Best 8 Festive Stuffed Cornish Game Hens Recipes

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If you're looking for a delectable and elegant dish to serve at your next special occasion, look no further than festive stuffed cornish game hens. These small, flavorful birds are perfect for small gatherings, or can be served as a main course for a larger crowd. With their tender, juicy meat and crispy, flavorful skin, cornish game hens are sure to impress your guests. And best of all, they're surprisingly easy to prepare.

Let's cook with our recipes!

STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS



Stuffed Cornish Game Hens image

THIS ENTREE makes an ordinary day special. Whenever I cook Cornish hens for my husband and me, it stirs up warm memories of family times around the holiday dinner table. I bake the extra stuffing separately so we're sure to have enough. -Nancy Aubrey, Ruidoso, New Mexico

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup butter, divided
3 cups crumbled cornbread
3 cups soft bread crumbs
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
1 cup chicken broth
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
2 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh mint or 1/4 teaspoon dried mint flakes

Steps:

  • In a large skillet or saucepan, saute celery and onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in cornbread, bread crumbs, pimientos, broth, egg, poultry seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well. , Stuff each hen with 3/4 cup stuffing. Place extra stuffing in a greased 1-qt. baking dish; refrigerate. Place hens breast side up on a rack in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover loosely with foil; bake at 375° for 45 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt the remaining butter; add garlic, lemon zest, mint and remaining salt and pepper. Brush over hens. Bake 15-30 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180° for hens and 165° for stuffing. Bake the extra stuffing, covered, for 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1728 calories, Fat 106g fat (44g saturated fat), Cholesterol 601mg cholesterol, Sodium 3675mg sodium, Carbohydrate 106g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 82g protein.

FESTIVE STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS



Festive Stuffed Cornish Game Hens image

These plump golden birds decorate holiday platters beautifully. Crusty ciabatta bread, moistened by juicy orange sections, makes wonderful stuffing.-Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
2 cups cubed ciabatta bread
3 medium navel oranges, peeled and sectioned
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
4 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1/2 cup orange juice

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, saute onion and celery in butter and 1 tablespoon oil until tender. Add the garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook 1 minute longer., In a large bowl, combine the bread, oranges, cranberries, pecans and orange zest. Add onion mixture; toss to coat., Loosely stuff hens with stuffing. Tuck wings under hens; tie drumsticks together. Rub with remaining oil; sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Place breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan., Roast 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 165° when inserted in center of stuffing and the thigh reaches at least 180°, basting hens occasionally with orange juice. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly. Cover and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts :

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH RICE STUFFING



Cornish Game Hens with Rice Stuffing image

My mother used to make this for Easter dinner. The rice stuffing is a perfect partner for the hens. Packaged wild rice mix can be used as well.

Provided by MOMMYCOFFEY

Categories     100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes

Time 2h10m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 tablespoons chopped onion
⅓ cup uncooked wild rice
1 cup water
1 cube chicken bouillon
½ teaspoon salt
2 Cornish game hens
salt to taste
¼ cup melted butter

Steps:

  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the almonds, onion, and uncooked wild rice. Saute 5 to 10 minutes. Mix in the water, chicken bouillon cube, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 45 minutes until rice is tender and easily fluffed with a fork.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Season the Cornish game hens inside and out with salt, and stuff with the rice mixture. Place the hens breast side up on a rack in a baking pan. Brush with 1/4 cup melted butter.
  • Cover the baking pan, and cook the hens 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover, and continue cooking 1 hour, or until the hens are no longer pink and the juices run clear.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 396.9 calories, Carbohydrate 11.3 g, Cholesterol 128.9 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 15.8 g, Sodium 1341.1 mg, Sugar 0.7 g

CRANBERRY-STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS



Cranberry-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens image

Dried cranberries add plenty of flavor to these Cornish game hens.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dinner Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 16

8 ounces rye bread (about 1/2 loaf), trimmed of crust and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small leek, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced into half-moons, and rinsed well
3 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, wiped clean, and coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, plus leaves (optional), for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup reduced-fat, low-sodium canned chicken broth
6 Cornish game hens (1 1/2 pounds each)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup port

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out diced bread on a rimmed baking sheet; toastin oven, turning occasionally, until light brown and dry, 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside.
  • Raise oven temperature to 450 degrees. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add leek, mushrooms, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in bread, chopped sage, parsley, mustard, thyme, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, and 1/2 cup broth.
  • Spoon stuffing into bird cavities; tie legs together with kitchen twine. Rub birds with butter, then sprinkle with pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Arrange birds on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Roast until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees, and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thighs (avoiding bone) registers 170 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer rack with birds to a rimmed baking sheet, and let rest.
  • Set roasting pan on top of stove across two burners; set heat to medium-high. Add port and remaining 1/4 cup broth; deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom with a wooden spoon. Add remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries; cook, stirring, until sauce reduces slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Place birds on a serving platter, and drizzle sauce over them. Garnish with sage leaves, if desired, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 487 g, Cholesterol 223 g, Fat 13 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 53 g, Sodium 759 g

