Roasted Cornish Game Hens 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.

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS RECIPE COURTESY THE NEELYS

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.

LEMON PEPPER CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Combine the zest of 1 lemon, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
• Wash both Cornish Hens and pat dry. Separate the skin from the flesh using your fingers. Make sure you leave pockets over the breasts, legs, and thighs. (*Do NOT remove the skin! Just make a pocket between skin and meat.)
• Scooping small finger-fulls of brine, rub the brine in your pockets directly over the flesh of your birds. Remember to also rub brine on the outside skin of your birds and into the cavity.
• Place in a plastic bag and rest in the fridge breast-side up for 24 hours.
• Flip breast-side down for 24 hours.
• Remove from the bag, set on a plate breast-side up, and return to the fridge for the last 12 hours.
• OPTIONAL: Remove chicken from the fridge 2 hours before cooking and rest on the counter.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a sheetpan with parchment paper.
• Slice potatoes, onions, and zucchini. If there are large mushrooms, slice as well.
• Toss veggies in olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, pepper and salt. Spread over the parchment paper, leaving room for the two hens.
• Place the hens amongst the vegetables on the sheetpan.
• OPTIONAL: You can choose to truss them or at least tie their legs together for modesty. (Kidding, but it does stop them from spreading and tearing that crispy skin!)
• Roast in the oven for 45-50 minutes.
• Remove and let cool for 10 minutes before serving!

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.

CORNISH HENS WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath. Squeeze remaining lemon halves over hens. Rub butter all over hens. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Roast hens, rotating pan halfway through, until skin turns golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise. Garnish with thyme sprigs, and serve with lemon wedges.