4.5 from 2,313 votes
Roasted Cornish Hens
These Roasted Cornish Hens will be your new favorite recipe for romantic date nights or to impress dinner party guests. They're simple, elegant, and turn out perfectly every time with my easy step-by-step instructions.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Resting Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 783 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 whole Cornish hens about 1 1/2 lb each
- 2 prigs rosemary
- 4 prigs thyme
- 1 large onion cut in quarters
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 lemon cut in slices
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Dry Rub
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine all the dry rub ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Pat the hens dry with paper towels and generously season with the dry rub both inside and out.
- Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- In a roasting pan add the rosemary, thyme, garlic, onion, and half the lemon slices. Place the hens in the roasting pan over the herbs and onions and drizzle the olive oil over the hens.
- Transfer the roasting pan to the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers at 165°F.
- Remove the hens from the oven and let them rest for 20 minutes. Garnish with additional thyme, lemon slices and rosemary and serve over mashed potatoes.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Your leftover roasted Cornish hens will last 3-4 days in the fridge or 1-3 months in the freezer. It reheats very well in the microwave. You can also keep some of the pan drippings and reheat the chicken in a skillet with the drippings to prevent it from drying out.
Nutrition Information
Serving
0.5hen
Calories
783kcal
(39%)
Carbohydrates
10g
(3%)
Protein
60g
(120%)
Fat
55g
(85%)
Saturated Fat
14g
(70%)
Cholesterol
344mg
(115%)
Sodium
796mg
(33%)
Potassium
960mg
(27%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
966IU
(19%)
Vitamin C
22mg
(24%)
Calcium
85mg
(9%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 783
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0.5hen | |
| Calories | 783kcal | 39% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 60g | 120% |
| Fat | 55g | 85% |
| Saturated Fat | 14g | 70% |
| Cholesterol | 344mg | 115% |
| Sodium | 796mg | 33% |
| Potassium | 960mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 966IU | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 22mg | 24% |
| Calcium | 85mg | 9% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.