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING



Cornish Game Hens with Cornbread Stuffing image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h5m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 small leek, white part with 1 inch of green, finely chopped and rinsed
1 small apple (about 4 ounces), peeled, cored, and diced
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh sage, plus sprigs for garnish
1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley, plus sprigs for garnish
2 cups cubed day old cornbread
3/4 to 1 cup chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 Cornish hens, giblets discarded, patted dry

Steps:

  • In a medium skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-low heat. Saute the leeks for 8 to 10 minutes, until softened. Add the apples and cook for 3 minutes more. In a medium bowl combine the leek mixture with the sage, parsley, cornbread and enough broth to moisten. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Stuff the birds with the cornbread mixture and tie the legs of each hen together with kitchen twine. Melt the remaining butter. Brush the birds all over with butter and season with salt and pepper. Put the hens on a rack in a large roasting pan, breast-side up. Roast until an instant read thermometer inserted in the thigh registers 170 degrees F., about 80 minutes. Set the birds aside at room temperature, loosely covered with foil, for 10 minutes before carving. Split the hens in half through the breast with a sharp knife or poultry shears, and keep the stuffing intact. Arrange birds skin-side up, on a platter, garnish with sprigs of herbs and serve.

STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS



Stuffed Cornish Game Hens image

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

Provided by Michele7

Categories     Poultry

Time 1h50m

Yield 4-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 Cornish hens
1 cup wild rice
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup toasted almond
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
8 slices bacon

Steps:

  • Cook and drain rice.
  • Saute onion in butter.
  • Mix with rice, almonds, salt and herbs.
  • Salt and pepper hens and stuff with rice mixture.
  • Put a strip of bacon over each hen.
  • Cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at 325, basting occasionally with drippings.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1093, Fat 54.5, SaturatedFat 17.1, Cholesterol 488.7, Sodium 1349, Carbohydrate 35.7, Fiber 4.8, Sugar 2.7, Protein 111

CHRISTMAS CORNISH GAME HENS



Christmas Cornish Game Hens image

Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 large carrots, roughly chopped
3 stalks celery, roughly chopped
3 large onions, roughly chopped
2 parsnips, rough chopped
2 oranges, cut into wedges
6 Cornish game hens (about 2 pounds each), rinsed and dried thoroughly
Olive oil, to drizzle
Holiday Dry Rub, recipe follows
2 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Spread the vegetables and orange out evenly in the roasting pans. Place the Cornish game hens over the vegetables. Drizzle with olive oil. Rub the oil into the hens and sprinkle with the seasoning mixture, remembering to season the cavity. Place some vegetables and an orange wedge in the cavity of the birds.
  • Place in the oven and roast for 45 minutes or until the juices run clear and they are browned. Let the hens rest 10 minutes before carving.
  • Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine.

ROAST CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SAVORY FRUIT STUFFING



Roast Cornish Game Hens With Savory Fruit Stuffing image

Don't remember where I got this recipe, but I have tried it many times and it is delicious! This is a recipe for one. Combine this with some Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Romaine with Parmesan Dressing, and a Raspberry Crème Fraiche Puff and you have yourself a complete dinner for one!

Provided by Witch Doctor

Categories     Whole Chicken

Time 1h30m

Yield 1 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 1/2 lbs fresh Cornish hens (or frozen)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons margarine or 2 tablespoons butter
1 cup onion-flavored croutons
2 tablespoons dried fruit
1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
1 tablespoon mayonnaise or 1 tablespoon salad dressing
1/8 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Steps:

  • Thaw hen, if frozen. Rinse hen with cold water and pat dry. For stuffing, in a small saucepan combine water and margarine or butter; cook until margarine melts. Remove from heat. Stir in croutons, fruit bits, onion, and bouillon granules.
  • Spoon stuffing into body cavity. Combine mayonnaise and poultry seasoning; coat hen with mayonnaise mixture.
  • Place hen, breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast, uncovered, in a 375 degree F oven for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until drumstick moves easily in socket.
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine cranberries, brown sugar, and orange juice concentrate. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 5 minutes or until cranberry skins pop.
  • Serve with cranberry sauce, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1276, Fat 50.7, SaturatedFat 11.3, Cholesterol 623.8, Sodium 1426.3, Carbohydrate 61.4, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 36.2, Protein 138.6

Tips:

  • Brine the Cornish game hens for at least 4 hours or overnight to enhance their flavor and keep them moist during cooking.
  • Use a flavorful stuffing that complements the taste of the game hens. Some popular stuffing options include bread cubes, wild rice, sausage, and vegetables.
  • Stuff the Cornish game hens loosely to allow for expansion during cooking. If you pack the stuffing in too tightly, it will become dense and dry.
  • Roast the Cornish game hens uncovered for crispy skin. If you cover the hens, the skin will be soft and soggy.
  • Baste the Cornish game hens with butter or oil every 20 minutes or so to keep them moist. This will also help the skin to brown evenly.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the Cornish game hens are cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the Cornish game hens rest for 10 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.

Conclusion:

Stuffed Cornish game hens are a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for special occasions. By following these tips, you can ensure that your Cornish game hens turn out perfectly every time. So next time you're looking for a festive and flavorful dish to serve, give stuffed Cornish game hens a try!

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