“Moist and tender cornish hens seasoned with a savory spice mixture and roasted with vegetables to perfection!”
Watch me make these easy roasted cornish hens from start to finish!
Cornish hens are so doggone cute!! Every time I make them I’m all like “awwwww look…. so precious”. Sometimes I even do the whole baby talk thing “awww wook at those wittle wegs!!” Ha! Ay don’t act like you didn’t know I was a tad off.
If you’ve never made cornish hens before then you should definitely start with this easy, basic recipe. It’s nothing fancy-schmancy really. No super seasoning blends. Just a delicious, quick recipe that creates one juicy, tender cornish hens (without brining) that pairs up great with so many side dishes.
Feel free to add in more seasonings and spices if you’re going for something really spicey…or smokey…or salty…or whatevs!
What I love about this roasted cornish hen recipe is that it cooks over a bed of fresh veggies so this could totally be a complete meal.
There is something about serving cornish hens that looks so elegant. Everybody gets their own little juicy hen to devour. It’s a GREAT alternative to doing a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, especially if you’re having a small gathering.
I usually serve it with wild rice, candied yams, and cabbage. Oh yeah and a basket of yeast rolls and sweet ice tea!!! Yes, Lordt!!!!” I wish I had that meal right now!
Easy Roasted Cornish Hens For Easter
Ingredients
- 8 carrot peeled and evenly chopped
- 8 celery stalk roughly chopped
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 5 springs rosemary can use more
- 3 cloves minced garlic optional
- 4 Cornish hens thawed, rinsed and patted COMPLETELY dry inside out.
- olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2-3 tablespoons parsley
- 3-4 tablespoons butter sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 F.
- Spread out chopped vegetables and rosemary in the bottom of 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
- Rub olive oil lightly over the Cornish hens. Set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together spices and sprinkle generously over the hens, being sure to season the inside cavity as well. ( Want more flavor? See note)
- Place the hens on top of the bed of vegetables.
- Run your fingers under the skin to loosen it.
- Place a slice of butter under the skin of each hen.
- Tie the legs together with kitchen string or foil paper. (I like to sprinkle on more parsley at this point but that's optional)
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, depending on size of hens.
- Let hens rest for 15 minutes before eating.
Video
Notes
Love your video and how you made those little babies dance. I will be trying this come Sunday, I’m sure it will be delish! Thank you
Can I butterfly these? And if so does it cut down on the cooking time by half like it does for chicken?
I love your recipes
These were a big hit at our dinner party. I didn’t serve it with the vegetables since we had the hens with your oven roasted asparagus. But I used the veggie mixture to make a chicken sheppards pie the next day. So yummy.
Excellent recipe. I have made this recipe several times.
Good recipe turned out good for Father’s Day
Your video is so cute and funny this is the best I made it two weeks ago and i am making it again today the only thing i did was use all root veggies as base YUM so good thank you Sallie Rae
When you marinate it for three hour should it be in refrigerator since its chicken ( new to chicken recipes with bones in it)
This receipe is the BEST !!! I have made them several times. Whenever I am ready to cook them I always come to this recipe. The whole family LOVES, LOVES, LOVE THEM. Thank You so much for sharing ❤
Stumbled across your recipe while looking for a seasoning to use on my Cornish hens. And Boy oh Boy, my hens were so juicy and favorable. My husband and I were licking our fingers and craving more. I used my air-fryer which made the skin crispy and inside juicy. I’m looking forward to using this same recipe again in the future. It’s a HIT!!!
Side Note: You should definitely try cooking in a air-fryer if you have one.
I just recently purchased an air fryer, please send instructions
safreeman55@yahoo.com
Wow!! This was my first attempt at making cornish hens and this recipe looked easy enough to follow. IT WAS A HIT at Christmas – so flavorful and juicy!!!! My family and I agree this was the best meal I ever made! NOTE: I added a little bit of extra virgin olive oil to the veggies and rosemary along with some kosher salt. (I’ve always heard you should salt every element of the dish.) I also doubled all the spices because I knew I’d stuff some between the skin and meat along with the butter. I also made sure the girls were at ROOM TEMPERATURE before I put them in the oven – a pro tip from Samin Nosrat. I think that made all the difference because they cooked evenly. I’m definitely keeping this recipe!!!!
Just finished cleaning up after a very tasty Christmas dinner with my daughter and get boyfriend.
She requested a Cornish Hen and I took it from there.
Thanks for the recipe. It was fabulous.
Geoffrey in Calgary Alberta Canada
yes, first time to use this recipe. It was superb. Thank you for sharing, made our Christmas 2019 meal perfect.
December 17, 2019.
The prep time of 15 minutes is wildly underestimated! I’m a pretty good cook snd it took me 45 minutes!! Otherwise a good recipe
You’re not that good if it took you 45 minutes to prep.
Thank you SO much for posting this recipe! I’ve made it a few times so far & everyone absolutely LOVES it! I’m so grateful for this! Thank you!!
