Air Fryer Cornish Hens Recipe in 30 Min EASY!

Hen cavity sizes vary so if there is excess onion or lemon which cannot fit, add it to the base of the roasting pan before placing the hens on top. This will add to the flavor of the pan juices which are drizzled over the hens when serving. When an instant read thermometer Insert an instant read food thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh.

Move the hens off the grill and grind some black pepper over them. Let the birds rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Cornish Hens with Lemon and Herbs

Some say you’ll spread bacteria if you rinse poultry, I do so quickly. So long as you aren’t splashing it all around your countertop I feel safe and like to get the juices off the outside. If there is leftover stuffing, serve as an additional side. Begin by cooking the wild rice according to the directions on the box or bag of rice. If stuffed, remove the stuffing and store in a separate container before refrigerating or freezing the bird.

• By allowing 10 minutes of natural release time, the game hens get perfectly cooked and remain tender and juicy.
• Erin, I was so tickled when I read your Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie – Cooking Games comment—I absolutely love that!
• Always thaw your cornish hens completely before cooking them.
• This great collection of Cornish Hen Recipes is perfect for special occasions and company meals.

Allow the hens to rest for 10 minutes before serving. For this recipe we’ve uses a simple bourbon and honey glaze to add a sweet-smoky element that accents the natural flavor of the hens perfectly. Transfer the hens, breast-side up, to a large cast-iron skillet.

If you’ve never had cornish hens before, this is your sign to head to the store and grab some to roast for dinner tonight! This is a delicious one-pan meal that is great for a weeknight family dinner or serving at your next dinner party. Similar to a whole roast chicken, this recipe seems super fancy but in reality, is relatively hands-off.

Cumin-Coriander Roasted Cornish Game Hens

I wasn’t sure if a chicken would fit into my pot, so I decided to start with Cornish Game Hens. I also had a bunch of veggies in the fridge. But first things first, I had to soak the pot. My dang sink wasn’t big enough to accommodate both the top and bottom on the same side. So I had to soak them on separate sides, which to me was a waste of water.

To reheat, simply place the pot on a med-low flame and stir to combine and heat evenly. Add the salt and half-and-half; adjust both salt and half-and-half accordingly to get the taste and texture that you want. Add the butter in small chunks and mash until the potatoes become smooth. Fold the potatoes with a spatula to ensure that the butter is completely incorporated.

This particular breed of chicken matures quickly with large breasts and fatty skin. There are a couple of methods to tying cornish game hens. One way is to truss a cornish hen, which is a more secure and specific tying technique than I used here.