Smoked Cornish Game Hens

They can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven, however the crispy skin will never fully regain its original glory. At 40 minutes, lower the oven temperature to 350°F so it is at the smoke point of the butter. Remove the hens and baste with well on just the top side with half of the butter .

Place the hens on a tray or in a baking dish and refrigerate them overnight to dry out. This will help the skin crisp up, and help keep the juices in the meat. If desired, you can remove the skin Visit website after roasting. Sprinkle some salt over your hens hours before you need to roast them. Pat the excess moisture and salt off before adding the dry rub.

  • Roasted Cornish Hens are basted with a fresh herbs olive oil, roasted for browned crispy skin and finished with a zesty butter garlic sauce.
  • However, because Cornish game hens are much small than regular chicken you'll be able to fit anywhere from three to four in the same roasting pan.
  • My favorite way to cook a whole Cornish game hen is the same way I like to cook a whole chicken; roasted in the oven.

Grease the air fryer racks or baskets with the oil. Remove any giblets from the Cornish hens and rinse the inside of them. Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees if necessary. While the typical size is two pounds or under, they can vary a bit so use just enough seasoning to lightly coat your birds. You can always add some extra salt and pepper to taste before serving.

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It also helps retain moisture, keeping the meat tender and juicy. Tucking the wings in also protects them from getting charred to a crisp during cooking. Roasted Cornish hens are great for dinner dates and can be an excellent alternative to turkey and large broiler chickens. Measuring doneness—Use an instant thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should read 165F when done. Pick similar-sized Cornish chickens to avoid uneven cooking. Likewise, ensure the crock pot perfectly fits the chicken.

Put the roasting pan in the preheated oven and bake the hens for 30 minutes with the lid off. Then, dip a basting brush into the reserved sauce and brush it over the hens. Cook the hens for 30 more minutes. Mix the rest of the spices in another bowl and scatter them over the hens. Stir the spices until they're combined and then sprinkle them evenly over the hens.

When plated as individual servings, baked Cornish hens have a classy, luxurious presentation. Can you please tell me what kind of white wine you used? Also do you think it would be okay if I seasoning the cornish hen a day ahead. I need to make 24 of them and don’t know if I will have time to prep everything the day of. For the best results, roast the Cornish hens uncovered, breast-side up, in a shallow roasting pan or cast-iron Dutch oven. Place the onions, sliced lemons, and half of the sage and rosemary into the roasting pan or Dutch oven.

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Roll up your sleeves and give the hens a luxurious massage with the garlic-sage butter. Make sure to cover every part of them, including between the legs and breast. Lift the skin of the breast and spoon in some of the garlic-sage butter. Make sure it’s nicely distributed under the skin . Fill each cavity with stuffing, but don’t over-stuff.

Cornish hens are typically only found at specialty butcher shops or very large grocery stores. In more practical terms, a Cornish hen is a chicken that is small enough to be eaten in one sitting, by one person. Crisp up the tops with the Mealthy CrispLid or pop-under the broiler in the oven. I am normally able to find them at most grocery stores. Costco will occasionally carry them in packs of six, I believe, and it’s the best price. However, they aren’t always in stock.