Roasted Cornish Hens that turn out juicy inside and golden outside every time! Simple ingredients, easy prep, and perfect for holidays or your next date night at home!
They're mini chickens with maximum flavor — this simple recipe is a hit for picky eaters and adults alike. Let's get started!
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Roasted Cornish Hens are so unbelievably delicious and so incredibly juicy, that I continue to kick myself for not trying them sooner. It's like a weeknight mini roast chicken and they cook in under an hour!
These small variety of chickens are so easy to roast and they're visually stunning. Have picky eaters? They will love having their own tiny chicken to enjoy!
Roasted cornish hens with herbs and spices are simple enough to serve for a cozy weeknight dinner, but I also love to make these for the holiday season.
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.
Key Ingredients
- Cornish Hens - It's just a small variety of chicken. You can find them in the freezer section of
- Onions, Garlic, Lemon - Provides a flavorful bed for the birds. They caramelize and become absolutely delicious.
- Rosemary, Thyme, Smoked Paprika, Granulated Garlic, Granulated Onion - The pantry staple herb and spice lineup. Super simple, full of flavor.
How To Brine Your Birds
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.
Variations and Substitutions
You can use hearty root vegetables for the base for these oven roasted cornish hens instead of the onions, lemon, and garlic. Something like carrots, parsnips, and even small-cut potatoes would be delicious and hearty.
Add a hefty splash of white wine to the roasting pan before roasting to add a hint of acidity and added flavor.
You can use a regular sized chicken for this recipe. However, you will need to increase the roasting time until the bird reaches 165°F internal temp at its thickest point.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure these miniature fancy chickens are fully thawed. Do this over the course of a couple days in the fridge.
Remove the raw Cornish hens from the fridge at least 30 minutes before roasting. Never cook a protein straight from the fridge in order to achieve an even roast for a juicy bird.
Let the birds rest 15-20 minutes before carving in order to allow the natural juices to reabsorb into the meat.
Roasted Cornish Hens Recipe
Ingredients
Dry Rub
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon 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
How To Carve These Mini Chickens
Serving these crispy skinned 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 the roasted cornish hens in half, I suggest a very sharp chef's knife or a pair of good quality kitchen shears. For the knife method, simply slice between the breasts, working your way down until you've cut all the way through.
For the kitchen shears method, 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!
Serving Ideas
Whether these wonderfully juicy Cornish hens are for a weeknight dinner with family or on an elegant holiday table, the side dish options are endless.
Creamy garlic mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, and even mashed cauliflower are all lovely as a soft, decadent base. My twice baked potato casserole is also a fun option and especially kid-friendly!
Oven-roasted asparagus and roasted green beans are fantastic green vegetable options and both incredibly simple to make.
For dessert, I would highly suggest my pumpkin cheesecake or chocolate tart. Both casual enough for everyday, but will definitely stand out on a Christmas or Thanksgiving dessert table!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cornish hen???
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.
Is this recipe gluten and/or dairy-free?
Yes! This recipe has zero gluten or dairy. It's a wonderfully healthy recipe that anyone can enjoy!
Where do I find Cornish hens?
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.
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!
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
brenda hill says
delicious meal, great alternative to a chicken or turkey meal.
Rufus says
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked this recipe!