Go Back
–+ servings
Raw ingredients for roasted Cornish hen including whole hen, fresh rosemary sprigs, garlic cloves, lemons, and dried thyme.
FL Recipes

Perfectly Oven-Roasted Cornish Hen

A beautifully roasted whole Cornish hen with deeply golden-brown crispy skin, roasted whole garlic cloves, charred lemons, and savory pan juices. Perfect for an elegant, easy dinner.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe WhatsApp
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 2 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Roasted Cornish Hen Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs Whole Cornish hen About 680g, fully thawed and patted dry.
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil 15ml, for the glaze.
  • 1 tbsp Unsalted butter 15g, melted.
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt 5g.
  • 0.5 tsp Black pepper 1g, coarse ground.
  • 1 tsp Dried thyme flakes 2g.
  • 1 tsp Minced garlic 5g.
  • 10 cloves Whole garlic cloves Peeled.
  • 3 sprigs Fresh rosemary Vibrant green sprigs.
  • 1 small Lemon Cut into wedges.
  • 0.25 cup Chicken broth 60ml.

Equipment

  • 1 Roasting pan or oven-safe ceramic dish Essential for catching the savory pan juices.
  • 1 Instant-read meat thermometer Ensures the hen reaches a safe 165°F (74°C).

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove giblets from the Cornish hen and rigorously pat the entire bird completely dry with paper towels. Place it in the center of an oven-safe dish.
  2. Whisk together the olive oil, melted butter, minced garlic, dried thyme flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Generously coat the entire hen with the mixture.
  3. Tuck the peeled whole garlic cloves, fresh rosemary sprigs, and lemon wedges around the base of the hen. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the dish.
  4. Roast uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes until the skin is deeply golden-brown and crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  5. Let the hen rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Serve directly in the dish, spooning the clear, savory pan juices over the meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcalProtein: 45gFat: 48gFiber: 1g

Notes

Tip 1: Moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Use multiple paper towels to ensure the hen is bone-dry before applying the oil and butter glaze.
Tip 2: If your whole roasted garlic cloves or rosemary sprigs start browning too quickly, push them further into the pooling pan juices.
Keyword baked Cornish hen,crispy skin Cornish hen,roasted cornish hen

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!
Pin Recipe