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This is a picture of a small dutch oven with two roasted cornish hens.

Roasted Cornish Hens Recipe

Crispy, juicy roasted Cornish hens made easy with a simple brine or dry rub. Foolproof, fast, and perfect for a no-stress dinner that feels special.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 487kcal
Author: Ruth Truett

Equipment

Ingredients

The Brine

  • ½ recipe of my turkey brine or your favorite saltwater brine (optional)

The Dry Rub

The Hens

  • 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

The Brine

  • Allow Cornish hens to brine in the fridge at least 12 hours or overnight. Discard brine and dry the birds well before roasting.

The Roasting

  • 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.
  • Drizzle the bottom of a roasting pan with avocado oil. Spread the lemon, onion, and garlic into a single layer to create a bed for the hens. 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

If you don't want to make the dry rub, feel free to use your favorite all-purpose seasoning. 
Brining is optional, but highly recommended. I brine my Cornish hen for overnight. You can simply do this with a salt and water solution, or use something like my Turkey Brine. Doing this incredibly simple, 5-minute step will give you the very best Cornish hen ever.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 1304mg | Potassium: 672mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 547IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg
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