Best 12 Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Sauce Recipes

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Cornish game hens with apricot sauce is a delectable dish that combines the tender, flavorful meat of game hens with the tangy sweetness of apricots. This dish is perfect for a special occasion or a romantic dinner, and it's sure to impress your guests. There are many different recipes for cornish game hens with apricot sauce, but they all share a few common ingredients: game hens, apricots, and a sauce made with apricot preserves, chicken broth, and spices.

Let's cook with our recipes!

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 :

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT SAUCE



Cornish Game Hens with Apricot Sauce image

This recipe for moist Cornish hens with apricot sauce comes from Janet Reynolds of Leesburg, Virginia.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dinner Recipes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 Cornish game hens (about 1 1/2 pounds each), patted dry
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup dry white wine
1 can (14.5 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1 1/2 cups couscous

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450. Using kitchen twine, tie hens legs together; tuck wing tips underneath. Rub hens with a total of 1 tablespoon oil and 3/4 teaspoon thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Place hens, breast side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding bone) registers 165, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Cover loosely with aluminum foil; let rest 5 to 10 minutes.
  • While hens are roasting, make sauce: In a large skillet with a lid, heat remaining oil over medium; add onion and garlic, and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add wine, and simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Add broth, cream, honey, lemon juice, and apricots; raise heat to high, and boil until mixture (including solids) is reduced to 2 cups, 12 to 15 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids. Return sauce to skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to package instructions. Add remaining thyme, and season with salt and pepper; fluff with a fork. Halve hens; serve with couscous and sauce.

BRAISED CORNISH HEN WITH APRICOTS AND DATES



Braised Cornish Hen with Apricots and Dates image

Provided by Food Network

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 Rock Cornish Hen, fresh about 1216 ounces each
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup pitted dates
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup orange liqueur
Juice of 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup roasted chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons dried thyme
Olive oil, for brushing birds

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Rehydrate the apricots by covering them with boiling water and steeping them for 10 minutes before draining and slicing into quarters. Pit and roughly chop the dates, mix them with the apricots, and set aside. Combine the sugar with all of the liquid ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes, then set aside.
  • Season the Cornish Hens, inside and out, with salt and pepper. Place 1 bay leaf and 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme inside each bird and close the body cavity by tieing with twine or with a skewer or toothpicks so that the bird holds its shape.
  • Brush the hens with olive oil, place them breast side down in a roasting pan, and roast for 20 minutes. At the end of 20 minutes, pour off any excess fat from the pan turn the birds breast side up and roast 20 minutes more. At the end of this 20 minute roasting period, add the apricots, dates, and the liquid to the roasting pan, and braise the contents of the pan together for another 25 minutes. Check the oven every so often to see that the liquid has not all evaporated. If it has, add enough water to keep the bottom third of the hens moist.
  • At the end of the cooking time, allow the hens to rest 10 minutes before serving. Place one hen on each dish and pour some of the apricot and date sauce over the top.

APRICOT-GLAZED CORNISH HENS



Apricot-Glazed Cornish Hens image

The sweetness from the apricot preserves combined with Sriracha adds a nice twist on the traditional roasted cornish hen.

Provided by CookingWithShelia

Categories     Cornish Hens

Time 1h25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

cooking spray
1 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon butter
2 (1 1/4 pound) Cornish game hens
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
mango-habanero seasoning to taste
4 sprigs fresh basil, or to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a cookie sheet generously with cooking spray.
  • Combine apricot preserves, Sriracha, Worcestershire, and butter in a small pot and melt over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent from sticking.
  • Clean hens and pat dry with paper towels. Coat outsides and insides with oil. Season with mango-habanero seasoning; insert sprigs of basil inside of the hens.
  • Place hens on the prepared cookie sheet and cover with foil.
  • Cook in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and baste with apricot glaze. Put back in the oven and cook until no longer pink in the centers, about 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 385.8 calories, Carbohydrate 52.9 g, Cholesterol 110.7 mg, Fat 10.2 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 23.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 314.3 mg, Sugar 35.2 g

