Best 6 Grilled Cornish Game Hens Recipes

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If you're looking for a delicious and flavorful dish that will impress your dinner guests, look no further than grilled cornish game hens. These small, flavorful birds are perfect for a special occasion, and they can be cooked in a variety of ways. Whether you prefer a simple grilled hen with a crispy skin or a more elaborate dish with a flavorful marinade or sauce, you're sure to find a grilled cornish game hen recipe that you'll love.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN CORNISH GAME HENS



Grilled Mediterranean Cornish Game Hens image

Wow, these look fantastic and taste as good as they look! Serve with Grilled Pita Salad for a great meal straight from the barbeque! From Woman's Day magazine,1999.

Provided by Sharon123

Categories     Poultry

Time 27m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 (1 1/2 lb) Cornish hens, halved, backbone removed with kitchen shears
lemon wedge

Steps:

  • Mix spices in a small bowl.
  • Rub all over hens and grill immediately, or cover airtight and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
  • Heat barbecue grill.
  • Place hens, skin side down, 4 to 6 inches above heat source.
  • Grill 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, until meat is opaque near the bone and juices run clear when thigh is pierced.
  • Serve with lemon wedges.
  • Enjoy!

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH JAMAICAN BASTING SAUCE



Grilled Cornish Game Hens With Jamaican Basting Sauce image

Another delicious way to prepare Cornish game hens. Cooking on the grill varies due to distance of the food from the heat, grill style, and source of heat. Chicken skin burns easily, so frequent turning is necessary. Recipe comes from Foster Farms.

Provided by Barb G.

Categories     Chicken

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 Cornish hens (1/2 hen per person)
1 piece fresh ginger, grated using metal grater (about 1x2 inches)
4 green onions, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 orange, zest of, finely shredded
1/2 orange, juice of
2 limes, juice of
2 limes, zest of
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons canola oil

Steps:

  • Basting sauce instructions; In a small bowl, stir together ginger, onions, garlic, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, sugar, soy sauce, salt and pepper, cinnamon, and cloves; add the oil. Mix wel and then let stand 10 minutes (or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days).
  • About 10 minutes ahead, preheat gas grill or about 1/2 hour ahead, light charcoal briquettes.
  • Use poultry shears to or knife to cut hens in half, cutting through the breast and backbones.
  • Grill hens, covered over low to medium heat until golden brown, turning as needed to prevent burning; Basting with sauce during grilling; reduce temperature or transfer hens away from direct heat and finish cooking with indirect heat; Grill until no longer pink at the bone, about 40 to 45 minutes (stop basting at least 10 minutes before cooking time is up to avoid contaminating cooked chicken with raw chicken juices). Discard leftover basting sauce.
  • To use sauce as marinade; arrange hens in dish, cover with sauce, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours, Grill as directed.

HOISIN MARINATED GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS



Hoisin Marinated Grilled Cornish Game Hens image

Adapted from BBQ with Bobby Flay! Episode-Extreme Barbeque! The chicken needs to marinate 1 to 2 days.

Provided by Sharon123

Categories     Chicken

Time 40m

Yield 4-6

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 Cornish hens, halved (or 1 chicken, quartered)
1 cup hoisin sauce
2 cups red wine
6 scallions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Steps:

  • Put the hens in a baking dish.
  • Mix the hoisin sauce, red wine, scallions, ginger, garlic and sesame oil together in a bowl and pour the marinade over the hens.
  • Cover and refrigerate the hens for 1-2 days.
  • Preheat grill to medium heat.
  • Put the hens on the grill bone side down and grill, covered, about 10 minutes.
  • Gently turn them over and continue grilling for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the juices run clear.
  • Let the hens rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH LEMON, SUMAC, AND DATE RELISH



Grilled Cornish Game Hens with Lemon, Sumac, and Date Relish image

This recipe yields two extra portions for second helpings. The hens are brined for at least six hours, so be sure to plan ahead. To make things easier, ask the butcher to halve the hens for you.

