Wild Rice Stuffed Cornish Hens

Name: Wild Rice Stuffed Cornish Hens
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 5-1/2 cups water, divided; 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules; 1-1/2 teaspoons salt; 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice; 1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice; 1 pound bulk pork sausage; 1-1/2 cups chopped celery; 3/4 cup chopped onion; 6 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each); 1 jar (12 ounces) apricot preserves

My mom prepares this impressive-looking entree for the holidays and for other "company's coming" occasions. The savory rice stuffing goes wonderfully with the moist golden hens and sweet apricot glaze. She is often asked for the recipe. -Becky Brunette, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ingredients

5-1/2 cups water, divided
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup uncooked wild rice
1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 pound bulk pork sausage
1-1/2 cups chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
6 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1 jar (12 ounces) apricot preserves

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring 5 cups water, bouillon and salt to a boil. Add wild rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add long grain rice; cover and simmer 25-30 minutes longer or until rice is tender and water is absorbed.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the sausage, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in rice mixture. Spoon about 3/4 cup stuffing into each hen.
Place remaining stuffing in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; cover and set aside. Place hens breast side up on a rack in shallow baking pan; tie drumsticks together. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minutes.
In a small saucepan, bring preserves and remaining water to a boil. Pour over hens. Bake 25-35 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180° for hens and 165° for stuffing, basting occasionally. Place baking dish of stuffing in the oven for the last 35-40 minutes of hens' baking time.

Originally published as Rice-Stuffed Cornish Hens in Taste of Home December/January 2002

Reviews

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Jessica

Dec 7, 2018

Everyone LOVED this recipe! We all loved the stuffing so much so that it is now the ONLY stuffing recipe used at holidays. But I always add the apricot glaze over the stuffing because that takes it from great to amazing!
Matte

Dec 4, 2018

This was interesting. I left out the sausage but loved the apricot preserves with it.
Nana Jo Jo

Jan 22, 2012

This recipe was sooooo good.. My family raved about it. I also used the Herbed cornish hens recipe for the basting . I ran out of butter, imagine that, so I used olive oil instead....It was delicous!!!!!!!