Best 20 Cornish Hen Recipes

ORANGE GLAZED CORNISH HEN

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).

ORANGE GLAZED LOVE (CORNISH) HEN

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.

ROCK CORNISH HEN AND WILD RICE

Steps:

• 1. Rinse Hen well and dry with paper towels. Using Kitchen shears or knife, lay hen breast side up and snip or cut down one side of breast. as well as a short slice at the neck and tail, so you can lay the bird flat.
• 2. In a foil lined cake pan or baking dish lay the hen out flat, breast and flesh side up. Drizzle with the Lemom Juice, sprinkle with the Salt,Pepper, Poultry Seasoning, Thyme and Onion Powder. Use a very little amount of each of these, less than a tenth of a teaspoon. **Just a Pinch** is what you can pick up between you thumb and forefinger. And then sprinkle lightly.
• 3. Drizzle on the Olive Oil and rub on the Butter.
• 4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. They should brown nicely without the need to broil.
• 5. If browned after 45 to 50 minutes, remove from oven and baste well with the juices. Lower oven temp to 250 degrees and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
• 6. Sever and separate the two halves, (This could be done before baking) and plate them up.
• 7. This is great with homemade stuffing or rice. I prefer to accompany them with my Wild Rice recipe, which see. I incorporate Wild Rice, Brown and Long Grain Rice and white Rice. I cook all separately then combine and add finely minced Celery, Onions and Walnuts or Pecans. The wild Rice pairs excellently with Shrimp and Fish offerings as well.
• 8. Note: The wild rice was retrieved from the freezer and was prepared three months earlier. I make a large batch and freeze in quart zip-lock bags and compress no thicker than my finger, so I can break off just what I need to serve. It freezes very well, and was just as good as the day I made it.

CORNISH HEN WITH TART CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine sea salt, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, rosemary, and paprika in a bowl. Place hens on a baking sheet and evenly brush with 5 tablespoons butter. Rub hens with spice mixture.
• Bake hens in preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 1/2 hours, basting every 1/2 hour with white wine. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).
• Mix cherries, red wine, orange juice, and brown sugar in a saucepan; bring to a boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir in 2 tablespoons butter, and cook until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle flour into the sauce; whisk until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Drizzle cherry sauce over cooked hens.

HOISIN-GLAZED CORNISH HEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a very deep pot, bring enough oil to fill the pot by 2/3 of the way. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Add the hen slowly to the oil and fry for 8 to 10 minutes on each side until golden brown and have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
• Remove the hen from the oil and drain on a paper towel.
• Whisk together in a large bowl, the hoisin, honey, red pepper flakes, and the scallions. Brush mixture over the cooked hen on both sides and reserve the extra sauce for dipping.
• Place in oven for about 7 minutes. Take out. Flip over and brush reserved hoisin sauce on flipped side. Place in oven for another 7 minutes.

HICKORY SMOKED CORNISH GAME HEN

Steps:

• Whisk together the dry rub, salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Season the washed and dried game hens with the rub and arrange on a sheet tray. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, add butter to melt. Once melted, add the shallots and saute until tender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the chicken broth and orange juice. Bring to a simmer and let reduce down to 1/2 cup, about 10 minutes. It will easily coat the back of a spoon and be slightly syrupy. Once reduced add the apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. Taste for seasoning.
• Prepare your grill/smoker for indirect heat with charcoal and hickory chips. Maintain your temperature at 275 degrees F.
• Arrange the game hens on the grill and cover. Smoke for 40 minutes. Remove the cover and brush the hens with the glaze, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. Cover the grill and smoke for an additional 15 minutes. Remove the hens from the grill, to a serving platter and let rest, covered with foil for 15 minutes before serving.

CROCK POT ROSEMARY CORNISH GAME HEN

Steps:

• 1. Sprinkle bottom of Crock Pot with half the salt and pepper. Then drizzle 1 Tbsp olive oil over the bottom of the pot. Rough chop the onion and spread over the bottom of the pot.
• 2. Place frozen Cornish game hen on top of the onions. Drizzle the remaining Tbsp of olive oil on the bird. Rough chop the garlic and place half on top of the bird and the rest, let fall in the pot. Season the bird with salt, pepper, and garlic & onion seasoning. Top the bird with dried or fresh rosemary.
• 3. Add a 1/4 cup of water or white wine to the pot. Cook on low heat setting for 6 hours or until the legs begin to fall away from body.
• 4. To serve, cut the bird down the middle. Optional: Carefully remove the hen from the slow cooker and transfer to a small baking dish. Place in a 450 degree oven just until skin is crispy and golden brown.
• 5. Cook 2 hens at a time for a larger family dinner or substitute a whole chicken. Just make sure to increase the cooking time to allow for the larger bird.