CORNISH HENS WITH APRICOTS AND TOMATOES



Cornish Hens With Apricots and Tomatoes image

Provided by Joan Nathan

Categories     main course

Time 50m

Yield Twelve servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

12 tablespoon schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) or kosher vegetable oil
6 large rock Cornish hens, halved
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 teaspoons cinnamon
4 cups yellow onions, chopped
1 teaspoon cloves
3 cups canned plum tomatoes, diced, with juice reserved
3 1/2 cups dried apricots, soaked in hot water for 1 hour
2 cups chicken stock or water
1/3 cup brown sugar

Steps:

  • Melt six tablespoons of chicken fat or oil in a large pan or skillet. Sprinkle the hens with salt, pepper and one teaspoon of the cinnamon.
  • In another large pan, add the remaining chicken fat or oil and the onions, and cook over low heat for five minutes or until the onions are transparent. Add the remaining three teaspoons of cinnamon and the cloves and cook for about three more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Coarsely chop half of the soaked apricots and set aside. Add about one-half cup of reserved tomato liquid to the remaining half of the soaked apricots and puree in a processor or blender. Take the pureed apricots, the chopped tomatoes, one cup of the chicken stock and add them to the onion mixture. Simmer, uncovered, for five minutes.
  • Puree two cups of the onion mixture. Return to pan, add the chopped apricots, brown sugar and chicken stock and enough liquid to make a medium-thick sauce.
  • In a casserole large enough to hold the meat in one layer, place half the sauce. Add the hens and cover with the remaining sauce. Bake, covered, in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes, or until done .

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 614, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 37 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 32 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 829 milligrams, Sugar 28 grams, TransFat 0 grams

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CURRY APRICOT GLAZE



Cornish Game Hens With Curry Apricot Glaze image

My husband and I have very differing tastes in food but this one dish we both love equally. It was adapted from a Bon Appetit magazine and is nice enough to have on special occasions. The preparation is suprisingly easy for such an elegant dish. Serve with white rice.

Provided by Slatts

Categories     Chicken

Time 50m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 Cornish hen, halved lengthwise
1/3 cup apricot jam
2 tablespoons mango chutney
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 lime
1 green onion, chopped
1/4 cup salted peanuts, crushed

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400º.
  • Rinse and dry game hen halves and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on foil lined baking sheet.
  • Combine jam, chutney, and curry powder in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Once mixture comes to a boil brush two tablespoons over the game hens. Reserve the rest of the mixture for a sauce.
  • Bake games in the oven for about 35 minutes or until golden.
  • Add chicken broth to the remaining mixture in the sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened.
  • When ready to serve, place games hens on a plate of rice and top with lime juice, spoon sauce around the plate. Sprinkle with green onions and crushed peanuts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 454.3, Fat 18.6, SaturatedFat 3.1, Cholesterol 108.8, Sodium 429.2, Carbohydrate 45.2, Fiber 3.9, Sugar 25.2, Protein 32.2

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT RICE STUFFING



Cornish Game Hens With Apricot Rice Stuffing image

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

Provided by Chris Reynolds

Categories     Poultry

Time 2h25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1 cup cooked wild rice
1/2 cup chopped dried apricot
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 (24 ounce) Cornish hens (24 oz each)
1/2 cup apricot preserves (no sugar added)
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Steps:

  • In large skillet, saute the mushrooms, pecans, and onion in 4 tbsp butter until tender. Stir in the rice, apricots, parsley, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
  • Spoon about 3/4 cup rice mixture into each hen; tie legs together with kitchen string. Place hens, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Melt remaining butter; brush over hens.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees for hens and 165 degrees for stuffing. In a small saucepan, warm preserves and vinegar; spoon over hens. Bake 15 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1274.5, Fat 55, SaturatedFat 18, Cholesterol 665, Sodium 897.2, Carbohydrate 50.3, Fiber 4.5, Sugar 25.7, Protein 141.7

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH APRICOT MUSTARD SAUCE*(GOOD)* RECIPE - (4.5/5)



