Unveiling the Perfect Cornish Hen: A Step-by-Step Guide

This Cornish Hen Recipe is coated in a garlic and herb rub and roasted until golden brown for the perfect main entrée for any occasion. I absolutely love the simplicity of preparing these and their wonderful flavors.

Ingredients for this recipe:

• 2 thawed Cornish Hens
• 1 finely grated garlic clove
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon regular paprika
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper

Serves 2 to 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 60 minutes

Procedures:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°.
2. Pat the hens dry inside the cavity and outside with paper towels. Set them aside.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the garlic, lemon zest, rosemary, thyme, paprika, salt, pepper, and oil until combined.
4. Evenly divide the garlic and herb rub between the hens and coat them on all sides and in the cavity.
5. Tuck the wings behind the hen and tie the drums together using butcher’s twine.
6. Transfer them to a roasting pan on a rack, and using a spatula, scrape all the remaining herb and garlic oil and rub onto the top of the hens.
7. Bake in the oven on a lower rack at 425° for 50-60 minutes or until the thickest part of the breast reads 163° to 165°.
8. Remove the game hens and rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
9. Cut the hens in half along with the spice, or serve them whole with optional garnishes of lemons, fresh rosemary, and thyme. Try serving this with my Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans Almondine.

[marysharon]

Grew up with just momma and me. We always had Cornish hens for Thanksgiving. I didn't learn to roast a turkey till I was married and she showed me how. 18 pound turkey didn't fit my apartment oven. So she sat on it to flatten it had 1" of head room.😂 I am 74 I'll never forget that Thanksgiving.

[carmgirl-dmms]

You are a great chef and I love your recipes.

[matthewjamesduffy]

Chef you crushed it with this one, it's been a while since i've cooked Cornish Hen but i'll def be putting it on the family menu after watching this!

[johnreeves]

This just looks too damn good to pass up. I can see doing this possibly as early as the Sunday after thanksgiving.

[earthangel]

I fixed your recipe today for Thanksgiving for me and a friend! Everything was Delish!!!! Thx!

[montymonto]

Excellent. This looks beautiful. You make simple yet elegant dishes that are also pretty healthy.

[brendariver]

OMG, fantastic presentation, the side dishes were just perfect too! The green beans, just beautiful! I was only looking online to see how folks were cooking the hens, but you gave so much more in your demo! Thank you!

[fanofcanes]

Many thanks in 2023 for your Video share, thought I would try something different for the holidays . Your recipes are beautiful and helpful. Thanks

[caseyfeskens]

So happy to see this. I've been thinking about cornish hens as I haven't made them in years and started making stuffed hens in college and it quickly became a stand-out recipe for friends or date night. Will have to try again.

[Donaldopato]

I don't split mine, stuff with a bit of onion and Rosemary. Splitting to serve is fine but roast whole!. Your rub looks incredible. Thanks Chef!❤

[tanishagreenwood]

That look so good am going to fix this for Christmas

[DonnaLenau-urxd]

Making these today . Thanks for sharing !
,

[Jim]

Buena explicación y dedicado en compartir esta receta, felicitaciones 🎉

[janeybakarbessy]

Chef, thank you so much for this great and easy recipe and not needed to go all the way. Definitely gonna make this one as I am a flight attendant and this year my roster says that I need to fly and this is a great option. Thanks Chef!

[paulwilson]

❤thank you we are to have for Christmas. You are a great teacher !!!

[林静-vd]

You are my cooking teacher. Thank you so much for sharing. Merry Christmas and happy New year😊😊😊 ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[walterramosquispe]

Excelente receta me agrada bendiciones

[noreenhallett]

Yummy. Just the thing for Christmas. I’m going to be on my own so one of these would be perfect

[eddiewilson]

Thank you so much for sharing this video and it looks so delicious 😋!!!

[berelinde]

There are only two of us here, he doesn't cook at all, and I work late most nights, so we tend to pull out all the stops for weekend meals, when I have time to actually cook something. Cornish hens are a regular part of our rotation. I like to add a gravy, but he's happy with Cornish hens, potatoes, and a vegetable. He'd love this meal... but he would probably prefer his green beans cooked to olive-colored mush because that's the way he rolls.