Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with Cornish game hens, succulent and packed with flavor. These tender and juicy birds are perfectly complemented by a savory cornbread stuffing, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. Accompany your Cornish game hens with a medley of roasted vegetables, such as crisp carrots, tender green beans, and flavorful bell peppers, all glazed in a luscious honey-balsamic sauce. For a satisfying side dish, prepare a creamy polenta, its smooth texture contrasting beautifully with the crispy skin of the game hens. Elevate your meal with a refreshing salad of mixed greens, drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Top it all off with a luscious, homemade cranberry sauce, its tartness complementing the richness of the dish. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and create a memorable dining experience with these delectable Cornish game hens and their delectable accompaniments.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS
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
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.
CORNISH HENS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place the sliced onion in the bottom of a roasting pan. Remove the giblets from the hens, and rinse them inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outsides dry. Place the hens on top of the sliced onion.
- Pack the cavities of the hens with the cornbread stuffing.
- Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the hens. Rub the hens with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast the hens for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.
- Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Break the cornbread into pieces and place the pieces in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture to the cornbread. Add the celery, chicken stock, parsley, salt and pepper, and mix together.
- Yield: 2 servings
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH STUFFING
A fantastic recipe to make for a special dinner for 2! I make them lots of different ways, but this way is nice for those romantic occaisions and want them to be extra special and pretty. Enjoy! (Photo from bing images)
Provided by Kelly Williams
Categories Chicken
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. Make stuffing according to pkg. directions. Add in apples and bacon when fluffing with fork. Set aside. Remove anything inside the hens and rinse inside with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. (Don't rub or you can have bits of paper towel left in there. Not good.) In small saucepan, melt butter on low. Add seasonings and spices. Stir well to mix. Remove from heat. When stuffing has cooled, stuff each bird. You may have a bit left over. Place in small baking dish with lid for extra helpings. ;) Place hens into metal or glass 13x9 baking pan. Tie legs together and tuck wings under. Baste hens with a little butter mixture to coat. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Baste with butter mixure every 15-20 minutes. When done, baste with any last remaining butter mixture over them. Tent with foil covering to keep warm, and let rest til serving for at least 5-10 minutes.
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH RICE STUFFING
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
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
SPICED CORNISH HENS WITH CORNBREAD AND SAUSAGE STUFFING
Gina: Pat and I love, absolutely love, Cornish hens. One year we took a family vacation to Florida's Gulf Shore for Thanksgiving. When we got there, we had a beach view as well as the beach to ourselves. It was going to be a special Thanksgiving. Here's what happened: Before we left for our vacation, Pat begged me not to go overboard packing the foodstuffs. He said, "I don't want to smell collard greens up the road." Well, I said, "Too bad," because I knew stores might not be open, and I needed my ingredients for cooking the birds. See, ladies, this is why we are so special, because we know. Well, guess what, when we got to the coast, we couldn't find any stores that were open. So it was lucky for us that a smart momma had packed all her ingredients, and we were able to cook our entire Thanksgiving dinner. Long story short: It was a wonderful meal. We enjoyed our dinner overlooking a beautiful beach, and the meal remains one of our most cherished memories. Lesson here, ladies: Never let a man tell you what to pack! As for the birds, they are surprisingly easy to prepare. After the hens are rubbed with spices, the fragrant cornbread stuffing can be assembled in minutes in one skillet. The real appeal is the flavor and the stylish presentation. This recipe promises to be a holiday staple for years to come, with or without the view!
Yield serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Whisk together the dry ingredients the salt, cumin, chile powder, black pepper, and allspice in a small bowl. Season both sides of the hens with this mix, and set them aside to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing.
- Cook the sausage in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until no pink remains, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate lined with paper towels; drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to the heat, and add the oil. Add the onion, celery, and jalapeño, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables have softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the thyme, crumbled cornbread, sausage, chicken stock, parsley, and cilantro, if desired. Remove the skillet from the heat; taste the stuffing for seasoning, and add salt and pepper as desired.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease two 13 × 9 × 2-inch baking dishes with oil.
