This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure).
These oven roasted Cornish hens are so festive and delicious! Perfect crispy spiced golden-brown skin and juicy succulent meat – this is the only recipe for Cornish game hens you’ll ever need!
Cornish game hens are miniature chickens that are perfect for entertaining! There is something about these little game hens that makes them look so much more impressive than the plain regular roast chicken :) Especially when the Cornish hens are perfectly roasted and browned, everybody’s mouth will water when they see them on a platter, so delicious!
Baking Cornish hens in the oven is really easy. All you need to do to make perfectly roasted Cornish hens is rub them with melted butter and spices and bake in the oven for 1 hour at 400F – doesn’t get easier than that!
There are many recipes for baked Cornish hens that make things much more complicated then they need to be. For example, they require you to change the oven temperature throughout the baking process or make you constantly baste the birds with their juices. Basting is way too much work – having to open the oven, take out the Cornish hens, baste them, put them back in – that defeats the whole purpose of the oven being the lazy cooking method. If I’m baking something in the oven, I don’t want to have to deal with it until it’s completely cooked and ready to come out for good!
A great news is that this roasted Cornish hens recipe doesn’t require basting or messing with the oven in any way. Just put the Cornish hens in the oven, set the timer for 1 hour and then when the timer beeps you’ll take out perfectly crispy browned juicy birds! By the way, I also have a really easy roast turkey recipe that doesn’t require basting and makes a perfect turkey every time with virtually zero effort – check out my perfect roasted turkey recipe.
How can you get away without basting the Cornish hens? Easy – just rub them with melted butter before putting them in the oven! Melted butter keeps them moist and also makes the skin brown beautifully!
Another thing that makes these oven roasted Cornish hens so amazing is the homemade spice mix. The Cornish hens are rubbed with a mixture of Italian herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. There is something about homemade spice mixes that makes them so much more flavorful that ready-made! For another awesome spice mix recipe, check out my homemade taco seasoning recipe – once you try it, you’ll never want to use store-bought!
If you like these easy roasted Cornish hens recipe, you will also love these recipes:
Cranberry Roasted Brussels Sprouts – my favorite way of cooking brussels sprouts, these make a perfect side dish to go with Cornish hens!
Two Roasted Chickens – how to roast two chicken with potatoes at the same time, can use Cornish hens in that recipe instead of chickens!
Rainbow Roasted Vegetables – a platter of colorful roasted vegetables, their presentation is amazing, can roast at the same time as Cornish hens!
Best Ever Roasted Potatoes – the crispiest roasted potatoes, so golden brown and simply perfect!
Pomegranate Fruit Salad – so festive and colorful, perfect for any holiday gatherings!
Click Here To Pin This Recipe
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Perfect Baked Cornish Hens Recipe
These amazing Cornish hens are rubbed with spices then baked in the oven to perfection! Their skin is so golden brown and crispy and the meat is so juicy! This is the only Cornish hens recipe you'll ever need!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet or pan with parchment paper or foil.
Make a spice mix - put salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs seasoning and paprika in a cup and mix until combined.
Rub the melted butter all over the Cornish hens.
Sprinkle the Cornish hens with the spice mix and rub it all over the Cornish hens so it's evenly distributed.
Put the Cornish hens on the baking sheet breast side up.
Put the Cornish hens in the oven and bake for 1 hour.
NEVER MISS A RECIPE!I publish a new recipe several times per week. Want the new recipes in your inbox? Sign up for FREE notifications!
Save This Recipe
Save this for later on your social media:
Get Melanie's FREE Recipes In Your Inbox!
You also need these yummy recipes in your life:
FAQs
Roast, uncovered, basting frequently with butter for 1 hour (if hen weighs over 1lb 2oz, roast 1 hour and 15 minutes) or until internal temperature on instant read thermometer reaches 180°F when inserted into inner thigh.
What temperature is Cornish hen cooked? ›
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.
What is the purpose of a rack in a roasting pan when preparing Cornish hens? ›
Roasting Cornish hens on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet also helps elevate the birds so that the thighs cook as quickly as the breasts. Cornish hens are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and their juices run clear.
How do you get the gamey taste out of Cornish hens? ›
The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.
Should Cornish hens be cooked breast up or breast down? ›
Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath.
Do you have to clean out the inside of a Cornish hen? ›
Do not rinse the skin or cavity of the bird, as doing so may spread bacteria in the sink and on the countertop. Once defrosted, remove bird from packaging and pat dry with a paper towel. Remove giblet bag from cavity and reserve for making sauces, etc.
Should Cornish hens be room temp before cooking? ›
Half an hour before you plan to cook, bring the chickens to room temperature. Using butcher's twine, tie the chicken legs together at the ankles. Cover the wing tips with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
How do you tell if a Cornish hen is done without a thermometer? ›
When the chicken has cooked for the required time, (20-25 minutes per lb/500g) pierce the thickest part of the drumstick (leg) with a sharp knife or skewer. If the juices are clear your chicken should be cooked. If they still run pink, leave the chicken to cook for another 15 minutes or so, and check again.
Are Cornish hens pink when cooked? ›
Once 20 minutes is up, reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and continue to bake for another 40 – 50 minutes (until skin is crispy and light brown and the meat, when cut into, is no longer pink).
How many Cornish hens can I cook at once? ›
Lay a wire rack in the bottom of a big roasting pan and place 6 Cornish game hens on it. If you don't have a wire rack that fits the pan, bunch up a few pieces of aluminum foil and place these on the bottom of the pan. You can easily cut this recipe in half or a third if you only want to make 2 or 3 hens.
Cornish Hens are just baby chickens but they taste completely different. They present really well when serving and cook in a short period of time. I like serving them for dinner parties or for the holidays. Typically 1/2 a Cornish hen is enough for one person but someone with a good appetite could eat a whole one.
Can I use a casserole dish instead of a roasting pan? ›
We've already established that a roasting pan is basically an extra-large casserole dish. If you have a 9x13-inch casserole or baking dish, you can make this work for smaller roasts like chicken or game hens. For a full-sized turkey, go with an oversized baking dish with relatively high sides.
What is the tastiest game meat? ›
The 10 Best Tasting Wild Game Animals
- Mountain Sheep. Wild sheep cooked on an open fire is the ultimate wild game meat. ...
- Elk. Cow elk are trophies for meat hunters. ...
- Moose. Moose bring a lot to the table, in terms of quality and quantity. ...
- Caribou. ...
- Muskox. ...
- Mallards. ...
- Axis Deer. ...
- Ring-necked Pheasant.
If you've never tried Cornish hens and are wondering about the flavors, they have a slightly stronger, more gamey taste than chicken but are not as flavorful as a quail. The taste is light and savory, especially when well seasoned. Each hen will make two servings, giving each person a half a bird.
Are Cornish hens better than turkey? ›
They're at least as scrumptious as turkeys, but they're much smaller — weighing in at 1 pound to 2 pounds — making them easier to cook. They roast up much more quickly, and you don't have to wrestle them into a roasting pan to make them fit. With hens that are on the large size, you get two servings out of every bird.
Do Cornish hens need to be thawed before cooking? ›
cornish hens will thaw in the refrigerator in 24-48 hours. Be sure to place it in a container to catch any drips or spills! You should use the hens 1-2 days after thawing. You can thaw cornish hens in their packaging in a sink full of cold water 4-6 hours before cooking.