Your video was cracking me up!! I can’t wait to use this recipe for my Thanksgiving hens!
We tried this recipe tonight and found it not only easy to prepare, but delicious! The hens were beautifully browned, juicy and perfectly seasoned. I wondered if the vegetables would be edible on the bottom of the pan, but to my surprise they were tender and well seasoned by the drippings. As a matter of fact, you could use sliced potatoes if desired. This is definitely a keeper!
The Cornish Hens were juicy and flavorful and the bed of vegetables added ever more flavor. I will be making again very soon. THANK YOU
This recipe has been my holy grail for the holidays. I make it EVERY year for Thanksgiving and Christmas and always receive RAVE reviews! Passing this one along in my family for sure.
This was delicious and looked like a million dollars too. Thanks for that great and easy recipe.
When you say you serve with cabbage – what kind and how? thank you muchly for this receipe!
Lovely and A hit with the family!! Thank You
Do we cover them while they bake?
Love this recipe…it is such fun to cook and the herbs and style of your methods makes for an incredibly tasting bird!
We serve the hen stuffed with rice,raisins,and flavored with a dash of brandy. Absolutely fabulous.
So I just tried this recipe today today is August 14th I like to experiment from time to time hope my husband enjoys it!
Smells pretty good!
Welp! this was the LICK, THE BITE AND THE CHEW! total hit.. first time and will always use this receipe.. this is a KEEPER.. THANK U FOR SHARING AND ENLIGHTING US TO DIFFERENT SEASONSINGS. I LOVE IT .. Every Friday night I try a new recipe and utilize friends as TESTERS! Yes.. I even include my co-worker… she can’t wait till Monday: what’s for lunch? 🙂 or sometimes it’s her dinner… feedback: always great!
My 1st time baking whole cornish hens, this recipe looks amazing. I can’t wait to get started.
Excellent recipe; clear, concise and easy to follow. Truly enjoyed by my entire family and now it’s a Thanksgiving tradition. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
The first time I made Cornish game hens, my son was about 6. I made mashed potatoes with veggies,, and we watched “Prancer” on Christmas eve. Now he’s 32, and I may make him watch Prancer again, But it’s a precious memory of mine, and I don’t know if it is one of his. This recipe is way better than what I made 25 years ago, and I can’t wait to try in this coming Sunday.
Last year I used this recipe and the chickens were gorgeous! Back again.
Yummy
I am making it today looking forward to eat it. 🙂
I was so nervous when i first attempted these chickens . But with your help, i now make them with ease. They’re so good and flavorful. I follow the recipe step by step and bake them for about 55 minutes
Making this dish tonight for our Monthly Ladies Dinner! I am so excited! Thankful for a co-worker sharing your website and youtube and IG with me to keep me cooking. Southern Style
This was my first Cornish Hen, and it’s was sooooo good!!!! It was very simple to make, and I had all of the ingredients.
This is the tastiest, easiest, quickest meal i have ever made. The family was crazy about it. I added cut up potatoes to the veggie mix so we would have roasted potatoes, too.
Great recipe! I made Cornish hens for Thanksgiving and okay for Easter. Delicious and easy to make! Thanks for sharing.
Should have read “today” not “okay”
Beautiful video. I must ask: I have about 10 tiny hens, half the size of yours. Baking time, temperature, will be the same?
Should I cover them for protection?
Thanks
After reading your recipe & watching the video I’ve decided to make my hens this way. Looks delicious & pretty easy to make. It’s only for my husband & myself.
Omg! Made these and my hubby loved it! Definitely adding to my list of meals. Thank you!
We LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!!! THANK YOU so much!!!
It was so delishious and simple. Just made this tonight with 3 hens and extra seasoning. Didn’t have rosemery or celery. But I Added poultry, dill, sage, smoked paprika and some other savory seasonings. My husbands and kids loved it. We had french style greenbeans and red mashed potatoes with skin on. My husband wants me to use your recipie on a 6 lb chicken.
I watched the video and was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the cook!! Made this dish and it was DEELISH . Will definitely be adding this to my most favorites!!
So glad you enjoyed Terry!
Hello I only want to make 2 of these but what are the ingredients sizes for that or for 1?
Made this recipe tonight with some roasted potatoes. The hens were moist and delicious. I also put two garlic cloves and 2 lemon quarters in each cavity. The veggies were unbelievably good. We added a little chopped green pepper too since we had a partial one in the fridge. Thank you so much fir sharing this recipe!
This is the second time that we have made this dish and it was superb – both times! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
Great easy recipe…but I used tarragon instead of parsley..
Adds a unique flavor.pairs well with chicken too. .
Gonna make this tomorrow for dinner! Yummy and easy. Can’t wait!
I made this for Christmas dinner tonight. Cut the recipe in half, as it was just for two. It was wonderful! Simple and extremely tasty! I did add a few flavores (duck fat and whit wine) but it was excellent. Will do again, thank you Diva!