- Place the hens skin side down on a work surface. Pack one fourth of the stuffing into each cavity. Arrange the hens stuffing side down in the prepared dish. Brush the tops of the hens with the mustard. Roast the hens until they are golden brown and juices run clear when thighs are pierced, 50 to 55 minutes. Transfer the hens to a platter, and serve.
ROAST CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING
I am a huge fan of cornish hens because they are all white meat - my favorite part! This is a great main course for a special occasion or holiday with a small gathering, or just for a special weekend treat. YUMMY!
Provided by lazy gourmet
Categories Poultry
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Remove the giblets from the hens, rinse with cold water and pat dry.
- Prepare the marinade- combine the vegetable oil, the wine, the chopped medium onion, the garlic, half of the rosemary, the 1/2 teaspoons salt and coarsely ground black pepper and the unsalted butter.
- Place the hens in a large food storage bag and pour the marinade over them.
- Close the bag securely and refrigerate for at least three hours.
- Shake the bag occasionally to coat the hens with the marinade.
- Prepare the stuffing- in saute pan, melt the salted butter.
- Saute the 1 cup chopped onions and celery in the butter until tender.
- In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with the sauteed onions and celery.
- Mix in the poultry seasoning, sage and remainder of the rosemary.
- Add the eggs and enough chicken broth to slightly moisten and barely bind the ingredients.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Remove the hens from the bag and pat dry with paper towels.
- Season the hens to taste inside and out with salt and pepper.
- Stuff the cavity loosely with the cornbread stuffing.
- Brush butter over the skin of the hens and place them breast side up in a roasting pan with enough space to allow room between the hens.
- Roast for 15 minutes to brown.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and baste frequently with pan drippings for 45 minutes.
CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY
Crusty garlic bread and a nice light Chianti wine complement this meal very well.
Provided by MOONANDBACK
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Cornish Hen Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
- Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 814.3 calories, Carbohydrate 9.7 g, Cholesterol 339.7 mg, Fat 57.5 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 59.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 1382.6 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
CORNISH HENS WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING
Shake up tradition a little and serve these for Thanksgiving or anytime! Everyone loves to have their own little bird stuffed with moist, delicious cornbread stuffing. This is an easy dinner to make for a party! You can make your own cornbread or use store-bought. Adapted from Barefoot Contessa At Home cookbook.
Provided by Sharon123
Categories Poultry
Time 1h25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400*F.
- To make stuffing:.
- Melt butter in a medium saute pan, add the onion, and cook over medium low heat for 8 minutes, until translucent. Remove from heat and add celery, parsley, cornbread, and chicken stock. Mix well, set aside.
- For the hens:.
- Rinse them inside and out, removing any pin feathers, and pat outsides dry. In a roasting pan that's just large enough to hold the hens loosely, toss in the onions and then place the hens on top, breast side up. Sprinkle the insides of the hens with salt and pepper and loosely fill the cavities with the stuffing. If there is any stuffing leftover, bake it in a separate pan until heated through.
- Tie the legs of each hen together and tuck the wings under the bodies. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 50-60 minutes, until skin is browned and the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.
- Remove from oven, cover with foil and allow to rest for about 15 minutes. Serve a whole hen per person. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 491.8, Fat 27.5, SaturatedFat 14.3, Cholesterol 268.9, Sodium 217.4, Carbohydrate 9.7, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 4.2, Protein 49.6
Tips:
- Brine the Cornish game hens: This will help to keep them moist and flavorful during cooking.
- Use a flavorful cornbread stuffing: This will add a delicious flavor and texture to the hens.
- Roast the hens at a high temperature: This will help to create a crispy skin while keeping the meat moist.
- Baste the hens with butter or oil during roasting: This will help to keep them from drying out.
- Let the hens rest before serving: This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Conclusion:
Cornish game hens with cornbread stuffing is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion meal. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your hens are cooked to perfection and that your stuffing is flavorful and moist. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to prepare Cornish game hens, give this recipe a try!
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