I love a delicious roast chicken dinner, but sometimes I’m just in the mood for something new and different. Roast Cornish hens have become my go-to dish when I want to add variety to my menu options. They’re simple and easy enough to make for a weeknight family dinner but fancy enough for that special occasion or date night at home. And don’t be daunted by their elegant appearance! With a prep time of just about 20 minutes, roast Cornish hen can fit into even the busiest schedule. In addition, thanks to their small, manageable size, messy carving, and uneven cooking are things of the past! The name hen is a slight misnomer since the birds we buy at the store are both male and female. Although the flavor is similar to that of a regular chicken, Cornish hens are smaller, weighing in at under two pounds (900 grams). So you might ask, what are the advantages? In addition to lending a certain elegance to your dinner table, Cornish hens tend to have lower calories and fat since they’re younger than regular chickens.
Roast Cornish Hen Ingredients
Cornish Game Hens – Obviously the star of this dish! Look for birds that are 1½-2 pounds. They’re available at almost any grocery store or butcher shop.Garlic Butter – Made with simple ingredients in your pantry, this garlic butter is the secret ingredient to making flavorful and juicy Cornish hens.Creole Seasoning – Another easy-to-prepare addition to this recipe, Creole seasoning adds a little bit of boldness. I like to prepare the Creole seasoning ahead of time and store it in an airtight container. That way, it’s always on hand!Chicken Stock – Store-bought chicken stock will work fine if you’re short on time. Or even better, you can make it ahead and freeze it. Just simmer bones from a whole chicken or chopped chicken parts for a few hours with vegetables, herbs, and aromatics, and voila! Homemade chicken stock.Dry White Wine – The wine’s acidity helps the meat stay tender. As wine cooks, its flavor becomes concentrated, which lends savoriness to this already flavorful dish.
How To Roast Cornish Hens
Prepare the Hens Ready for the Oven
Variations and Substitutions
If you don’t have a bottle of white wine in your pantry, try substituting it with apple juice or ginger ale. Or just add extra chicken broth to the recipe. Don’t have time to prepare all the seasonings ahead of time? For a quick variation of the Italian seasoning, simply mix ¼ teaspoon each of dried thyme, rosemary, basil, and oregano, and you’re good to go! Quick and easy Italian seasoning.
Tips and Tricks
Roasting Cornish game hens is relatively easy. Remember, they cook faster than regular chickens due to their smaller size. Keep your eye on the oven, so they don’t overcook! Some people prefer butterflying the hens to get that nice, crispy skin or grilling them after marinating. But I find that the regular basting and the garlic butter under the skin get the flavors into every inch of the meat while keeping it moist and juicy. Use your fingers to apply the garlic butter and work quickly. If the bird is still cold, the butter solidifies quickly and is difficult to spread. What’s the best way to tell if roasted Cornish game hens are done? A digital instant-read thermometer is a solid investment for any kitchen. They’re easy to use and the best way to ensure perfectly cooked meat at every meal!
Make-Ahead Instructions
I suggest making the garlic butter, Italian seasoning, and Creole seasoning a day or two before. Garlic butter keeps in the fridge for up to a week, and the seasonings will keep much longer. If you opt for homemade chicken broth, it can be made ahead and kept in the freezer. That gives you a jump on meal prep. If you have those ingredients ready, the rest of the prep time for this recipe is only about 20 minutes.
Serving and Storage Instructions
To prevent moisture loss, you’ll want to let the chickens rest for about 5-10 minutes after taking them out of the oven. Serving size is up to you. Serving one perfectly baked, golden, and crispy roast Cornish hen per plate lends a certain elegance, restaurant-at-home feel to your table. However, if your hen is close to the 2-pound mark, it might be too much meat for a single serving. Another option is to split the hen in half. Each person will still get a perfectly delicious chicken breast and leg. In my experience, there aren’t a lot of leftovers after this meal! But if you do have leftovers, just pop them in the fridge or freezer. It’ll last 3-4 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer! The meat reheats equally well in the microwave, skillet, or warm oven. My son likes it when I save some pan drippings and spoon them over the meat while reheating. They keep the meat extra-moist and flavorful. Delish!
What Goes with Roast Cornish Hens
For side dishes, roasted fingerling potatoes and honey-glazed carrots are perfect accompaniments. Or opt for roast garlic mashed potatoes and green beans and bacon to have them coming back for seconds… and thirds! And if you’re entertaining, why not cap off the evening with a pecan pie? Talk about comfort food!
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
Love a good whole chicken recipe? Then I think you’ll love these:
Slow-Cooker Whole ChickenCajun Whole Roast ChickenBeer Can ChickenBlackened Spatchcock Chicken
Conclusion
Mouthwateringly delicious and visually impressive, this roast Cornish hen is sure to be a hit. Whether your next meal is a Wednesday night dinner with the family, date night with your significant other, or a special occasion that needs to be remembered, why not give Cornish game hens a try? Leave me a comment below and let me know how they turn out!
Watch How To Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”T4pVn5zl” upload-date=”2020-10-15T02:38:22.000Z” name=”Roast Cornish Hens” description=”Roast Cornish Hens – juicy, flavorful, and fall-off-the-bone tender roasted cornish game hens packed with fresh herbs and seasonings. Simply split the hen in half and you’ll have two servings of elegant dinner without the messy carving. Perfect for date nights or special occasions!” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was first published in April 2020 and has been updated with a new write-up, and a recipe ingredient photo.
