Best 9 Cornish Game Hens Basted With A Compound Butter Recipes

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Cornish game hens are a delightful culinary treat, prized for their succulent meat and tender texture. To elevate their flavor and create a truly memorable dish, basting them with a compound butter is an exquisite technique that adds richness, moisture, and a symphony of flavors to every bite. In this comprehensive guide, we will embark on a culinary journey, exploring the art of creating the perfect compound butter and expertly basting cornish game hens to achieve a golden-brown, crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat. Let's delve into the world of compound butter and discover how it transforms cornish game hens into a masterpiece that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS



Roasted Cornish Game Hens image

Go for a different kind of bird by stuffing and cooking the Neelys' Roasted Cornish Game Hens recipe from Down Home with the Neelys on Food Network.

Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h20m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon-pepper
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 Cornish game hens, about 1 1/2 pounds each, rinsed and dried thoroughly
1 green bell pepper, large dice
2 stalks celery, large dice
1 onion, large dice

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a small mixing bowl, stir together salt, lemon pepper, dried basil and poultry seasoning. Rub olive oil all over the hens and season each with the salt mixture. Place the hens on a baking sheet pan with plenty of space between them. You may need to use 2 pans. Loosely stuff the cavities of each hen with some green bell pepper, celery and onion. Roast the hens in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. Remove the hens from the oven, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before carving or serving.

BUTTERFLIED CORNISH HENS WITH SAGE BUTTER



Butterflied Cornish Hens with Sage Butter image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 (1 3/4-pound) Cornish game hens, butterflied
1 stick butter, softened
5 to 7 sage leaves, finely chopped
1 lemon, zested
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil, for sauteing
4 strips bacon, chopped

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Place hens on a sheet tray fitted with a cooling rack in the refrigerator to dry skin out for 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small pan over medium heat, melt butter with sage, zest, salt and pepper. Remove hens from refrigerator. Preheat 2 large saute pans over medium heat, lightly coat with oil. Season hens with salt and pepper and sear, skin side down, in the pans. Sear until skin caramelizes and turns golden brown and crispy, about 7 to 10 minutes. Flip birds over, and baste with sage butter. Sprinkle tops with chopped bacon and place in preheated oven to finish cooking, 25 to 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED CORNISH GAME HENS



Baked Cornish Game Hens image

Cornish game hens stuffed with a vegetable mixture, then roasted. A Cornish game hen recipe that I found and tweaked a bit for the taste and size of our small family, but it would be very easy to adjust it to fit your needs. It goes well with oven-roasted potatoes.

Provided by JMRYGH

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Cornish Hen Recipes

Time 2h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 Cornish game hens
½ cup melted butter
½ onion, chopped
½ stalk celery, chopped
¼ green bell pepper, chopped
1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup melted butter

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • In a small bowl combine the 1/2 cup melted butter, onion, celery, bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, basil, oregano and parsley.
  • Season hens inside and out with salt and pepper to taste, then stuff with equal amounts butter/vegetable mixture. Place stuffed birds in a 9x13 inch baking dish, breast side up. Drizzle with 1/4 cup melted butter.
  • Cover dish and bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove cover and brown at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 476.2 calories, Carbohydrate 4.5 g, Cholesterol 166.8 mg, Fat 45.2 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 14.3 g, SaturatedFat 24.8 g, Sodium 421 mg, Sugar 1.8 g

CORNISH GAME HENS



Cornish Game Hens image

These hens look festive and were something different from the usual ham or turkey. They're simple to make, and each person gets an attractive individual serving.-Karen Darrell, Wood River, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
SAUCE:
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water

Steps:

  • Place hens on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Tie legs with kitchen string if desired. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine the butter, orange juice and honey; spoon over hens. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until a thermometer reads 165° and juices run clear, basting every 15 minutes., In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, honey and vinegar. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into orange juice mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Serve with hens.

Nutrition Facts :

BARBECUED CORNISH HENS



Barbecued Cornish Hens image

I came up with this recipe when I was just a teenager and have made it quite often since then. -Diane Widmer, Blue Island, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h35m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Salt and pepper
1 cup ketchup
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons steak sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Steps:

  • Rub Cornish hens with butter; sprinkle salt and pepper inside cavity and over skin. Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Baste hens with sauce. Bake 45 minutes longer or until juices run clear and a thermometer reads 180°, basting frequently.

Nutrition Facts :

BROILED CORNISH GAME HENS



Broiled Cornish Game Hens image

Make and share this Broiled Cornish Game Hens recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Shawn C

Categories     Poultry

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 Cornish hens (1 1/2 - 1 3/4 lb each)
3 teaspoons lemon pepper
6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine
6 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh is best)
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple slices (juice also)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
rice, for 6 people
3 tablespoons parsley

Steps:

  • PREHEAT 450°F BROILER!
  • Remove any giblets and rinse cavity and hen well and pat dry.
  • Split hens in half vertically.
  • Sprinkle both sides of each half hen with lemon pepper.
  • Place skin side down in foil covered broiler pan.
  • Place 1 T butter on each cavity half; pour 1 T lemon juice over each half.
  • Broil 7 inches away from heat.
  • Broil 5 minutes then baste.
  • Broil 15 minutes longer.
  • Turn hen over; baste and broil 15 minutes, basting 1 to 2 times.
  • Place pineapple around hens and sprinkle with sugar. (Be sure to put in the juice). Broil 5 minutes.
  • Mix parsley with rice.
  • Serve hens over the rice with pineapple slices and drippings for gravy.
  • Serve with lemon wedges or slices for garnish as well as for more lemon flavor on hens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 289.1, Fat 15.6, SaturatedFat 8.3, Cholesterol 139.3, Sodium 167.3, Carbohydrate 12.9, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 10.5, Protein 24.4

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY



Cornish Game Hens with Garlic and Rosemary image

Crusty garlic bread and a nice light Chianti wine complement this meal very well.