Cornish Game Hens with Apricot Mustard Sauce*(GOOD)* Recipe - (4.5/5) image

Provided by á-48383

Number Of Ingredients 12

Lemon and Rosemary Butter:
3/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
4 Cornish hens, butterflied
Sauce:
2 tablespoons honey mustard
1 tablespoon apricot jam
1 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

  • Combine butter, lemon rind, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Remove 2 tablespoons of butter mixture and reserve. Lay hens flat, skin-side up. With fingertips starting at the breast, loosen skin from meat. Spread butter mixture on meat under the skin. Season hens with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of seasoned butter in skillet on medium-high heat. When butter sizzles, place hens skin-side down in butter and fry for 5 minutes or until skin is golden. Do not crowd skillet. Repeat on second side. Reserve skillet for sauce. Pour fat out of skillet and add mustard and apricot jam. On medium heat, stir together and cook until combined. Pour in stock and bring to boil. Simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter. Roast hens for 25 to 30 minutes or until juices run clear on a baking sheet. Cut each hen in half and serve 2 halves per person. Glaze with sauce.

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.

ROAST CORNISH GAME HEN WITH SPICY FRUIT SALSA



Roast Cornish Game Hen with Spicy Fruit Salsa image

Categories     Game     Poultry     Bake     Christmas     Picnic     Super Bowl     Quick & Easy     Winter     Thyme     Bon Appétit

Yield 2 servings; can be doubled

Number Of Ingredients 6

3/4 cup bottled fruit salsa
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1 3/4-pound Cornish game hen, split in half along backbone

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Transfer 3 tablespoons salsa mixture to small bowl and stir in oil and allspice. Place hen halves on rack set on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; brush with oil mixture. Roast until juices run clear when thigh is pierced, about 25 minutes. Transfer hen halves to plates. Spoon remaining salsa mixture on top.

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

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SWEET-POTATO RISOTTO AND CRANBERRY SAUCE



Cornish Game Hens with Sweet-Potato Risotto and Cranberry Sauce image

Categories     Cheese     Rice     Bake     High Fiber     Cranberry     Sweet Potato/Yam     Fall     Winter     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup cranberries
1/4 cup ruby Port
2 Cornish game hens, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1 pound yams (red-skinned sweet potatoes), peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2/3 cup arborio rice or medium-grain rice
1/4 cup dry Riesling wine
2/3 cup mascarpone cheese*
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Steps:

  • Bring first 4 ingredients to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil until reduced to 1 cup, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Puree sauce in processor. Strain into small bowl. (Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover and chill.)
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Place game hens, cut side down, on small baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Continue baking until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced, about 20 minutes longer.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add yams, onion and ginger; sauté until yams are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Cook rice in small saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Drain rice. Add rice to yam mixture in skillet. Add Riesling and stir over low heat to blend. Add mascarpone and stir to melt. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Rewarm sauce. Spoon risotto onto plates. Top with hen. Sprinkle with nuts, parsley and orange peel. Drizzle sauce around risotto.
  • *Italian cream cheese, available at Italian markets and many supermarkets. If unavailable, blend 8 ounces cream cheese with 1/4 cup whipping cream and 2 1/2 tablespoons sour cream. Use 2/3 cup mixture for the recipe.

Tips:

  • Choose the right Cornish game hens: Look for plump hens with a moist appearance and no signs of bruising or discoloration.
  • Prepare the hens properly: Remove any giblets or excess fat from the hens. Rinse the hens inside and out with cold water and pat dry.
  • Season the hens generously: Use a flavorful rub or marinade to season the hens. This will help to enhance the flavor of the meat.
  • Cook the hens thoroughly: Cornish game hens should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be done by roasting, baking, or grilling the hens.
  • Make a delicious apricot sauce: The apricot sauce is a great way to add a sweet and tangy flavor to the hens. Be sure to use fresh apricots for the best flavor.
  • Serve the hens with your favorite sides: Cornish game hens can be served with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Conclusion:

Cornish game hens with apricot sauce is a delicious and elegant dish that is perfect for a special occasion. The hens are roasted to perfection and the apricot sauce is a perfect complement to the flavorful meat. This dish is sure to impress your guests and leave them wanting more.

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