Best 12 Cornish Game Hens With Orange And Honey Recipes

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Cornish game hens with orange and honey is a classic dish that is both elegant and easy to make. The combination of sweet and savory flavors makes this dish a perfect choice for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. The hens are roasted in a mixture of orange juice, honey, and herbs, which creates a delicious glaze that caramelizes on the skin. Serve these hens with roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

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

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH ORANGE JUICE AND HONEY



Cornish Game Hens With Orange Juice and Honey image

This recipe is from a magazine and was simply called Cornish Game Hens but I added to the title to help differentiate it here. Sounds delicious but haven't made it yet but when I do, I will season the hens with some garlic powder too.

Provided by Oolala

Categories     Oranges

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 (20 ounce) Cornish hens, 20 oz. each, cleaned
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup butter, melted, can use margarine
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water

Steps:

  • To make the hens, place them on a rack in a shallow baking pan.
  • Tie legs together with kitchen cord if desired.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper(and garlic powder if using).
  • Combine the butter, orange juice and honey and spoon over the hens.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. and juices run clear, basting every 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile for the sauce, combine the orange juice, honey and vinegar in a small saucepan.
  • Combine the cornstarch and water in a cup until smooth; stir into the orange juice mixture.
  • Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute or until thickened. Serve with the hens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 809.1, Fat 26.6, SaturatedFat 9.7, Cholesterol 536.3, Sodium 635.2, Carbohydrate 21.9, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 20, Protein 114

HONEY-ORANGE CORNISH GAME HENS



Honey-Orange Cornish Game Hens image

These are delicious little hens with a buttery honey-orange glaze that makes them nice and crispy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. This is a nice dinner to have with that special someone, served with a rice pilaf and a simple veggie dish.

Provided by EdsGirlAngie

Categories     Poultry

Time 1h6m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 Cornish hens
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 orange, cut in quarters
2 cups water
1 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup thawed orange juice concentrate

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Mix together salt, basil and allspice.
  • Sprinkle mixture inside and outside of Cornish hens.
  • Place 1/4 orange in each hen and place them in a roasting pan.
  • Add water to pan.
  • Over low heat, simmer together honey, butter and orange juice concentrate until thickened.
  • Drizzle about half the mixture over Cornish hens and roast uncovered for about 25 minutes.
  • Roast for another 25 minutes or until juices run clear and hens are not pink inside, basting with the rest of the honey-orange sauce after 10 minutes.

LIGHT HONEY-GLAZED CORNISH HENS



Light Honey-Glazed Cornish Hens image

Recipe for low-fat honey glazed Cornish hens with orange juice, garlic, soy sauce, thyme, onion, and honey.

Provided by Diana Rattray

Categories     Entree     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 Cornish game hens (about 1 1/2 lbs each)
1 teaspoon fresh orange peel (grated)
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate (thawed, undiluted)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves garlic (crushed and minced)
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tsp. oil or non-stick cooking spray
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
Optional Garnish: fresh orange wedges
1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 teaspoon water (cold)

Steps:

  • Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Place game hens breast-side down ​on a cutting board and cut in half along the backbone. Remove skin and trim excess fat.
  • In a small microwave-safe dish, combine orange peel, lemon juice, orange juice concentrate, soy sauce, honey, garlic, onion powder, and thyme. Bring to boiling point in a microwave oven; set aside.
  • Lightly grease a baking dish or spray with cooking spray.
  • Divide chopped onion into 4 portions in baking dish; place hens bone-side down on onions.
  • Pour orange juice mixture over hens.
  • Bake hens in preheated oven for 45 minutes, basting every 10 to 15 minutes with cooking juices. If they brown too quickly, cover them loosely with aluminum foil.
  • When hens are done, remove from baking dish, onions and all, to warm dinner plates.
  • If desired, garnish with orange slices. Skim fat off juices in baking dish. If desired, thicken pan juices with a teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 teaspoon of cold water. Serve juices on the side.
  • Serve with hot cooked rice and a green vegetable. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 967 kcal, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 446 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 77 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Sodium 661 mg, Sugar 11 g, Fat 64 g, ServingSize 4 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH WILDFLOWER HONEY & ORANGE



Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Wildflower Honey & Orange image

Cornish game hens work well for entertaining. They're a nice departure from chicken, and they don't require any last-minute carving. Marinating in honey and basting with butter adds flavor and encourages the skin to brown, but sometimes they also need a flash under the broiler to finish.

Provided by Tasha DeSerio

Categories     Main Course

Yield six to eight.

