Cornish Hen Recipe

Close up of cornish hen on a white plate with a lemon wedge and green beans.

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5 from 2 votes

Easy Baked Cornish Hens are the quick and simple dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights or a casual dinner party.

Prep Time5

Cook Time40

Total Time45

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Kellie

Cost: $10

Equipment

baking sheet

Ingredients

2 cornish hens
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon cut into quarters
4 garlic cloves
4-8 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tbsp fresh black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
Remove the innards from the cavity of the hen and discard (or freeze for later.) Pat the hens fry with a paper towel and place on a baking sheet.
Coat the hens, liberally, with the olive oil. Season the inside and outside with salt and pepper.
Stuff half the lemon, garlic and herbs into the cavity of the hens. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wing tips under the back of the hen. (This prevents the tips from burning.)
Roast the cornish hens for 40 minutes until the skin is golden crispy and the juices run clear. Your cornish hen is done when the temperature reaches 165˚F on an instant read thermometer.
Remove your cornish hens from the oven and cover with foil. Allow the hens to rest for 10 minutes prior to serving.

Notes

You can prep the cornish hens up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to baking.

Nutrition