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HEN WITH MUSTARD GLAZE

Steps:

• Remove the backbone from the hen with poultry shears or a sharp knife, place the hen, skin side up, on a work surface, and press down the breastbone to flatten the hen.
• In an ovenproof skillet roast the hen, skin side up, in a preheated 450°F oven for 10 minutes.
• While the hen is roasting, in a small bowl whisk together the oil, the mustard, rosemary, the garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove the hen from the oven, spread the mustard mixture over the skin, and roast the hen for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the hen to a preheated broiler and broil it about 4 inches from the heat for 2-3 minutes. Now put the mustard seed in with the mustard mixture and broil for 2-3 more minutes(this is so the mustard seeds won't burn).
• Transfer the hen to a platter and keep it warm.
• To the skillet add the wine and boil the mixture over high heat until it is reduced by half. Add the broth, boil the mixture for 1 minute, scraping up and brown bits, and add any juices that have accumulated on the platter. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve onto 2 plates. Cut the hen in half with a sharp knife, and arrange each half on top of the sauce.
• Serve and enjoy!

ORANGE CORNISH HEN FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Season hen with salt and black pepper; place in a roasting pan.
• Roast hen in the preheated oven until partially cooked, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Mix orange juice concentrate, honey, and ketchup in a saucepan; bring to a boil and cook until syrup consistency, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Baste hen with orange glaze; continue roasting, basting every ten minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone reads 180 degrees F (82 degrees C), 35 to 40 more minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

GARLIC-ROSEMARY CORNISH HEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Place hens, breast side up, over lemon and rosemary in an ungreased 11x7-in. baking dish. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add garlic to pan. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°. , Pour broth and wine over hen and bake 10-15 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°, basting twice with pan juices. Remove hen to serving plates and keep warm., Transfer pan juices to a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-7 minutes or until pan juices reach desired consistency. Strain juices and serve with hen.

CORNISH GAME HEN WITH RASPBERRY-RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F. Sprinkle hen halves with thyme, salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add hen halves, skin side down, and cook until brown, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer hen halves to baking sheet (do not clean skillet). Roast until juices run clear when thigh is pierced, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet. Add shallots and sauté over medium heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add broth, wine, raspberries, 2 teaspoons sugar and allspice. Boil until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon, scraping up browned bits and crushing raspberries, about 12 minutes. Strain wine sauce into small bowl. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper; add more sugar, if desired. Serve hen halves with sauce.

SPATCHCOCKED CORNISH HEN WITH MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the garlic powder, pimenton, rosemary and lemon zest in a small bowl. Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a small pan until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Combine the toasted seeds with the other spices and grind in a spice grinder.
• Season the game hen with salt and crushed red pepper.
• Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Sear the hen, skin-side down, adjusting the heat as necessary. Place the brick on top of the hen and cook until evenly browned. Remove the brick and flip the hen. Rub some of the spice mixture onto the skin side. Flip the hen over and rub some of the spice mixture onto the back side. Roast in the oven, skin-side down, for 15 minutes. Flip the hen skin-side up and continue to roast until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F, about 15 minutes more. Let rest.
• Serve drizzled with olive oil, with Mashed Potatoes on the side.
• Place the potatoes and garlic in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and heavily season the cooking water with salt. Turn down the heat and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender; drain. Pass the potatoes through a food mill into a bowl.
• Meanwhile, bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add 1/4 cup of the heated cream and the cold butter to the potatoes and stir vigorously. Add more cream and butter as needed. Season with salt.

MAHOGANY-GLAZED CORNISH HEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Place hen in a greased shallow roasting pan, skin side up. Combine butter, ginger and orange zest; rub under skin., In a small bowl, whisk preserves, vinegar, soy sauce and mustard. Reserve half of the mixture for basting. Spoon remaining mixture over hen; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 cup chicken broth into pan., Roast 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°, adding broth to pan as necessary and basting with remaining glaze halfway through cooking. Serve with pan juices.

ROAST CORNISH GAME HEN WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F. Combine fennel, leek, carrots, 1 teaspoon thyme and 1 tablespoon oil in 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush hen halves with remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon thyme, salt and pepper. Arrange hen halves atop vegetables. Roast 15 minutes.
• Pour wine onto vegetables in dish. Continue to roast until vegetables are tender and hen is cooked through, stirring vegetables occasionally, about 8 minutes longer. Serve hen with vegetables.

HONEY MUSTARD CORNISH HEN

Steps:

• 1. Thoroughly wash Cornish game hens. Combine the rest of the ingredients. Place the clean hens in a extra large Ziploc storage bag and pour combined ingredients over the hens. Seal bag and gently massage the bag to ensure that the marinade is well distrubed. Place the bag in a 9 x 13 in pan and place in the refridgerator for 12 - 24 hours. Occasionally turn the bag during the marinading time.
• 2. Turn marinated cornish hens onto a very large rimmed cookie sheet. For easier clean up you may line the cookie sheet with parchment paper. Evenly arrange the hens. Place in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Then turn down the oven to 350 degrees. Continue to roast the hens for approximately l hour.
• 3. Glaze the roasted hens with the following: 1/3 c. liquid honey 1/4 c. melted margarine/butter 1/3 c. dijon mustard Combine all the above very well and spread on top of the roasted hens. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for another 10 - 15 minutes.
• 4. Cover the roasted cornish hens with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 min. Arrange on serving platter. You make tuck around the hens sprigs of curley parsley and thin lemon wedges. Enjoy!

