Best 6 Apricot Glazed Cornish Hens Recipes

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When it comes to creating a memorable and delicious main course, look no further than apricot glazed cornish hens. These succulent birds are small, tender, and bursting with flavor. Their delicate meat is the perfect canvas for a variety of glazes, making them a versatile dish for any occasion. Whether you're hosting a special dinner or simply looking for a flavorful weeknight meal, apricot glazed cornish hens are sure to impress.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT PISTACHIO DRESSING



Glazed Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Pistachio Dressing image

Cornish game hens are festive and readily available. I've even made them the centerpiece of a holiday meal. These little birds cook much more quickly than other holiday roasts, such as lamb or ham. I normally figure on one hen (in the 1 1/2- to 2-pound range) to serve every two guests - especially if you also plan to have a first course and a dessert.

Provided by Ben S.

Categories     Main Dish Recipes

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 Cornish game hens (about 1 1/2 pounds each), cut down the backbone with heavy-duty scissors and spread open
2 cups kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium-large onion, cut into medium dice
1 cup dried apricots, cut into medium dice
½ cup apricot jam
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
½ cup pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped
½ cup chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Brining the hens before roasting improves their flavor: Dissolve 2 cups of kosher salt in a clean bucket filled with 5 quarts of water. Add prepared hens and soak for 2 hours. Rinse thoroughly; pat dry.
  • Adjust oven rack to upper middle position, and heat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet. Saute onions until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in apricots, then spread mixture onto a large (about 18-by-12-inch) lipped cookie sheet. Lay hens over the mixture. Mix jam and vinegar, and brush all but a few tablespoons over hens.
  • Bake hens, brushing 2 or 3 times with remaining jam mixture and accumulated pan juices, until hens are golden brown and juices run clear, about 45 minutes. Turn heat from bake to broil, then cook until hens are spotty brown, watching carefully so they don't burn, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Transfer hens to a large platter with tongs, then cut in half at the breastbone to create individual servings.
  • Return apricot dressing to the oven and broil to evaporate some of the excess liquid, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in pistachios and parsley. Spoon in a mound next to hens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 866.1 calories, Carbohydrate 29.1 g, Cholesterol 339.9 mg, Fat 56 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 60.5 g, SaturatedFat 14.2 g, Sodium 23025.5 mg, Sugar 20.3 g

APRICOT-GLAZED CORNISH HENS FOR TWO



Apricot-Glazed Cornish Hens for Two image

I found this easy recipe for Cornish hens and prepare it often for my family. The glaze keeps the hens tender and moist, and the skin roasts to a golden glow. It's tasty, too. When the children are gone for the weekend, my husband and I enjoy this meal-perfect for two.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
2 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon grated onion
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Steps:

  • Combine the salt and cayenne. Rub a third of the mixture inside hens. Brush 1 tablespoon butter over hens; sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Place on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the preserves, honey, onion, nutmeg and remaining butter. Cook and stir until preserves are melted. Brush over hens. Bake 35-40 minutes longer or until golden brown and a thermometer reads 180°. Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts :

APRICOT-GLAZED CORNISH HENS



Apricot-Glazed Cornish Hens image

These savory hens are a tasty sized-right twist on the conventional bird. Filled with a well-seasoned stuffing, they make perfect individual servings, reveals Ruth Andrewson of Leavenworth, Washington. "The hens smell so good while baking, folks can hardly wait to eat," she smiles.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h35m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 tablespoons chopped celery
3 tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 cup butter, cubed
3 cups dry bread cubes
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1-1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 to 4 tablespoons chicken broth
4 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1 jar (12 ounces) apricot preserves, warmed
4 green onions (green part only), optional
Fresh rosemary sprigs, optional

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, saute celery and onion in butter until tender; remove from heat. Add the bread, mushrooms and seasonings. Toss with enough chicken broth just to moisten. , Stuff hens. Tie drumsticks together. Place on a rack in a large shallow baking pan. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour. , Brush with preserves. Bake, uncovered, 30-45 minutes longer or until meat juices run clear, basting every 10-15 minutes. , If using green onions, first soften them in boiling water or the microwave for a few seconds, then tie over the string used to tie the drumsticks together. Garnish platter with rosemary if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Fat 42 g fat (15 g saturated fat), Cholesterol 216 mg cholesterol, Sodium 1,239 mg sodium, Carbohydrate 116 g carbohydrate, Fiber 4 g fiber, Protein 43 g protein.