Provided by Jean Thiel Kelley

Categories     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

9 cups water
1 cup fresh lemon juice, divided
1/2 cup coarse kosher salt
5 1 1/4- to 11/2-pound Cornish game hens, cut lengthwise in half, backbone removed
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons ground sumac*
4 garlic cloves, peeled
10 very thin lemon slices
Date Relish

Steps:

  • Combine 9 cups water, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and coarse salt in large nonreactive pot. Stir until salt dissolves. Add hen halves and press to submerge. Refrigerate hens in brine, weighing down with heavy plate if needed, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
  • Whisk 1/2 cup lemon juice, oil, and sumac in medium bowl. Press in garlic cloves; season with pepper. Let dressing stand 15 minutes to thicken slightly, whisking occasionally.
  • Drain hens. Pat dry with paper towels; arrange on large rimmed baking sheet. Using fingertips, loosen skin of breast meat on each hen half. Brush some dressing under skin onto breast meat of each hen; place lemon slice onto breast meat and pull skin over to cover. Brush hens all over with remaining dressing. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
  • Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Place hens, skin side up, on grill rack. Cover and grill until bottom sides are brown, about 8 minutes. Turn hens over; grill uncovered until skin sides brown, about 6 minutes. Continue to grill until hens are cooked through, turning occasionally, about 9 minutes longer. Transfer hens to platter. Serve with Date Relish.
  • *Ground, dried, reddish-purple berries that grow wild throughout the Middle East; available at specialty foods stores and Middle Eastern markets.

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS



Grilled Cornish Game Hens image

This recipe is great for summertime grilling. Game hens will melt in your mouth.

Provided by Suzanne

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Cornish Hen Recipes

Time 5h15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

½ onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 cup lemon juice
½ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon salt
4 (1 1/2 pound) Cornish game hens

Steps:

  • In a large, non-reactive bowl, mix onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, white wine, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, pepper, celery salt, and salt. Place Cornish game hens in the bowl, coating evenly with the marinade mixture. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 4 hours.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
  • Cook hens about 1 hour on the prepared grill, brushing occasionally with remaining marinade, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 871 calories, Carbohydrate 8.5 g, Cholesterol 302.4 mg, Fat 69.2 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 52.1 g, SaturatedFat 15.4 g, Sodium 1124.2 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS & EGGPLANT STUFFING



Grilled Cornish Game Hens & Eggplant Stuffing image

Cornish hen grilled and placed with eggplant dressing. ****You can sub the eggplant with oysters just don't add salt to the stuffing.You can also use wild mushrooms. I spice up the hens with creole seasonings.

Provided by The Galveston Chef

Categories     Whole Chicken

Time 45m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

24 ounces Cornish hens
4 cups breadcrumbs
1 medium eggplant
1 pinch sage
1 pinch gumbo file
2 garlic cloves
2 sticks celery
1 medium onion
1 medium bell pepper
1 pinch cracked black pepper
4 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 pinch parsley flakes
1 pinch pepper
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

  • Prepare the hen by splitting it in half and remove the backbone.
  • Season the hen with black pepper and salt set aside.
  • Add butter to heated pot with a splash of chicken stock.
  • Chop celery, eggplant, onion, bell pepper, and garlic; add to pot.
  • Season with sage, salt, pepper and file.
  • Smother ingredients until clear.
  • Add bread crumbs and chicken stock and mix.
  • Place in shallow pan and bake at 375°F for about 30 minute.
  • Grill the hen on your grill brushing with butter until done.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1537.6, Fat 37.9, SaturatedFat 13.8, Cholesterol 340.1, Sodium 2157.3, Carbohydrate 187.4, Fiber 21.6, Sugar 25, Protein 111

Kick off your culinary journey with these essential tips for a perfectly grilled Cornish game hen:

Tips:

  • Prep with Passion: Before firing up the grill, make sure to rinse and pat dry your game hens. This ensures even cooking and helps the seasonings adhere for maximum flavor.
  • Marinate Masterpiece: Elevate your game hens with a delectable marinade. Options abound—try a zesty lemon-herb blend, a smoky chipotle-honey glaze, or a classic garlic-butter rub. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight, for deep flavor infusion.
  • Season with Savory Spices: Whether you prefer a simple salt-and-pepper rub or an exotic blend, don't shy away from seasoning your game hens generously. A well-balanced mix of herbs and spices will enhance the natural flavors.
  • Grill with Gusto: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, and ensure the grates are clean and well-oiled to prevent sticking. Place the game hens breast-side up and cook for approximately 20-25 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Rest for Perfection: Allow your grilled Cornish game hens to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps redistribute the juices, resulting in tender, succulent meat.

Conclusion:

With careful preparation, masterful marinating, and precise grilling, you'll unlock the true potential of this delectable dish. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or an intimate dinner, grilled Cornish game hens are sure to impress with their tender meat, crisp skin, and irresistible flavors. So gather your ingredients, fire up the grill, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds dancing.

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