Indulge in a culinary masterpiece with our delectable Cornish hens stuffed with a hearty cranberry cornbread stuffing. These tender and juicy hens are roasted to perfection, while the stuffing bursts with flavors of sweet cranberries, savory cornbread, and aromatic herbs. Accompany your main course with a medley of side dishes, including a creamy roasted butternut squash soup, a vibrant green bean casserole with crispy shallots, and a tangy cranberry sauce. For a sweet ending, treat yourself to a classic apple pie with a flaky crust and a warm, cinnamon-spiced filling. Each recipe is carefully crafted to complement the Cornish hens, creating a harmonious and unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're hosting a special occasion or simply seeking a memorable meal, this collection of recipes will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
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
CRANBERRY-GLAZED CORNISH HENS
Oregon is noted for its cranberry production and has many bogs throughout the state. In the Northwest, we use cranberries in a great variety of ways-in sauce, as a complement to meats, and in baked goods like cakes and muffins.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In 1-qt. saucepan, combine the gravy, cranberry sauce, mustard and orange zest. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until glaze is smooth., Cut hens in half lengthwise; rinse and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on rack with drip pan, skin side down; spoon half of the glaze over hens. , Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Turn hens; bake 25 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with remaining glaze., Serve on bed of wild rice and garnish with twists of thinly sliced orange.
Nutrition Facts : Fat 63 g fat (17 g saturated fat), Cholesterol 450 mg cholesterol, Sodium 504 mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12 g carbohydrate, Fiber trace fiber, Protein 77 g protein.
CRANBERRY-STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS
Dried cranberries add plenty of flavor to these Cornish game hens.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 16
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
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h5m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
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.
PAN ROASTED CORNISH HEN WITH BLUE CORN CHORIZO DRESSING WITH CRANBERRY MANGO RELISH
Provided by Bobby Flay
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 26
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter and cook the chorizo, garlic, celery, onion, carrot and poblano for 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the cornbread, thyme, sage, cilantro, egg and stock and mix well. Place in 12 by 15-inch baking pan and bake for 25 minutes.
- In a hot skillet combine cranberries and brown sugar, cook until berries start to pop. Add all other ingredients, except cilantro, and heat, (add a spoon of water if sauce appears dry). Just before serving, toss in the cilantro.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- In a hot roasting pan, melt the butter and oil. Season the hens with salt and pepper to taste and sear until browned all over. Place, breast side down in the pan and roast for approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Check for doneness by seeing if juices run clear when bird is tipped. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Plate hens alongside of the dressing and serve with the relish.
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.
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
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 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
Tips:
- Prepare the Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients and equipment ready. This will help you stay organized and ensure that the cooking process goes smoothly.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the final dish. Whenever possible, use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor and texture.
- Stuff the Cornish Hens Properly: To prevent the stuffing from spilling out during cooking, stuff the Cornish hens loosely. You should be able to fit about 1 cup of stuffing into each hen.
- Truss the Cornish Hens: Trussing the Cornish hens will help keep the stuffing in place and ensure that the hens cook evenly. You can use kitchen twine or toothpicks to secure the legs and wings.
- Roast the Cornish Hens at a High Temperature: Start by roasting the Cornish hens at a high temperature (450°F) for 20 minutes. This will help to brown the skin and seal in the juices.
- Reduce the Temperature and Continue Roasting: After 20 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue roasting the Cornish hens for another 40-50 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the Cornish Hens Rest: Before carving, let the Cornish hens rest for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful dish.
Conclusion:
Cornish hens with cranberry cornbread stuffing is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for a variety of occasions. Whether you're hosting a holiday dinner or simply looking for a special meal to share with family and friends, this recipe is sure to impress. With its tender, juicy meat and flavorful stuffing, Cornish hens with cranberry cornbread stuffing is a dish that everyone will love.
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