That recipe was delicious. Thank you!
I love you , you are the best diva ever!!!
Made tonight! It’s was delish! Thanks for sharing.
Do you cover the hens when roasting??
First time to make Cornish hen…lovely recipe…many thanks!
I love how your personality shines through the recipe summary. I can’t wait to try to cook it.
I made this for Thanksgiving and they turned out beautiful! Lots of owws and ahhhs! Thanks.
This may be the best thing that my wife and I have ever eaten! Thank you!
Whomever wrote this sounds like a retarded valley girl.
Simply delicious!! And nice presentation with veggies. Many thanks for recipe.
Great recipe!! My family loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Thanksgiving PERFECTION!!!
I added parsnips and let them sit marinated in the seasoning overnight.
Absolutely PERFECT!!
Thank You!!
Easy to prepare and my husband and I enjoyed tender, juicy hens
Hi, my kids wanted to make Thanksgiving dinner this year. Cornish hens seem simpler for them to handle. We’re browsing for recipes and found your video. Totally fun to listen to and easy to follow- thank you for this!
Fairly decent game. Two complaints.
I followed the recipe exactly,, and these turned out absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for this simple recipe, for novice like me.
II need to bake 11 hens at one time, how do I alter recipe to include cook time. Thanks!
making for thanksgiving switching a few thing in the recipe though
More of a question, than a comment…..
If I want to double the hens I’m cooking, should I use one giant pan, or use two separate pans? Also, how would this affect cooking time?
This looks like a fantastic recipe, the best I’ve found! Gonna cook these little baby birdies on Tuesday for a nice dinner with the family.
Thanks!
For a guy who doesn’t cook, my cornish hens turned out awesome, thank you..easy breezey! From Virgin Islands
Should I make a tent of foil to cover the pan as it bakes in the oven?
I’m alone this Easter, so I thought I would just have a Cornish hen. I searched the website, and I saw your recipe. I decided yours sounds the best. So, today I am excited to try it. Thank You, and have a very Happy Easter!
OUTSTANDING!
I’ve made this recipe a few times including tonight. Very good with just the right spices, I love that it’s quick too. Thanks Monique, another great recipe.
Its what’s for Sunday lunch
Tiz going be Saturdays Dinner for My Momma n I. .Hope they taste as good they look..Huggs
How did it gi, bill.
Oops *go, Bill?
It’s in my oven now. Can’t wait to eat it.
Just made these tonight. They came out great. Nice and tender and good flavor! Will probably make them again for Christmas dinner!
going to try them for Christmas can’t wait to try it out also making the cinnamon roll coffee cake for Christmas morning
I made these for Thanksgiving, and they were delicious! So easy and so good. The veggies were delicious, too. Great recipe, Thanks!
I made as the recipe said. My hens were charred black after only 45 minutes baking. Veggies were burned on outside, 450 is way too high. My dinner was ruined.
GReat recipe. this is how I make it. check it out. https://whatsfordinnerale.com/2016/05/11/cornish-hen-with-herbs-and-white-wine/
I haven’t tried this yet, but will this weekend for my company. It sounds delicious! I have a question though. Is it really 450 degrees for the entire hour? It just seems like they’d get burnt by then.
My partner and I made this for our Easter Dinner. It was DYNOMITE! (In my J J voice). My man loved it. We eliminated the salt as we don’t cook with it. The combination of spices were just right. Thank you for sharing.
Just finished devouring these little hens. You’re right! “Tender for days” . Thanks for sharing.
Do u cover the pan with tin foil?
I made this earlier this week. It was good. Every piece was tender and with flavor. I doubled the seasoning and marinated too like suggested.
Nice recipe!! thank u 🙂
This was my first time making roasted chicken and my family finished it off in no time! It was easy and we will continue to make it. The foil/rack did throw me off a bit, but I just followed my instinct and laid the hens on top of the vegetables. I did have to leave it in 5 minutes longer than the recipe. Thanks a lot for this recipe 🙂
I am so gonna be doing this. My mom and I LOVE chicken of all kinds and cornish hens are just so much fun to EAT. I can eat a whole one by myself quite easily. We usually do it forty clove style, just stuff garlic in ALL places but this… Ooo this sounds GOOOD. Though I’ll admit we’re not big celery eaters (not the taste, texture) so probably just cooking them over a big bed of onions and then have some mashed potatoes to go with it. Darnit now I’m hungry!
Gurlllllll!!!!!! This looks amazing!!! I will be trying this and going in! I do have my own blog coming soon and I do post recipes that I like and try and I will certainly give you credit! I will more than likely add my own touch but the inspirational credit will be given to you! Thank you for that inspiration to do my own blog, love! I work full time so between building and writing out recipes and testing just to get it going takes time. Thank you for the love you put into your food and your family. I’m certainly on that wave length! Awesome work and blessings to you and your family!!! :))