Cornish Hens Roasted With Lemon Pepper Recipes

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl, stir together salt, lemon pepper, dried basil and poultry seasoning. Rub olive oil all over the hens and season each with the salt mixture. Place the hens on a baking sheet pan with plenty of space between them. You may need to use 2 pans. Loosely stuff the cavities of each hen with some green bell pepper, celery and onion. Roast the hens in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. Remove the hens from the oven, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before carving or serving.

CORNISH HENS ROASTED WITH LEMON PEPPER

Steps:

• Cut each hen in half lengthwise. Sprinkle half the salt on pepper on the inside of each half. Turn. Drizzle the skin side with olive oil, then evenly sprinkle the remaining salt and pepper over it.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and cook for about another 45 minutes to an hour (or until internal temperature in the thigh reaches 170 degrees). Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. There should be no pink left in the meat. Be careful not to over cook or it will dry out - it should be fork tender and moist!
• Serve with rice. Pour the dripping over the rice and the bird at serving. There is very little fat in the hens, so the dripping are almost all olive oil with the seasonings.

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH LEMON PEPPER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350º F.
• Remove the hens from their packages and be sure there are no packets of organs in the cavity.
• Spray a small sheet pan or 9x13 pan with oil.
• Place the hens into the pan. Optional: You can use bakers twine to tie the legs together if you like. If you plan to roast vegetables with the hens, add those to your sheet pan too.
• Place the butter, garlic, lemon juice, and salt into a small microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 20-25 seconds until the butter is melted.
• Brush the hens with the butter mixture. Be sure to gently lift the skin and brush the mixture under the breasts as well so the flavor bakes in nicely.
• Sprinkle the hens with lemon pepper seasoning.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Carefully baste more of the butter mixture over the hens.
• Bake an additional 30-40 minutes until the internal temperature of the hens is 165º F.

TARRAGON-LEMON ROASTED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Remove giblets from hens if they're present; reserve for future use.
• Rinse hens throughly under running water; pat dry.
• Rub olive oil over both hens.
• Season hens, inside and out, with salt and pepper.
• Season hens with tarragon including the cavities of the birds.
• Rub spice well into the skin.
• Place one teaspoon of garlic into the cavity of each hen.
• Quarter the half of lemon and place one quarter inside of each cornish hen's cavity as well.
• Place hens into a roaster and pour warmed chicken broth into the roasting pan.
• Dot both hens with margarine or butter.
• Cover pan and roast in a 400 degree oven for 50 minutes basting occasionally.
• Remove the cover and allow birds to brown for 10 minutes.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

LEMON PEPPER GRILLED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium high.
• Cut Cornish hens in half lengthwise. Wash and pat dry.
• Mix garlic powder, lemon pepper seasoning and paprika in a bowl.
• Lift up skin and rub meat with seasoning mixture. Replace skin.
• Cook on grill skin side down for 25 minutes, keeping grill lid closed.
• Flip and cook for 15 minutes.
• Mix lemon juice and olive oil. Brush on hens, then sprinkle with salt.
• Cook for additional 10 minutes, or until internal temperature is 180°F.