Serve the aromatic Cornish Hen recipe with a pan sauce made with entire cloves of garlic. You can pour a mild Chianti throughout the meal and serve the Cornish Hen with crusty garlic bread to soak up the sauce. Keep reading to know more.

This recipe for the Cornish game hen yields elegant and delectable results. These are the best Cornish game chickens if you’re looking for a stunning dinner that’s surprisingly simple to create.
What are Cornish Hens?
All cornish hens are specific chicken breeds. This type of chicken, which is sometimes called Cornish game hen as well, is substantially smaller than the typical birds we typically find in grocery shops.
Usually, they weigh between one and two pounds each. Additionally, there isn’t much of a flavor difference from conventional chicken.
Each diner will be able to enjoy a whole chicken with its delectable skin still on, thanks to this simple-to-serve variant.
Ingredients to Make Cornish Hens

The following items are required to produce this sophisticated recipe for Cornish hen:
Game hens from Cornwall: You will need Cornish game chickens, of course.
Olive oil provides a surface for the salt and pepper to stick to while retaining moisture.
Herbs and spices: After applying salt and pepper to the birds’ exterior, load their cavities with fresh rosemary. You and the hens will roast garlic together.
Lemon: The chickens’ cavities will also receive a quarter of a fresh lemon.
White wine: Be careful not to select a wine that you wouldn’t enjoy sipping. Quality matters!
Use either homemade or store-bought chicken broth.
How to Make Cornish Hen Recipe

Heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, or 230 degrees Celsius. Apply a smidgeon of olive oil to the hens and sprinkle a little salt and pepper on them.
Place one-quarter of a lemon and one sprig of rosemary inside each cavity. Garlic cloves should be arranged around Cornish hens in a large, heavy roasting pan.
Roast for twenty-five minutes in the preheated oven. In the meantime, combine the wine, chicken broth, and two tablespoons of the remaining olive oil in a small bowl. After taking the birds out of the oven, lower the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cover the birds with the wine mixture and roast for a further 25 minutes or until the hens are golden brown and the juices run clear, basting them with pan juices every 10 minutes. If a thermometer is placed close to the bone, it should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the birds on a tray and dispose of the lemons and rosemary, transferring any liquids from the cavity into the roasting pan. To keep warm, cover hens with aluminum foil tents.
Spoon pan juices and garlic cloves into a medium saucepan and simmer for approximately 6 minutes, or until reduced to a sauce consistency.
Halve the hens lengthwise, then place two halves on each platter. Place roasted garlic and sauce on top. Serve with the remaining rosemary sprigs as a garnish.
How To Serve
Even though you may serve these whole—that is, give each diner a roasted Cornish hen—it is a substantial amount of meat for one dish, particularly if your birds are closer to two pounds in weight. After they’ve rested, we like to chop them in half and serve half of a hen to each individual.
Get a long, sharp knife so you can cut them in half. A decent pair of kitchen shears is our preferred tool, although a cleaver will also do the job.
Once you’ve cut all the way through, begin slicing between the breasts using constant, deliberate power. You are now prepared to serve. Keep the mouthwatering pan drippings and pour them over the meat.
What to Serve With Roasted Cornish Hens

Roasted Cornish chickens go well with almost any side dish you desire, just like chicken does. Try these suggestions instead of the creamy mashed potatoes we serve ours with.
Veggies
- Garlic Herb Roasted Carrots
- Roasted Green Beans
- Skillet Green Beans
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Potatoes
- Thyme Skillet Potatoes
- Rosemary Smashed Potatoes
- Potatoes au Gratin
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Chives
- Garlic Herb Red Potato Salad
Homemade Bread
- No Knead Bread
- Butter Biscuits
- Best Ever Dinner Crescents
- Honey Rolls
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Salads
- Kale and Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Avocado Cucumber Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Tips for the Best Cornish Hen in the Oven
To achieve the tastiest, most juicy Cornish hen baked in the oven, simply follow my easy instructions below.
- Apply a good amount of marinade. For optimal flavor, make sure the marinade gets especially under the skin. Don’t scrimp on the garlic, either! Although 15 to 20 cloves of garlic may seem like a lot, they provide a ton of flavor to the Cornish game hens!
- Roast after searing. Before roasting, brown the hens on the skillet to help give them color and ideally crispy skin.
- Avoid overcooking them. Like chicken, Cornish game hens are safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. However, keep in mind that they will continue to cook after you remove them from the oven, so you should remove them from the oven a little earlier than usual.
Before serving, let the hens rest. Similar to chicken, roasted hens should be let to rest for a few minutes prior to serving in order to maximize flavor and facilitate the redistribution of liquids. It will help to bast them with their broth while they’re resting.