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Roasted Cornish Hens (4 Servings)

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 whole Cornish hens, about 1 ½ lb each
  • 2 sprigs of rosemary
  • 4 sprigs of thyme
  • 1 large onion, cut in quarters
  • 6 cloves of garlic
  • 1 lemon, cut in slices
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

For the dry rub

Instructions

  1. In a small mixing bowl, combine all of the dry rub ingredients.
  2. Using paper towels, pat the hens dry and generously season both inside and out with the dry rub.
  3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Combine the rosemary, thyme, garlic, onion, and half of the lemon slices in a roasting pan. Drizzle the olive oil over the Cornish hens and place them in the roasting pan over the herbs and onions.
  5. Bake the Cornish hens in the roasting pan for 50–60 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the breast registers 165°F.
  6. Allow the birds to rest for 20 minutes after removing them from the oven. Serve over mashed potatoes with extra thyme, lemon wedges, and rosemary.

Notes

  • Leftover roasted Cornish hens will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. In the microwave, it reheats beautifully. To keep the chicken from drying out, save some of the pan drippings and reheat the chicken with the drippings in a skillet.

If you’d like to check out more ideas for cooking with Cornish hens, then this video recipe may interest you.

  • Author: Bobby