Name: How to bake the best Cornish Game Hens
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 Cornish Game Hens; salt; black pepper; 1/2 lemon (cut into two); sprigs fresh rosemary; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 4 cloves garlic; 1/3 cup white wine; 1/3 cup chicken broth

These roasted Cornish game hens are seasoned with rosemary, wine, and lemon. This simple recipe makes cooking Cornish hens easy enough for weeknight dinner.

Cornish Game Hens can be found in our local market all year long and can be served for a crowd or a romantic dinner for two. We seem to forget about them and overlook them except during the holidays. But they are a great alternative to turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas or as a New Year’s Eve dinner.

But don’t be intimated, cooking Cornish hens are easier to cook than a turkey. And this is one way not to be overwhelmed with leftovers. But with a little bit of wine, fresh rosemary and lemon, it can bring a roasted game hen to a whole new level.

My son always loved these little birds, the prospect of being served an entire bird always appealed to his Viking persona. Of course, he would just pick it up and eat it with his hands. Oh, those were the times for him. I swear, raising boys! But I do miss those times now that he has survived me and grown into a nice young man with better manners.

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Cooking Cornish Hens are easy enough for a weeknight dinner or special enough for a romantic dinner for two. One thing that is very important to perfect roasted Cornish game hens is an instant-read thermometer. Don’t guess when it comes to the internal temperature of these birds.

These Cornish Game Hens can be plated for two or cut in half for four. They are baked with rosemary and plenty of garlic and are served with a delicate garlic wine sauce. We think this makes them the very Best Roasted Cornish Game Hens.

Serve these roasted Cornish Game Hens with:

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How to bake the best Cornish Game Hens

Roasted Game Hens seasoned with herbs

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time50 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cooking Game hens, Cornish Game Hens, Roasted Cornish game hen

Servings:

Calories: 568.59kcal

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

2 Cornish Game Hens
salt
black pepper
1/2 lemon cut into two
sprigs fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1/3 cup white wine
1/3 cup chicken broth

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
Rub birds with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper.
Put 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in the cavity of each bird
Place in a heavy roasting pan with garlic cloves around them
Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over birds
Using a Baster, baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until birds are golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, and the juices run clear.
10. Transfer birds to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan.
11. Tent birds with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes.
12. Spoon sauce and garlic around birds. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

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