CORNISH HEN WITH ORANGE STUFFING

Steps:

• Peel and section orange; cut each section into quarters and set aside. In a skillet, saute onions and celery in oil until crisp-tender. In a bowl, combine the onion mixture, stuffing mix, orange zest and reserved orange sections. Stir in enough orange juice to just moisten stuffing mixture., Arrange stuffing in two mounds in a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Place Cornish game hen halves skin side up over stuffing. Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake for 15 minutes. Combine honey and water. Brush over hens. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until juices run clear.

GLAZED CORNISH HEN WITH RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Cook the long grain and wild rice according to package directions; drain. In a large bowl, combine the apple, white wine or apple juice, almonds, salt, poultry seasoning, curry powder and rice; set aside. , In a small saucepan, combine the preserves, mustard, horseradish and tarragon. Cook and stir over medium heat until preserves are melted. , Carefully loosen skin around hen breast, thighs and drumsticks. Set aside 1/4 cup glaze; spoon remaining glaze under skin., Place the rice mixture in two mounds in an 11x7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray; arrange hen halves skin side up over rice. , Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 45-55 minutes or until meat juices run clear. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove and discard skin before serving. Warm reserved glaze; brush over hen halves.

DRUNKEN CORNISH GAME HEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Line a broiler pan with foil, open the Game bird package (Tyson sells them in packages of two, individually wrapped which is darned convenient, you can freeze the other one for next time) & find an empty beer or soda can (or you can go the cheap route & use a can of Bud which works just as well) and fill to the brim with Arrogant Bastard Ale, get the dark stuff, gives a lovely flavor, pop the top (if going the Bud route) & stick it up that randy little bird's butt. Seriously. If I can add a photo you'll see what I mean, I'll give it my best shot --.
• You can put the dry ingredients in a ziplock bag & shake the bird until good & coated or just sprinkle on once on the can. VERY IMPORTANT - IF YOU USE AN ALREADY IN THE CAN BEER, POP THE TOP, I'm pretty sure you don't want it to explode in your oven -- Place the bird atop the can (really give it a good shove, get it in there good & solid) place the whole shebang in the middle of the broiler pan & then place pan in the middle of your oven. Set the timer for 45 minutes & go have a beer or two while you wait. You could also use this time constructively by getting together some nice veggies to sautee as a side dish but if you're already into the beer you probably won't care either way --.
• Enjoy the heck out of this, make two so you can invite the neighbors over, make sure you open the oven so they can point & laugh and tell you what a freak you are, it adds to the fun!
• When you think the bird is done, usually in about 45 minutes (check the thigh joint to see if the juices run clear, smaller birds don't take as long as bigger ones, duh) remove the tray from the oven & ever so gently extract the can from the bird's behind (it will be very hot so be careful!). I usually slice the bird from stem to stern while still atop the can, makes extraction easier. Whatever you do DON'T SPILL THE BEER, especially if you're naked as it will leave a nasty burn, trust me on this one--.
• Anyway, enjoy the heck out of this recipe, it's simple and you'll really love the Game hen. To substitute a regular chicken use a tall beer can & roast for an hour or more -- .

ORANGE MARMALADE CORNISH HEN

Steps:

• 1. PREHEAT YOUR OVEN TO 350 DEGREES, SPRAY YOUR PAN WITH NON-STICK SPRAY, RINSE OFF THE HENS WITH COOL WATER. PLACE IN PAN NOT TOUCHING TO ALLOW EVEN COOKING. BASTE WITH BUTTER THEN ADD SALT AND PEPPER COVER WITH ALUMINUM FOIL. COOK FOR AN HOUR.
• 2. THEN PULL OUT THE HENS AND BASTE WITH THE MARMALADE. PUT BACK INTO THE OVEN UNCOVER AND COOK FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES.
• 3. ITS JUST THAT EASY, IT MAKES A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION FOR DINNER OR A PARTY.

CHERRY-BALSAMIC CORNISH HEN WITH RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Remove and discard neck and giblets from game hen. With kitchen scissors, cut game hen in half.
• In ungreased 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish, combine rice with seasoning from package, cherries, almonds and water; mix well. Top with game hen halves, skin side up; sprinkle with garlic-pepper blend and salt.
• In small bowl, combine preserves and vinegar; mix well. Brush about half of mixture over game hen halves. Cover with foil.
• Bake covered at 375°F. for 30 minutes.
• Uncover baking dish; brush game hen halves with remaining preserves mixture. Bake uncovered an additional 25 to 30 minutes or until game hen is fork-tender and juices run clear, and rice is tender.