact that all got their own “chicken”. You made me look “fancy schmancy” as you put it!
Love your website and facebook page!
TKWAdmin says
Hi Jessica!
LOL sure, you can be my neighbor!
HAHA I love that you used “fancy schmancy”! So happy everyone loved the cornish hens!
Best Kitchen Wishes!