Baked Cornish Hens

This Baked Cornish Hens recipe is surprisingly easy to make. Roasted to golden perfection, they have crispy skin that gives way to juicy, tender meat with every delightful bite. Serve these for weeknight dinners, Thanksgiving, or as an addition to any holiday spread.

What Are Cornish Hens

They are a small type of chicken that originated in Cornwall, England. Most Cornish hens are a young female chicken that weighs around 1-2 pounds and is about 4-6 weeks old when processed to eat.

Cornish hens are known for their tender, flavorful meat. Because of their small size, these are perfect for individual servings, making them perfect for elegant dinners, holiday feasts, or romantic meals for two.

Cornish hens have a flavor similar to that of regular chickens but with some slight differences due to their smaller size and tenderness. Some people describe the taste of Cornish hens as having a subtle sweetness, especially when cooked properly.

Spices

The spice blend consists of garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, ground thyme, ground rosemary, salt, and pepper. You can also use your favorite store-bought chicken rub.

Another great blend is Creole seasoning along with smoked paprika. Here are more suggestions:

• Lemon Pepper
• Store-Bought Chicken Rub
• Sage
• Cajun Seasoning

How to Make Baked Cornish Hens

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Drizzle olive oil over the Cornish hens and sprinkle the spices throughout.
2. Place the seasoned Cornish hens in a roasting pan or a baking dish.
3. Pour chicken broth or water into the roasting pan to provide moisture during baking.
4. Bake.
5. Cool before serving.

Temperature

I recommend 425 degrees. Roasting Cornish hens at 425 degrees allows for a relatively quick cooking time, which can help ensure that the hens cook evenly and retain their moisture. The higher heat also promotes browning and caramelization, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish.

Cook Time/How Long to Bake

Bake the Cornish hens for about 45 to 60 minutes, or however long it takes for them to reach an internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

How to Tell When They Are Done Roasting

To ensure the Cornish hens are fully cooked and safe to eat, you should use a meat thermometer to check their internal temperature. See notes above.

Stuffing

I don’t typically stuff these. They are so small and with this Cornbread Dressing recipe there is no need.

When you stuff the hens with a filling, the heat must penetrate the cavity and cook the stuffing thoroughly, in addition to cooking the hens themselves.

As the stuffing absorbs some of the heat, it can act as an insulator, slowing down the cooking process for both the hens and the stuffing. This means that the overall baking time will be longer than when cooking unstuffed hens.

If you decide to stuff the Cornish hens, it’s essential to take extra care with food safety. Always use a cooked stuffing mixture rather than raw, as cooking raw stuffing inside the hens may not allow it to reach a safe temperature within the recommended baking time.

How to Store

You can store them fully cooked in the fridge covered and sealed for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

You can reheat leftovers in the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees until warm.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze the dish tightly covered and sealed for 2-3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.

Pair With These Recipes

Yam Casserole
Fried Green Tomatoes
She Crab Soup
Mashed Potatoes with Cheese
Slow Cooker Crockpot Oxtails
Bone-In or Boneless Garlic Prime Rib

More Cornish Hen and Poultry Recipes

Slow Cooker Cornish Hens
Air Fryer Cornish Hens
Smoked Cornish Hens
Smoked Duck

Drizzle these in Yellow Gravy or make gravy using the Cornish hens’ drippings and this Gravy From Drippings recipe.

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4.75 from 4 votes

Baked Cornish Hens

This Baked Cornish Hens recipe is surprisingly easy to make. Roasted to golden perfection, they have crispy skin that gives way to juicy, tender meat with every delightful bite. Serve these for weeknight dinners, Thanksgiving, or as an addition to any holiday spread.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4 Cornish hens

Calories 220kcal

Author Brandi Crawford

Ingredients

• 4 Cornish hens
• 1-2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground rosemary
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1-2 cups chicken broth or water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Drizzle the olive oil over the Cornish hens and sprinkle the spices throughout. Rub the spices onto both sides. Ensure the hens are fully coated and add additional spices if necessary.
• Place the seasoned Cornish hens in a roasting pan or a baking dish.
• Pour the chicken broth or water into the roasting pan to provide moisture during baking. This will help keep the hens tender and juicy. Be careful to pour it around the Cornish Hens so you don’t disturb the spices on the skin.
• Bake the Cornish hens for about 45 to 60 minutes, or however long it takes for them to reach an internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
• Once done, remove the hens from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in tender, succulent meat.

Notes

You can double or half the recipe to cook additional Cornish hens if you wish.

Feel free to use your favorite chicken rub or store bought rub to season the hens.

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 220kcal | Protein: 19g | Fat: 16g