APRICOT GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT RICE STUFFING



Apricot Glazed Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Rice Stuffing image

Make and share this Apricot Glazed Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Rice Stuffing recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Katha

Categories     Poultry

Time 2h45m

Yield 2-4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 Cornish hens
1/4 cup water
6 ounces apricot preserves (sugar free)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
garlic powder
cooking spray
aluminum foil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
6 -8 dried apricots, finely chopped
1/2 cup brown rice
1/2 cup long grain and wild rice blend (ParExcelence)
2 cups chicken broth

Steps:

  • For glaze: Put 1/4 cup water, apricot preserve and cinnamon in a microwave safe bowl.
  • Microwave on high about 20 seconds.
  • Stir to blend.
  • If not blending well, microwave another 10 seconds.
  • Stir again till smooth.
  • For rice: Sauté garlic, celery, onion, apricots in oil about 5 minutes.
  • Add brown rice; sauté another 3 minutes.
  • Add 2 cups chicken broth and 3-4 tablespoons of glaze sauce.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Lower heat to a low simmer.
  • Simmer covered 10-15 minutes.
  • Add pilaf rice.
  • Stir, cover and simmer 15-25 minutes or longer until liquid is absorbed.
  • Allow to cool. (This could be done earlier in the day if you see fit).
  • For Hens: Preheat oven to 400°F; line a 13 x 9 pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.
  • Wash hens, remove giblets and pat dry.
  • Sprinkle with garlic powder in and out of hens.
  • Stuff with rice mixture.
  • Brush with glaze mixture.
  • To prevent over browning make a foil tent.
  • Crease a sheet of foil crosswise through the center to form a tent leave 1-2 inches between top of hens so heat can circulate crimp on sides.
  • Bake 30 minutes.
  • Remove foil and brush with glaze.
  • Bake uncovered until hens are tender and juices run clear, about 40-45 minutes, basting about every 10-15 minutes until glaze is used up.
  • 2-4 servings depending on appetite.

APRICOT GLAZED CORNISH HENS



Apricot Glazed Cornish Hens image

This is a recipe that came with my Oster vertical Rotisserie. We've made this recipe many times and love it. We've also changed up the preserves to other kinds, but this one is still my fav. I usually double the sauce because it's also good over rice.

Provided by Vicki Butts (lazyme)

Categories     Chicken

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 whole cornish game hens, or 4-lb chicken
1 c apricot preserves
4 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce

Steps:

  • 1. Rinse defrosted hens in cold running water. Drain, pat dry inside and out with paper towel.
  • 2. Combine preserves, vinegar and soy sauce. Divide sauce in half.
  • 3. Spray inside of rotisserie basket with nonstick vegetable coating spray; place on spit and fit unit on hub of drip tray. Center one hen on spit with wings downward; center second hen on spit with wings upward.
  • 4. Close rotisserie door. Plug in; be certain unit rotates freely. Cook until juices run clear and thermometer inserted in breast registers 185ºF(approximately 55 to 60 minutes). Brush hens with half of sauce during last 10 minutes of cooking.
  • 5. Remove hens to a warm platter to serve. Heat the reserved half of sauce and serve with hens. Refrigerate leftovers.

APRICOT-GINGER GLAZED CORNISH HENS



Apricot-Ginger Glazed Cornish Hens image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 Cornish game hens (about 1 pound each), split in 1/2 lengthwise
Vegetable oil, as needed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced, peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2/3 cup apricot jam
Toasted sesame seeds, as needed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Arrange the hens skin-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush the hens with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the hens until browned, about 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and apricot jam to make a smooth glaze.
  • Remove the hens from the oven, and spoon the glaze over each hen half to coat well. Continue roasting the hens, basting with the glaze occasionally, until well browned, about 10 minutes, more.
  • Divide the hens among plates and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Tips:

  • To ensure even cooking, make sure to truss the Cornish hens properly before roasting. This will help them retain their shape and cook evenly throughout.
  • For a crispy skin, brush the hens with melted butter or olive oil before roasting. You can also sprinkle them with salt and pepper for extra flavor.
  • To make the apricot glaze, simply combine apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey in a small bowl. Brush the glaze over the hens during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
  • If you don't have apricot preserves, you can use another type of fruit preserves, such as peach or orange. You can also use honey or maple syrup instead of the preserves.
  • Cornish hens are a great option for a special occasion meal, but they can also be enjoyed for a weeknight dinner. Serve them with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad.

Conclusion:

This apricot glazed Cornish hens recipe is a delicious and easy way to prepare this flavorful bird. With its crispy skin, juicy meat, and tangy glaze, it's sure to be a hit at your next dinner party. So next time you're looking for a special dish to serve, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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