Provided by MOONANDBACK

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Cornish Hen Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 Cornish game hens
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, quartered
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons olive oil
24 cloves garlic
⅓ cup white wine
⅓ cup low-sodium chicken broth
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
  • Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 814.3 calories, Carbohydrate 9.7 g, Cholesterol 339.7 mg, Fat 57.5 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 59.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 1382.6 mg, Sugar 0.4 g

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE



Cornish Game Hens With Cranberry Sauce image

Provided by Pierre Franey

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 Cornish game hens, with giblets,each about 1 1/4 pounds
2 tablespoons corn, peanut or vegetable oil
Salt to taste if desired
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 onion, peeled
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon honey
2/3 cup fresh or canned chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 tablespoon butter

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
  • Put the game hens in a shallow, flameproof baking dish without crowding. Rub the hens all over with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut the onion in half and place the halves, cut side down, around the hens. Arrange the gizzards and livers around the hens.
  • Place the baking dish with hens on top of the stove over low heat. Turn the hens around in the dish to coat with the oil. Arrange the hens on their sides. Place in the oven and bake 15 minutes, basting often.
  • Turn the hens to other side and continue baking 15 minutes, basting often.
  • Turn the hens breast side up and continue baking about 10 minutes, basting often.
  • Transfer the hens to a heated serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Skim off most of the fat from the pan liquid in the baking dish. Put the baking dish on top of the stove and bring the pan liquid to a boil. Add the wine and stir to dissolve any brown particles that may cling to the bottom of the pan. Strain the sauce into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook down to about half and add the honey, chicken broth and tomato paste. Stir. Add any liquid that has accumulated inside or around the hens. Add the cranberries and bring to a boil.
  • Cook until the cranberries pop, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Swirl in the butter. Add salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the hens and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 834, UnsaturatedFat 37 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 57 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 59 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 1161 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CORNISH GAME HENS UNDER A BRICK



Cornish Game Hens Under a Brick image

Crispy and juicy with a delectable sauce of wine and thyme. Very quick and easy to make if you've prepared the garlic oil ahead You'll be licking your fingers in short order. This dish is a bit oily but for a special treat, it's wonderful. Substitute any favorite herb for the thyme, if desired. From Rozanne Gold, a favorite cookbook author. Prep and cook times for the garlic oil are not included below. It will take about 20 minutes to prepare the garlic oil if it's used while still warm.

Provided by sugarpea

Categories     Poultry

Time 25m

Yield 1-1 1/2 pound hen, 1-2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

16 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups olive oil
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 lbs Cornish hens
salt & freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons garlic oil, plus more for drizzling, if desired
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leave

Steps:

  • Garlic Oil: Gently heat garlic and oil in a small saucepan for 5 minutes, until bubbles form on top; turn heat off and add bay leaves and peppercorns.
  • Steep and cool; can be kept, refrigerated, for 2 weeks.
  • Cornish Hen: Cut the hen along its backbone with kitchen shears; butterfly with hands; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • In a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the flattened hen, heat the oil over medium heat; add the hen, skin side down and weight down evenly with an aluminum foil-wrapped brick.
  • Cook, turning every 2-3 minutes until golden brown and cooked through; remove hen to serving plate (s).
  • Pour the wine into the skillet, add the thyme and reduce over high heat, scraping up browned bits, until thickened; pour over hen and serve immediately, drizzling with Garlic Oil if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 4780.8, Fat 455, SaturatedFat 65.5, Cholesterol 619.7, Sodium 486, Carbohydrate 19.6, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 1.6, Protein 139.8

Tips:

  • Choose the right Cornish game hens: Look for hens that are plump and have a golden-yellow skin. Avoid hens that are too small or have a bluish-gray tint to their skin.
  • Prepare the hens properly: Rinse the hens inside and out with cold water and pat them dry. Remove any excess fat or giblets. Truss the hens by tying their legs together with kitchen twine.
  • Make a flavorful compound butter: Combine softened butter with herbs, spices, and citrus zest. You can use any herbs or spices you like, but some popular choices include rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic, and lemon zest.
  • Baste the hens frequently: Basting the hens with the compound butter will help keep them moist and flavorful. Baste the hens every 20-30 minutes during cooking.
  • Cook the hens to the proper temperature: The internal temperature of the hens should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit when they are done cooking. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the hens before removing them from the oven.

Conclusion:

Cornish game hens are a delicious and versatile main course that can be prepared in a variety of ways. However, basting the hens with a compound butter is a classic technique that always yields juicy, flavorful results. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious compound butter that will take your Cornish game hens to the next level. So next time you're looking for a special occasion dish, give this recipe a try.

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