This Cornish hen recipe is an easy way to make an elegant meal.
Cornish hens are seasoned and roasted alongside vegetables until tender and juicy.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Crispy, golden skin and tender, juicy meat infused with garlic, herbs, and a hint of citrus make this roasted Cornish hen irresistibly flavorful.
- Skill level: This is easy enough for home cooks but with techniques like seasoning, roasting, and temperature checking that require some attention to detail.
- Serving suggestions: Serve these roasted Cornish hens with buttery mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, a crisp green salad, or warm dinner rolls for a well-rounded meal.
Ingredient Tips For This Cornish Hen Recipe
- Cornish Hens: Cornish hens are small birds, usually about 1.5 to 2 lbs each. You can find Cornish hens in the freezer section with chicken and turkeys (you can also order them online here).
- Vegetables: Onions, carrots, and potatoes are cooked along with the hens for a complete meal in one pan. The juices from the hens will flavor the vegetables for a perfect meal. If you prefer to roast the hens without veggies, use a rack in the baking dish.
- Seasonings: Rosemary, lemon zest, thyme, and garlic powder make the perfect rub for these Cornish game hens.
Variations
- Cornish game hens can be stuffed with homemade stuffing like a holiday bird—ensure the center of the stuffing reaches 165°F.
- Other vegetables can be added; try bell pepper or mushrooms.
- You can also use a basic chicken blend, Italian seasoning, or zesty Cajun for a twist. Instead of olive oil, use leftover bacon grease to add a smoky flavor to the skin.
Recipe Tips
- Thaw the hens in the fridge overnight before cooking.
- Fresh herbs or lemon slices can be added to the cavity before cooking.
- Cook until the hens reach 165°F with a thermometer in the thickest part of the breast.
- Let the hens rest for 10 minutes before serving. If needed, the vegetables can be placed back in the oven while the hens rest.
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Cornish hens can be kept in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Use leftovers as you would use leftover chicken— in a chicken wrap, toss into soup, or add to a quick and easy buffalo chicken dip.
Create a Cornish Hen Feast with These Sides…
Did you enjoy this Roasted Cornish Hen Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.
Cornish Hen
Roasted Cornish hens are tender and juicy with a crispy, golden-brown skin.
Equipment
- 9 x 13-inch Casserole Dish or rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 2 cornish hens about 1.5 pounds each
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary crushed
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Optional Vegetables
- 1 pound potatoes cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 carrots cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 onion cut into 1-inch wedges
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- If using, toss the vegetables with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt & pepper to taste. Place in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish or roasting pan.
- In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil with salt, rosemary, lemon zest, pepper, thyme, and garlic powder. Brush hens with the olive oil mixture. Twist wings to tuck under the bird. Tie legs together with twine if desired.
- Place Cornish hens on the vegetables and transfer the dish to the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 400°F.
- Bake the hens uncovered for 55 to 65 minutes or until the hens reach 165°F* with a thermometer. Ensure the thermometer does not touch the bone.
- Transfer the hens to a serving plate and loosely tent with foil for 10 minutes.
- Stir the vegetables into the juices on the pan. If needed, you can place them back into the oven as the hens rest. If the vegetables are cooked to your liking, turn the oven off and place them in the oven to keep warm.
- Cut hens in half using kitchen scissors and serve with vegetables.
Notes
Cornish hens can range in size from 1.5 to 2.25 lbs. Cooking time can vary slightly based on the size of your hens.
Poultry should reach a final temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the meat with the thermometer not touching the bone. I remove the hens from the oven at 160°F as they will continue to cook as they rest and will reach 165°F.
Leftovers will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 568 | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 450mg | Potassium: 669mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5338IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Do not own a thermometer so how do you test
The most accurate way is by using a meat thermometer but you can also pierce the thickest part of the hen with a sharp knife. If the juices run clear, it should be cooked. If they still run pink, you will want to cook it a little longer.
This was an awesome recipe! I loved the simplicity and it tasted wonderful!
Made 2 without the veggies using your recipe as a guide and it turned out fantastic. I want to make it again but with the veg and potatoes this time and for a group of 12. Any tips for cooking 12 hens in one go?
Oh my! I have never attempted that many at the same time but I would definitely recommend a meat thermometer to ensure they all evenly cook. I would love to hear how they turn out for you!
Does the pan need any liquid at the bottom? Making this on Thursday. Thanks!
Hi Lily! Nope, the pan does not need any liquid. I would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Cornish Hens rock! Brush them with honey before roasting for real dynamite.
Turned out beautifully!! Added potatoes carrots and corn..
So good! I will definitely be making it again.
How long do I need to bake 8 hens in same pan?
Hi Stephanie, you can estimate about 15-20 minutes per pound for baking Cornish hens at 400°F.
Good morning! What needs to be adjusted for roasting (3) Cornish hens?
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Hey Julie! If you’re cooking 3 Cornish hens, bake time will be around 65-70 minutes. Check the hens regularly to make sure they don’t over or under cook, you want the internal temp of each hen to 165°F. Happy cooking!
Other than ingredients, what would need to be adjusted for just one hen?
Hey Zach, you can use the same temperatures listed in the recipe but I would check the internal temp of the hen around 40 minutes, depending on the size of the hen. Let us know how it works out for you!
This recipe was useless and did not give any clear instructions or ingredients to use.
Hi Tony, we have found that if you are using a “reader view” you may not see the site correctly. Click jump to recipe at the top, or scroll down to find the full recipe. Hope that helps.
A long time favorite. As a kid , I loved that I got a whole bird on my plate to eat all by myself with my bare hands!
That is how the game hen became endeared to me. As an adult I have prepare the dish glazed with blackberries and with a roast chestnut stuffing.
When do you brown skin? At the 55 or 65 minute mark where it has reached 165°.
I find that it’s usually brown enough but if you’d like, you can brown it during the last few minutes of cooking time.
I tried this game hen recipe but added some Cajun seasoning. birds were done a few minutes sooner so keep an eye on them. Meat was juicy and so tasty! not to mention the veggies, wow good stuff!
sorry, 1st time I’ve commented on one of your recipes, I have tried several of yours and I’m always impressed, thank you!
Thanks so much for leaving a comment, David! Glad you are enjoying our recipes :)
I made 2 Cornish game hens up for my husband for supper!!
They were so sooooooo delicious!
The flavor and meat fell off the bone!!
Thanks so much for sharing this on line!
I would like a recipe for curry chicken with a peanut butter sauce. This recipe was great we used the vegetable for our sides I added a few more veggies than what the recipe called for
I love the recipe. Easy to follow and delicious result. Thanks
EASY, flavorful recipe. At 400′, my birds were done in about 20 minutes with another 5 to brown. They may not have been as big.
Everyone loved!! And, we are very, very picky! Served with apple salad and yogurt dressing. Will be making again
I getting ready to use the recipe for your Cornish Hen list be back