Roasted Cornish Hens
Roasted Cornish Hens feel fancy, look beautiful on the table, and yet they’re surprisingly easy to make. With crispy golden skin, tender juicy meat, and buttery seasoning in every bite, this recipe is perfect for Sunday supper, holidays, or anytime you want to make dinner feel a little more special without extra work.
If you love comforting meals like my Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe, my Baked Chicken and Rice, and my Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Casserole, you’re going to love this cornish game hen recipe.
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💗 Why You’ll Love Cornish Hens
- Easy Prep: This recipe comes together quickly with simple steps and little prep.
- Juicy and Tender: Butter under the skin keeps the breast meat moist and flavorful.
- Crispy Skin: Roasting at high heat creates a crispy skin.
- Perfect Portions: Each hen is individually sized, making serving easy and elegant.
🛒 Ingredients Needed
- Cornish Hens: These small hens cook evenly and stay tender, making them perfect for individual servings. You may need to adjust the cooking time based on your bird’s size.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and moisture, and helps keep the breast meat juicy while roasting. I use salted butter.
- Seasonings: I use garlic powder, lemon pepper, onion powder, and seasoning salt. Use your favorites on your game hens.
- Vegetable Oil: Helps the skin crisp up while roasting.
📖 Recipe Variations
- Herb Roasted Cornish Hens: Place fresh rosemary, thyme, and parsley under the skin and inside the cavity for a classic herb flavor.
- Garlic Butter Cornish Hens: Mix minced garlic into softened butter, then rub it under the skin.
- Lemon-Herb Cornish Hens: Stuff lemon slices and herbs into the cavity for bright, fresh flavor.
🔪 How To Cook Cornish Game Hens
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place a roasting rack inside a roasting pan.
Step 2: Rinse the Cornish hens under cold water, inside and out, then pat them completely dry with paper towels.
Step 3: Place the hens on the roasting rack, breast-side up. Rub vegetable oil over the front and back of each hen to help the skin crisp. Carefully loosen the skin over the breast and slide slices of butter underneath.
Step 4: Season the entire hen generously with garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, and seasoning salt. Arrange the hens evenly in the pan so air can circulate around each one.
Step 5: Place the pan in the oven and roast for 50 minutes to 1 hour, depending on size. Remove from the oven and let the hens rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Check doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F–175°F in the thickest part of the breast.
💭 Pro Tips
❔ Recipe FAQs
For crispy skin on each hen, it is recommended to use a roasting rack so air can circulate around each one. If needed, you can place them directly into the pan and roast them.
They were likely overcooked. Always use a thermometer and remove at 165°F–170°F.
Yes, wrap tightly, place in a freezer container or a freezer zip-top bag, and freeze for 2-3 months.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
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👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Roasted Cornish Hens
Ingredients
- 4 Cornish Hens
- ½ cup Butter softened
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Lemon Pepper, Seasoning Salt to taste
- 3-4 tablespoons Vegetable Oil enough to coat each cornish hen
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place a roasting rack inside a roasting pan.
- Rinse the Cornish hens under cold water, inside and out, then pat them completely dry with paper towels.
- Place the hens on the roasting rack, breast-side up.
- Rub vegetable oil over the front and back of each hen to help the skin crisp.
- Carefully loosen the skin over the breast and slide slices of butter underneath.
- Season the entire hen generously with garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, and seasoning salt.
- Arrange the hens evenly in the pan so air can circulate around each one.
- Place the pan in the oven and roast for 50 minutes to 1 hour, depending on size.
- Check doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F–175°F in the thickest part of the breast.
- Remove from the oven and let the hens rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
This easy roasted Cornish hen recipe uses butter and pantry seasonings for juicy, flavorful results. Perfect for weeknights or holidays. Easy to make!