Roasted Cornish Game Hens With Lemon Pepper Recipes

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
• Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

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.

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.

HERB-STUFFED ROASTED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Gently lift skin from hen breasts and place sage leaves under skin. Place lemon wedges and a third of the onions in the cavities. Tuck wings under hens; tie legs together. Place in a small greased roasting pan. , Combine butter, oil, lemon juice and garlic; spoon half of mixture over hens. Sprinkle with salt and pepper., Bake 30 minutes. Add potatoes and remaining onions to pan. Brush hens with remaining butter mixture. Bake until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175° and potatoes are tender, 40-45 minutes longer., Remove hens to a serving platter. Stir potatoes and onions to coat with pan drippings. Serve with hens.

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.