Go Back
–+ servings
Roasted Cornish Hen

Roasted Cornish Hen

Rika
Easy Roasted Cornish Hen, the perfect one-pot meal for any weeknight or holiday dinner! This recipe made the Cornish hen tasty and juicy! It’s the most flavorful, comforting, and crowd-pleasing dish that everyone will love!
4.85 from 13 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 721 kcal

Equipment

  • a 13" X 9½" roasting pan

Ingredients
 

  • 2 Cornish Hens, (thawed) about 2 pounds each

Dry Rub Seasoning Mixture:

For Cavity:

  • 2 lemon wedges
  • a whole head of garlic , (halved)
  • 6 rosemary sprigs, (divided)
  • kosher salt and pepper

For Roasted Vegetables:

  • 1 pound small potatoes, (washed, scrubbed, and halved)
  • 3-4 carrots, (peeled and chopped into large chunks, 2-inch lenghts)
  • 1 large yellow onion, (chopped into large chunks)
  • 1½ tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper, (to taste)
  • ½ cup dry white wine, (such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and unoaked Chardonnay)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  • Pat the cornish hen dry (including cavity) with paper towels.
  • In a small bowl, combine all dry rub seasoning mixture ingredients. Rub seasoning mixture over both sides and underneat the skin of the hen.
  • Season the cavity of the hen with salt and pepper then stuff with one lemon wedge, head of garlic halved, and 3 rosemary sprigs.
  • Tuck wing tips under the back of the hen; tie ends of legs together with twine.
  • Put the chopped vegetables in a large roasting pan, then drizzle with oil. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste then pour in the dry white wine.
  • Put the hens, breast side up, directly on top of vegetables. Make sure the hens are not touching the wine!
    Brush the hens on both sides with oil.
  • Roast the hens and vegetables, uncovered, for about 50-60 minutes (depending on the size) or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the vegetables are tender.
    Rotating the pan halfway through roasting.

Notes

To Roast Cornish Hen in an Air Fryer: 

  1. Follow steps #2, #3, and #4 
  2. Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray.
  3. Place Cornish hen, breast side up into a preheated Air fryer. Set the temperature at 390°F and cook for 25 minutes or until the internal temperature registers at 165°F. Flipping the hens halfway through. 

To Cook Cornish Hen in an Instant Pot:

  1. Follow steps #2, #3, and #4 
  2. Place a trivet in an instant pot, add a cup of broth and chopped yellow onion 
  3. Place the hen in the trivet, put the lid on, seal, and cook on "Manual" for 20 minutes. When it's done cooking, quickly release the pressure. 
  4. To crisp the skin, arrange the hens on the wire rack one above center position inside the broiler.  Cook until crisp, about 4-6 minutes. Watch your food closely to prevent burning.
Check the internal temperature! It should read at least 165°F, if not, put the hens back in the instant pot, cook on the manual for another 5 minutes. 
A quick tip for the oven users: 
If the Cornish hen skin is getting too dark just cover it with a small piece of tinfoil/baking paper. 
 
 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 721kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 42gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 227mgSodium: 1223mgPotassium: 1401mgFiber: 6gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 10877IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 4mg
Love the Recipe? Let Us Know!Your feedback means the world to us! If you enjoyed our recipe and want to support our website, please take a moment to rate the recipe!