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Two whole roasted Cornish hens seasoned with garlic-herb butter on a roasting rack before going into the oven.
FL Recipes

Roasted Cornish Hen: The Perfect Crispy-Skinned, Juicy Recipe

This Roasted Cornish Hen recipe yields a perfectly golden, crispy-skinned bird with incredibly juicy, flavorful meat. Infused with a simple garlic-herb butter, it's an elegant and easy dish for any special occasion or weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, French
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Cornish hens about 1.5 lbs each, thawed
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme finely chopped, plus extra sprigs for cavity
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges
  • 1/4 onion cut into wedges
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper or to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Roasting Pan
  • 1 Roasting Rack
  • 1 Meat Thermometer

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove giblets from hens and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped rosemary, chopped thyme, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until a smooth paste forms.
  3. Carefully lift the skin over the breast meat. Rub about 1 tbsp of the herb butter under the skin on each hen. Rub the remaining butter all over the outside of the hens. Season generously inside and out with more salt and pepper.
  4. Stuff the cavity of each hen with lemon wedges, onion wedges, and a sprig of thyme.
  5. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wing tips under. Place hens on a roasting rack in a baking pan.
  6. Roast for 45-55 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F (74°C).
  7. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcalProtein: 55gFat: 45gFiber: 1g

Notes

Ensure the Cornish hens are fully thawed for even cooking.
Patting the skin very dry is the most important step for achieving crispy skin.
Letting the hens rest after cooking is essential for juicy, tender meat.
Keyword cornish game hen,how to cook cornish hens,roasted cornish hen

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