Air Fryer Cornish Hens

Laura Lynch

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These little birds come out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making them perfect for any gathering. So next time you’re looking for a festive meal, give this Air Fryer Cornish Hens recipe a try!

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Cooking up a delightful meal of Cornish hens doesn’t require an extensive list of ingredients. All you need are four Cornish hens, vegetable oil, black pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

To make these hens even more flavorful and succulent, try rubbing them down with a bit of your favorite barbecue sauce before putting them in the oven!

Together, these ingredients create a tantalizing dish as the Cornish hens become nicely browned for a delicious dinner that’s sure to please.

What are Cornish Game Hens?

Cornish Game Hens, otherwise known as Rock Cornish Hens, are a hybrid chicken that was first bred in the 1950’s for use in restaurants and home kitchens. They are small birds with white meat. Though they may look like young chickens, Cornish Game Hens are hens at maturity.

The flavor and texture is similar to a game bird such as a pheasant or partridge. Their tenderness makes them an ideal choice to serve at large gatherings or holidays, as they do not require much preparation time when compared to larger birds, like a whole chicken.

Ingredients You Need

• Cornish Game Hens – It’s fairly easy to find these in the freezer section of the grocery store, individually packaged.
• Olive oil – Olive oil gives a nice flavor and helps to crispy the skin. You can also spray with cooking oil spray instead.
• Seasonings – Paprika, chili powder, onion powder, salt, ground black pepper

Alternate Seasonings

There are endless ways you can season your Cornish Game Hens. I use a mixture of seasonings that I really like, including paprika, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. But you can branch out and use other seasonings or dry rubs that you like.

Try one or more of these seasoning options for a change:

• Cajun seasoning
• Montreal seasoning
• Melted butter instead of olive oil
• Brine in a mixture of soy sauce and lemon juice

How to Thaw Cornish Game Hens

Most often, hens are kept in the frozen section of the grocery store. So it is likely that you’re starting with a frozen hen. To defrost it, set it on a plate, or in a bowl, and put it in the refrigerator to thaw. This often will take overnight or at least 12 hours, so prepare for the extra time.

You can cook the hen from frozen in the air fryer, but it will take at least an extra 10 to 15 minutes to cook and the skin won’t be as crispy and seasoned. After the hen has cooked for a while and is thawed, you can open the basket and add your seasonings and oil.

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Air Fryer Cornish Hens

These little birds come out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making them perfect for any gathering. So next time you’re looking for a festive meal, give this Air Fryer Cornish Hens recipe a try!

5 from 37 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2 Hens

Calories 1033 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 2 Cornish hens thawed and packaging removed
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
• 3 teaspoons (6 g) paprika
• 1 teaspoons (2 g) chili powder
• 1 teaspoon (2 g) onion powder
• 1 teaspoon (6 g) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) black pepper

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Spread the olive oil all over the hens.
• Mix the spices together in a bowl. Sprinkle evenly over hens.
• Place the hens in the air fryer, breast side down, and cook for 20 minutes at 350° F. Turn over and continue cooking for 20 more minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 165°F.
• Remove the hens from the basket and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.

Nutrition

Calories: 1033kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 78gFat: 77gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 38gCholesterol: 455mgSodium: 1455mgPotassium: 1114mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.5gVitamin A: 1017IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 4mg

Keyword Cornish Hens

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Laura Lynch

Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.