Perfect for date night or a dinner party, our Roasted Cornish Hens recipe is sure to please. Roasted to a crispy golden brown on the outside, with succulent, juicy meat on the inside, these petite birds are an elegant alternative to traditional poultry dishes.
Roasted Cornish hens are perfect for a special occasion or holiday meal, yet simple enough for a busy weeknight dinner. These small chickens are easy to make and roast more quickly than a regular chicken.
My roasted Cornish game hen recipe not only makes a beautiful presentation, they're tender and juicy, with great flavor. This delicious recipe is going to be one you make time and time again!
If you love tasty oven-roasted poultry, make sure to check out my roasted blackened chicken and spatchcock chicken recipes.
Ingredients to make Roasted Cornish Hens
Get set before you start! One of my favorite sayings is that an ounce of preparation equals a pound of cure. A few minutes spent prepping and measuring your ingredients makes cooking smoother, faster, and way more fun.
How to make Roasted Cornish Hens
Follow my easy step-by-step instructions on how to make roasted Cornish hens in your home kitchen.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Add the rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, garlic powder, nutmeg, sweet paprika, and black pepper to a small bowl.
- Mix to combine.
- Place a wire rack on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray the rack with cooking spray, or apply a light coat of olive oil.
- Pat the cornish hens dry with paper towels.
- Place the Cornish hen's breast side up on the rack and stuff the cavity of each hen with lemon wedges and any fresh herbs or aromatics you may want to add.
*Sprigs of fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, or fresh sage are good choices. You can also add garlic cloves.
- Apply the seasoning mixture on all sides of the bird, rubbing the seasoning into the skin.
* During the preparation, the hens should be at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will help them cook more evenly.
- Place the cornish hens on the center rack of the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
- Baste the hens with butter and continue cooking until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees (10-15 minutes).
*Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the game hen.
- Remove the birds from the oven and let them rest for 15 minutes before serving, allowing the juices to redistribute back into the whole bird.
You'll love the crispy skin and juicy, succulent meat of these roasted Cornish hens. They'll be the easiest fancy dinner you've ever made!
They're a great alternative to roast chicken. Serve them with oven roasted asparagus recipe, brussels sprouts, wild rice, rosemary roasted potatoes, or your favorite side dishes.
Recipe Variations & Adjustments
- We used our homemade poultry seasoning in my recipe, but you can add your favorite fresh herbs and spices to create the flavor profile that suits your taste buds.
- You can also use your favorite premade seasonings. Cajun, Italian, lemon pepper, and jerk seasoning are among my favorites.
Storage and Reheating
- Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Slice the hens into pieces and reheat in a 300-degree oven until warmed through.
Recipe FAQs
Placing a wire rack over a baking sheet lets the air circulate around the bird, ensuring that it cooks evenly and produces a golden brown crispy skin on the outside.
No, don't rinse the skin or cavity of the bird. Rinsing may spread bacteria in the sink and on the countertop.
Once defrosted, remove the bird from its packaging and pat it dry using paper towels. If the bird is packed with giblets, remove the bad and reserve it for sauces or gravies.
Not really, but Cornish hens' younger age and smaller size result in meat that is more tender and juicy than that of an older, larger chicken.
Cornish hens (also referred to as Cornish game hens) are a smaller variety of the standard chicken sold in local grocery stores. Weighing 1 – 2 pounds, their smaller size makes them perfect for a single serving, allowing your guests to enjoy every part of the chicken
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Roasted Cornish Hens
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Pat the cornish hens dry with paper towels.
- Add the seasonings to a small bowl and mix to combine.
- Place a wire rack on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray the rack with cooking spray, or apply a light coat of olive oil to the rack.
- Place the cornish hens on the rack and stuff them with the lemons and any fresh herbs or aromatics you may want to add.
- Season the cornish hens with the seasoning mixture on all sides, rubbing the seasoning into the skin.*The hens should be at room temperature for about 30 minutes, during the preparation. This will help them to cook more evenly.
- Place the cornish hens on the center rack of the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes. Then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
- Baste the hens with butter and continue cooking until an internal temperature of 165 degrees has been reached (10-15 minutes).*Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the game hen.
- Remove them from the oven and let them rest for 15 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute back into the whole bird.
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