Roasted Cornish Game Hen

Date nights, birthdays and holidays call for extra-special dinners, but there’s no need to learn a whole new cooking technique every time you want to take out the fine china dishes. That’s why we love this recipe for roasted Cornish game hens: It’s just as simple as making a roast chicken but swaps the general bird for petite, elegant and refined Cornish game hens. They’re smaller and a bit more expensive than a whole chicken, but the tender meat and beautiful flavors reflect the price tenfold.

We’ll show you step-by-step how to cook Cornish hens at home the right way. Pair this roasted Cornish hen recipe with elegant sides and you’ll have a memorable dinner whenever the night calls for it.

What is a Cornish hen?

A Cornish game hen is a small type of chicken that weighs up to 2 pounds and is under five weeks old. These early days are when the chicken’s meat is super tender and extra succulent—even a little sweet. Their smaller size also cooks a lot faster than a roasted chicken, shaving off anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour.

A Cornish game hen’s name is a bit misleading. They’re not game meat, they’re not always hens (female birds) and they’re not necessarily Cornish. Allow us to explain the latter: This bird was originally crossbred from Cornish chickens and White Plymouth Rock chickens. However, these pure-bred chickens are not likely found in the commercial chicken market anymore, except in private poultry farms that specifically raise these specialized breeds.

But don’t let technicalities make you think these birds aren’t special. Cornish game hens are well worth the price, and they’ll probably be the juiciest, most tender roasted birds you’ll ever eat. Save this recipe for an extra-special date night or holiday dinner.

Ingredients for Roasted Cornish Game Hen

• Cornish game hens: You’ll need two Cornish game hens for this recipe, each weighing anywhere between 20 to 24 ounces. Cornish hens are usually available at high-quality grocery stores or specialty butchers.
• Sage: Stuff fresh sage underneath the skin of the birds to really infuse the aromatics into the meat. If you can’t find fresh sage, sprinkle dried sage into the butter, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic mixture.
• Lemon: Bright and citrusy, lemon wedges are cooked inside of the birds for extra moisture and the refreshing aroma.
• Green onions: Pungent green onions are cooked inside the birds and around the potatoes.
• Butter and olive oil: A mixture of olive oil and melted butter crisp up the skin, making it nice and golden brown.
• Garlic: This roasted Cornish hen recipe is all about the aromatics, and of course that includes two cloves of freshly minced garlic!
• Potatoes: To bulk up this meal, red potatoes are roasted right alongside the Cornish hens.

Directions

Step 1: Place the sage under the skin

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slide your fingers underneath the skin and gently lift the skin from the hen breasts, making sure the skin doesn’t rip. Place the sage leaves under the skin.

Step 2: Stuff the hens with aromatics

Insert the lemon wedges and a third of the onions into the cavities. Tuck the wings under the hens so the wings don’t burn.

Step 3: Tie the legs

Using butcher’s twine, tie the legs of each hen together with a simple knot. Place the Cornish hens in a small greased roasting pan.

Step 4: Coat the skin

In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. Spoon half the mixture all over the hens, then sprinkle the hens with salt and pepper.

Step 5: Bake the hens

Bake the Cornish hens for 30 minutes. Without turning the oven off, take the roasting pan out of the oven and place the potatoes and remaining onions in the pan and all around the birds.

Brush the hens with the remaining butter mixture, and continue baking until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 170° to 175° and the potatoes are tender, 40 to 45 minutes longer.

Step 6: Serve!

Remove the hens and place them on a serving platter. Stir the potatoes and onions to coat with the pan drippings. Serve the vegetables with the hens and enjoy!

Editor’s Tip: We always recommend letting meat rest for 10 minutes. It allows the juices to redistribute in the hens so they don’t drip out as soon as you cut into them, creating dry meat.

Recipe Variations

• Play with the spices: While this roasted Cornish game hen recipe already uses sage, there is a ton more room for more herbs—even spices! Add thyme, rosemary, marjoram or tarragon to the hens. Garlic powder, paprika, chili powder and cayenne make great spice additions.
• Go for a glaze: Add a sweet and tangy flavor to each roasted Cornish hen by baking on a glaze, such as with our autumnal apple-butter barbecue roasted chicken or this sweet, sour and smoky baked balsamic chicken recipe. Just make sure to stay with the baking time in this recipe since Cornish game hens take much less time to cook than whole chickens.
• Utilize citrus: My favorite ingredient to cook with is citrus fruit. I find that it is an under-utilized ingredient but is super easy to use and makes a huge impact on flavor. We have tons of roasted chicken recipes that use citrus in ways that can be incorporated into this recipe. Try our citrus-herb roast chicken that uses both lemons and oranges, this sweet-yet-bright honey-lime roasted chicken or this super unique brunch beverage-inspired mimosa roasted chicken that actually contains champagne and orange juice.

How to Store Roasted Cornish Game Hen

Once the Cornish game hens have cooled to room temperature, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for one month.

Can you make roasted Cornish game hen ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this roasted Cornish hen recipe ahead of time. Bake the hens, allow them to cool to room temperature, wrap them in storage wrap or place them in an airtight container, and stick them in the fridge.

To reheat, bake the Cornish hens at 350° for about 25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat reads 165°.

Roasted Cornish Game Hen Tips

Do I cover Cornish hens while roasting?

No, keep the Cornish hens uncovered so their skin can get nice and crispy! However, if the skin is getting a little too brown and your hens haven’t finished cooking, tent aluminum foil around the birds to protect the skin.

How do I serve Cornish hens?

You can serve two people their own Cornish game hen, or you can cut each Cornish game hen in half to make four servings and bulk up the plate with extra sides. Cut up the hens just as you would carve a chicken.

They are delicious hot from the oven but can also be nibbled on as a cold snack.

What sides should I serve with Cornish hens?

Myriad sides go great with roast chicken, and with roasted Cornish hen! If you’re trying to bulk out the dish, serve hearty sides like buttery dinner rolls, risotto, roasted root vegetables, or omit the red potatoes and make cheesy au gratin potaotes or creamy mashed potatoes.

If you just need a simple, light side, arugula salad is a go-to and glazed carrots round out the meal perfectly.