Cornish game hens are small, succulent birds that are perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. They are easy to cook and can be roasted, grilled, or pan-fried. The key to cooking a flavorful cornish game hen is to use a flavorful marinade or spice rub and to cook the bird until it is juicy and tender. In this article, we will share some of our favorite recipes for cooking flavorful cornish game hens. Whether you are looking for a simple roasted chicken recipe or something more adventurous, we have a recipe that is sure to please everyone at your table.
Let's cook with our recipes!
FLAVORFUL CORNISH GAME HENS
"These hens taste wonderful. They're just the right thing to serve when you're having company over. Your guests will think you spent the whole day in the kitchen!" Kara de la Vega - Santa Rosa, CA
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the first five ingredients; sprinkle over hens. In a large skillet, cook hens over medium-high heat in oil until browned on both sides. Transfer to an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish; set aside and keep warm., In the same skillet, saute green onions and garlic until tender. Stir in broth and orange juice concentrate; pour over hens. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until meat is tender and juices run clear. To serve, drizzle with pan juices and sprinkle with almonds and parsley.
Nutrition Facts :
ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS
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
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.
BAKED CORNISH GAME HENS
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
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
TASTY TARRAGON CORNISH GAME HENS
This is a very tasty way to prepare cornish hens. It's another family favorite we've served for years. Tarragon goes so well with poultry.
Provided by Chef Fredo
Categories Poultry
Time 1h
Yield 1 hen, 1 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Make basting sauce by melting butter in small sauce pan and stirring in wine (or broth) and tarrgon.
- Sprinkle inside of each hen with salt, pepper, tarragon, and garlic.
- Lightly coat outside of hen with olive (or other) oil.
- Liberally sprinkle outside of hen with garlic salt.
- Tie hen legs together if possible (I've also made these without doing this step).
- Place hens in oven.
- Let hens cook about 15 minutes before starting to use the basting sauce. After each basting, I will occasionally sprinkle more garlic salt over the hens.
- Continue to baste hens every 15 minutes or so until done. If hen wings or top start to darken too much, cover those areas with foil.
- When hens have finished cooking, remove to serving platter.
- optional - I place the strained drippings in a bowl (skimming off some of the butter) and use this as a 'gravy' for the hens and any suitable rice/potato dish that may accompany them.
- Use your meat thermometer to determine doneness as it varies according to hen weight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1400.6, Fat 138.8, SaturatedFat 87.6, Cholesterol 366, Sodium 1577.4, Carbohydrate 10.7, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 1.8, Protein 4
Tips:
- Choose the right Cornish game hens: Look for hens that are plump and have a good amount of meat on their breasts. Avoid hens that are too thin or have bruises or cuts.
- Prepare the hens properly: Rinse the hens inside and out and pat them dry. Remove any excess fat and giblets. Season the hens inside and out with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs and spices.
- Stuff the hens: You can stuff the hens with a variety of fillings, such as bread crumbs, rice, vegetables, or fruit. If you are stuffing the hens, be sure to not overstuff them, as this will make them difficult to cook evenly.
- Roast the hens: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the hens on a roasting rack in a baking pan. Roast the hens for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until they are cooked through. Baste the hens with butter or olive oil every 20 minutes to keep them moist.
- Let the hens rest: Once the hens are cooked, remove them from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Conclusion:
Cornish game hens are a delicious and versatile dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily create a memorable meal that your family and friends will love. Whether you choose to roast, grill, or fry your Cornish game hens, be sure to follow the tips above to ensure that they are cooked perfectly. And don't forget to experiment with different flavors and seasonings to find the perfect combination for your taste.
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