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 Cornish game hens (1-1/2 to 2 lb. each)
6 Tbs. plus 1/3 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
1-1/2 Tbs. honey (I prefer wildflower honey)
1-1/2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
2 bay leaves, preferably fresh, each torn into about 4 pieces
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 medium orange
1 small yellow onion, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 Tbs. kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted, for basting, plus 1 Tbs. butter, not melted, for the sauce
1 cup low-salt chicken broth

Steps:

  • Discard the giblets from the hens or reserve for another use. Using kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbones and remove them. Then cut each hen in half along the breastbone. Trim off the wing tips and put the hens in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the 6 Tbs. wine, honey, thyme, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes, and stir to dissolve the honey (it's all right if it doesn't dissolve completely). Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest from the orange in large strips, letting the strips drop into the bowl with the hens. Add the honey mixture and the sliced onion to the bowl. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, tossing the hens occasionally. About half an hour before cooking, remove the hen halves from the marinade and gently pat them dry, trying not to disturb the thyme clinging to them. Arrange the hens on a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Discard the remaining marinade.) Position a rack in the top third of the oven and heat the oven to 450°F. When ready to roast, season the hen halves on both sides with the salt and several grinds of pepper. Turn them skin side up. Roast the hens, basting occasionally with the melted butter and rotating the pan for even browning as needed, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of a thigh registers 175° to 180°F (be careful not to hit the bone), about 30 minutes. If the skin is somewhat pale, baste the hens, turn the broiler to high, and broil, rotating the pan frequently, until the hens are nicely golden, about 2 minutes. (Watch carefully to prevent burning.) Transfer the hens to a serving platter and tent with aluminum foil. While the rimmed baking sheet is still hot, add the remaining 1/3 cup wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour the wine and juices into a small saucepan and add the chicken broth. Boil the sauce over high heat until it thickens ever so slightly, 2 to 3 minutes; it should be more like a jus than a thick sauce. Off the heat, whisk in the remaining 1 Tbs. butter. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed. Keep warm. To serve, pour a small amount of the sauce on and around the hens and pass the remainder at the table.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize six to eight., Calories 330 kcal, Fat 210 kcal, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 23 g, Carbohydrate 4 g, Protein 22 g, Cholesterol 140 mg, Sodium 490 mg, UnsaturatedFat 12.5 g

HONEY-LEMON-THYME CORNISH GAME HENS



Honey-Lemon-Thyme Cornish Game Hens image

Provided by Food Network

Time 1h13m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 tablespoons olive oil
4 (1-pound each) Cornish game hens, spatchcocked*
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
5 lemons, 4 juiced, 1 thinly sliced
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon soy sauce
4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish

Steps:

  • Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Rinse the hens well under cool running water. Pat them dry with paper towels.
  • Melt the butter with the chopped fresh thyme in a small saucepan. In a small bowl, combine the juice of 4 lemons, honey, and soy sauce. Add the melted thyme butter and mix to combine. Reserve.
  • Heat a large cast iron pan on medium heat. Coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil.
  • Generously salt and pepper the hens and lay them skin-side down in the hot pan. Sear 4 minutes each side.
  • Pour 1/3 of the glaze on the bottom of a 9 by 13 baking dish. Transfer the hens, and their pan drippings, to the baking dish. Pour the remaining glaze over the hens and place in the oven for 30 minutes or until a thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove the dish from the oven and let them rest for about 5 minutes. Garnish with the sliced lemon and fresh thyme sprigs, and serve.

HONEY ORANGE CORNISH HENS



Honey Orange Cornish Hens image

An easy dish that looks like you've spent all day cooking and has a fabulous taste. Your family or friends will rave about it, and we don't need to tell them how easy it was to make. It has only 5 ingredients.

Provided by Carol Semenuk

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Cornish Hen Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 Cornish game hens, halved lengthwise
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Place game hen halves with skin sides up into a 9x13-inch roasting pan.
  • Roast hens in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
  • Stir orange juice, honey, soy sauce, and vinegar together in a small bowl; brush mixture over hens.
  • Roast hens for 5 more minutes and baste again with orange juice mixture. Roast until skin is browned and meat is no longer pink inside, about 10 more minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 192.7 calories, Carbohydrate 10.9 g, Cholesterol 75.3 mg, Fat 10.5 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 488.3 mg, Sugar 10.1 g

ORANGE GLAZED LOVE (CORNISH) HEN



Orange Glazed Love (Cornish) Hen image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h25m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup onion, small diced
2 tablespoons ginger, grated
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 lemon, zested, juiced
1 orange, zested, juiced
2 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Cornish hens, split, backbones removed

Steps:

  • Put all the sauce ingredients into a saucepan. Over medium heat bring it to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for 1/2 hour. At the same time mix the marinade together, and rub it all the over hens. Marinate for at least 1 hour. Roast hens in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes, and then brush with sauce. Finish the hens on a preheated grill for another 7 minutes, turning and brushing with more sauce to glaze.

