Roasted Cornish Hens are a fun, yet elegant twist, on a classic turkey or roasted chicken for your cozy dinners at home or impressive holiday tables. They are absolutely delicious, simple to prepare, and everyone loves them. And, what’s not to love. They’re so full of flavor, totally customizable, and the juiciest version of chicken you’ll ever have!
Let’s get started!
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
let’s chat!
Roasted Cornish Hens are my latest obsession. They are so unbelievably delicious and so incredibly juicy, that I continue to kick myself for not trying them sooner. And, what’s better? They cook in under an hour!
These small variety of chickens roast up so well and can easily take on any seasoning you like. I kept this recipe super simple, but feel free to play with them and the flavors you choose. When I come across them in the grocery store now, I always throw them in the cart. They’re so easy to roast and they’re visually stunning. All you have to do is cut them in half to serve – zero messy carving required. It’s a win-win-winner, Cornish hen dinner.
Roasted Cornish Hen is simple enough to serve for a cozy weeknight dinner, but I love to make these for the holiday season. Sometimes I just do not feel like wrangling a massive turkey and everything that entails. It can be a bit much with everything else going on during the busiest time of year.
They’re perfect for smaller get-togethers and dinner parties with friends. Roasted Cornish Hens are also great for those relaxing, romantic dinners at home when going out just doesn’t sound that great. They’re simple, elegant, and they turn out phenomenal each and every time.
roasted cornish hens ingredients
- Cornish Hens
- Onions
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Smoked Paprika
- Granulated Garlic
- Granulated Onion
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Ground Pepper
how to roast cornish hens
brining
As with any whole bird I cook, I 100% recommend brining them first. It is truly a next-to-zero effort for an incredible return on your efforts. My Turkey Brine is perfect for this, just cut the recipe in half. If you want to keep it even simpler, just bring the Cornish hens in salted water.
I let my bird brine overnight, but suggest you go at least 12 yours. I cannot put into words how much of a difference this makes.
Once the birds have brined, remove them from the liquid and dry them off well. Discard the brining solution. It’s done its job and it’s good for anything else at this point.
roasting the cornish hens
Preheat the oven to 425°
To begin the roasting of the hens, we need to make the dry rub. In a small bowl, simply mix the granulated garlic and onion, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper together. Season the birds generously, inside and out.
Add the lemon, garlic bulb halves, and onions to the roasting pan and drizzle with avocado or olive oil. Lay a couple sprigs of rosemary and thyme on top of this layer. Add the remaining fresh thyme and rosemary to the cavity of the birds.
Place the birds on top of the bed of lemon, onion, and garlic, breast-side up. With kitchen twine, tie the back legs together. This ensures a more even roast and a juicier result.
Roast the Cornish hens for about 50 minutes, uncovered, or until they reach an internal temp of 165°. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to let the juices absorb into the bird.
serving roasted cornish hens
Serving Roasted Cornish Hens is one of my favorite parts of this recipe. All you do once the hens are roasted and rested is cut them in half. There is no messy carving required! Each person gets one half of the hen – a little white meat and a little dark meat. It’s the perfect combination of deliciousness!
To cut them in half, I suggest a very sharp chef’s knife or a pair of good quality kitchen shears. Slice between the breasts, working your way down until you’ve cut all the way through. For the scissors, carefully snip through the breasts and breastbones until you’ve cut the bird in two. The lemon, onion, and garlic have become nice and caramelized at this point and make the most amazing pan sauce. Drizzle the pan drippings over the halves of the hens and serve!
recipe frequently asked questions
A Cornish hen is simply a particular variety of chicken. They are much smaller than you’re everyday chicken that you normally see – about 1-2 pounds each. Flavor-wise they are almost identical to the regular chicken. Found in the frozen section of most grocery stores, their smaller size allows them to roast quicker and, in my opinion, stay juicer. The size of these wonderful little hens allows each person to have a full breast with the leg and thigh portion as well.
Yes! This recipe has zero gluten or dairy. It’s a wonderfully healthy recipe that anyone can enjoy!
In the grocery store, at least in my neck of the woods, the Cornish hens are located in the frozen section – where you might find a frozen turkey. They will need to be thawed before cooking. I put mine in the fridge for a few days, before I brine them.
other reader favorite main dishes
shop kitchen essentials here
Roasted Cornish Hen
Ingredients
Dry Rub
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp granulated onion
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
the rest
- 2 whole Cornish hens
- 1 lemon, cut into inch-wide slices
- 1 med onion, cut into inch-wide slices
- 1 head garlic, halved lengthwise
- avocado oil
- 4-5 sprigs thyme
- 2-3 sprigs rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°.
- Mix together the ingredients for the dry rub. Dry the hens well, inside and out with a paper towel. Season the hens. Add a couple springs of the thyme and rosemary to each cavity.
- Into the roasting pan, spread the lemon, onion, and garlic into a single layer to create a bed for the hens. Drizzle with avocado oil to prevent sticking. Add the remaining thyme and rosemary springs to this layer.
- Set the hens onto the lemon, onion, and garlic, breast-side up. With kitchen twine, tie the back legs together. This will ensure more even cooking.
- Roast, uncovered, for about 50 minutes or until the the hens reach an internal temperature of 165°.
- Remove the hens from the oven and let them rest for at least 10 minutes.
- Cut the hens in half, drizzle with the pan drippings, and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Roasted Cornish Hen recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
–Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
other favorite recipes
If you guys make this Roasted Cornish Hen, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
delicious meal, great alternative to a chicken or turkey meal.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked this recipe!