Stuffed Cornish Hens

Whenever I want to make a cozy Thanksgiving spread at home, I reach for Cornish hens – perfect for just the two of us. Over the years, we’ve played around with different flavors using various brines and seasonings, but most of the time we stick to the simple seasoning blend we use for baked chicken.

This recipe includes steps for stuffing the Cornish hens with cornbread dressing, but don’t worry – stuffing is completely optional. For maximum flavor, we recommend brining your Cornish hens a couple of days before cooking.

While you can certainly use a Dutch oven or foil pan, we recommend a roasting pan to ensure the Cornish hens get crispy all around. When hens are touching the pan, the bottoms can sometimes become soggy or wet. You can even use the wire rack hack: rack and a foil pan instead as pictured above!

We encourage you to read the entire recipe before starting to ensure you’re using the proper equipment.

Be sure to comment below or tag us on social media if you’ve tried this recipe!

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Recipe

This recipe focuses on 2 cornish hens.

Ingredients

• 2 Cornish hens
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Rotisserie chicken seasoning
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• OPTIONAL: Prepared cornbread dressing (or stovetop stuffing)

Recommended Equipment

• Oven thermometer
• Roasting pan (or wire rack hack)
• Plastic gloves
• Large Mixing Bowl

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prep the hens: Using gloves, remove the Cornish hens from the brine (if applicable) rinse, and pat them dry.
3. Season the hens: Season generously with all the spices – inside the cavity, under the skin, and all over the outside.
4. Stuff the hens: Fill each Cornish hen with prepared cornbread dressing.
5. Arrange for roasting: Place the hens on a roasting pan’s wire rack so that the pan can collect all the drippings. Make sure the hens aren’t touching each other to ensure even cooking and crispy skin.
6. Roast: Cook for 1 to 1½ hours, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
7. Optional gravy: Use the drippings to make a flavorful gravy, if desired.
8. Serve: Serve hot with your favorite comfort sides.

Notes: Feel free to use any seasonings you like – our listed blend is just a recommendation. Customize it to suit your taste. Lightly rub the Cornish hens with 1–2 teaspoons of avocado oil before seasoning for extra crispiness.

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