Description
Super moist and flavorful Cornish game hens with crispy skin. A simple yet elegant recipe for a special dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 4 (910 g) Cornish game hens
- 8 slices butter
- 4 sprigs each of fresh rosemary and thyme (or herbs of choice) plus some extra leaves of each
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 lemon
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) dry white wine
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F (224°C).
- Pat the hens dry with a paper towel. Loosen the skin on top of each hen and slip a thin slice of butter under the skin on each breast. Add a few rosemary and thyme leaves. Repeat for each hen. Put a quarter of a lemon, a clove of garlic, and a sprig of rosemary and thyme in the cavity of each hen. Truss the hens by tying the wings and legs.
- Rub each hen with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the hens on a rack in a roasting pan lined with aluminum foil, spacing them out.
- Place the hens in the preheated oven and roast for 25 minutes.
- While the hens are roasting, combine chicken broth and wine in a bowl.
- After 35 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Pour the broth mixture over the hens and continue to roast for 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes. The hens are done when a thermometer registers 165°F (74°C) in the thigh and juices run clear. For darker skin, broil for a few minutes, watching closely.
- Remove the hens and pour the juices from their cavities into the roasting pan. Transfer the hens to a warmed platter, remove the trussing string, and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Pour the pan juices into a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes until sauce-like.
- Serve the hens whole or cut in half, cavity-down. Drizzle with sauce, garnish with herbs and lemon, and serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, increase the roasting time at 450°F (224°C) by 5-10 minutes before reducing the temperature.
- Substitute chicken thighs for the Cornish hens, adjusting cooking time accordingly. Expect longer cooking time.
- Store leftover hens and pan sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 game hen
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 40
- Cholesterol: 180