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 :

MOROCCAN-STYLE CORNISH GAME HENS



Moroccan-Style Cornish Game Hens image

Categories     Chicken     Game     Poultry     Vegetable     Roast     Dinner     Spice     Carrot     Fall     Winter     Bon Appétit     Paleo     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
2 teaspoons cardamom seeds (from about 1 1/2 tablespoons cardamom pods)
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1/2 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 Cornish game hens (each 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds), rinsed, patted dry
1 pound carrots, peeled, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
Orange-Honey Sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Finely grind first 7 ingredients in spice grinder or coffee grinder. Transfer to small bowl. Whisk in orange juice, oil and garlic. (Spice mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
  • Rub spice mixture all over hens; place hens in large roasting pan. Sprinkle hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Tie legs together to hold shape. Arrange carrots in pan around hens. Sprinkle carrots with salt and pepper. Roast 30 minutes. Add stock to roasting pan. Roast hens until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced and carrots are tender, basting hens occasionally with pan juices, about 35 minutes longer. Place 1 hen on each of 4 plates. Arrange carrots alongside. Spoon warm Orange-Honey Sauce over and serve.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH ORANGE AND HONEY



Cornish Game Hens with Orange and Honey image

Categories     Garlic     Onion     Roast     Orange     Red Wine     Spring     Honey     Watercress     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/4 cups orange juice
1 1/4 cups dry red wine
1/2 cup honey
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 1 1/2-pound Cornish game hens, giblets removed
3 small onions, quartered
12 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bunch watercress

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Pour 2 cups sauce into medium saucepan. Reserve remaining 1 cup sauce.
  • Rinse hens inside and out. Pat hens dry with paper towels. Cut and scrape off any visible fat from hens. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Place 3 onion quarters and 3 garlic cloves in cavity of each hen. Arrange hens on rack on large rimmed baking sheet.
  • Roast hens 10 minutes. Baste with reserved 1 cup sauce. Continue roasting until hens are golden and juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced, basting often with pan juices and reserved 1 cup sauce, about 45 minutes longer.
  • Transfer hens to cutting board; tent with foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices to 4-cup glass measuring cup. Spoon fat off top of pan juices. Pour pan juices into 2 cups sauce in saucepan. Boil until sauce is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 12 minutes.
  • Discard onions and garlic from hen cavities. Using poultry shears, cut hens in half lengthwise. Remove backbones. Spoon some sauce onto plates. Place hens atop sauce. Garnish with watercress. Serve with remaining sauce.

ORANGE GLAZED CORNISH HEN



Orange Glazed Cornish Hen image

Marinate the hens for at least an hour. While they're marinating in the refrigerator, start making the sauce.

Provided by JDP4445

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Cornish Hen Recipes

Time 2h15m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 orange, zested and juiced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 Cornish game hens
2 cups orange juice
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup honey
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ cup finely diced onion
2 teaspoons ground ginger
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Mix olive oil, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper together in a large resealable bag. Add hens, seal bag, and coat hens with marinade. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, flipping the bag 1 or 2 times to redistribute marinade.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Mix orange juice, soy sauce, honey, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, onion, ginger, and black pepper together in a bowl.
  • Remove hens from marinade and transfer to a roasting pan, discarding leftover marinade.
  • Roast hens in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Brush hens with orange glaze and roast for 5 more minutes. Flip hens, brush with more glaze, and roast until meat is no longer pink in the center, about 5 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1234.6 calories, Carbohydrate 129.2 g, Cholesterol 302 mg, Fat 56.4 g, Fiber 6.7 g, Protein 59.6 g, SaturatedFat 13.7 g, Sodium 5663 mg, Sugar 100.3 g

CONTEST-WINNING ORANGE-GLAZED CORNISH HENS



Contest-Winning Orange-Glazed Cornish Hens image

This is a wonderfully elegant entree to serve at a cozy dinner party for four. Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen preparing the tender golden brown hens and perfecting the full-flavored basting sauce. -Laurie Bartley, Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Madeira wine, sherry or chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to at 350°. Tie legs of each hen together; turn wing tips under backs. Place on a greased rack in a roasting pan. Brush with butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 15 minutes. Spoon over hens. Bake until a thermometer reads 170°, about 15 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 682 calories, Fat 40g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 235mg cholesterol, Sodium 819mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (35g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 35g protein.

Tips:

  • Brining the Cornish game hens enhances their flavor and keeps them moist during cooking. You can brine them in a mixture of water, salt, sugar, and herbs for several hours or overnight.
  • Stuffing the Cornish game hens is optional, but it adds extra flavor and moisture to the meat. You can use a variety of stuffing recipes, such as breadcrumb stuffing, rice stuffing, or vegetable stuffing.
  • Browning the Cornish game hens before roasting them helps to develop their flavor and color. You can brown them in a skillet over medium heat or in a roasting pan in the oven.
  • Roasting the Cornish game hens at a high temperature for a short period of time helps to keep them moist and juicy. Roast them at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-60 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Letting the Cornish game hens rest for 10-15 minutes before carving allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This will help to ensure that the meat is tender and flavorful.

Conclusion:

Cornish game hens are a delicious and versatile main course that can be enjoyed for a variety of occasions. They are relatively easy to cook, and there are many different ways to prepare them. Whether you choose to brine, stuff, or roast them, you are sure to enjoy this flavorful and succulent dish.

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