Rock Cornish Game hens are a delightful and elegant choice for a special dinner or a sophisticated weeknight meal. These petite poultry, also known as Cornish hens, offer a perfect single serving, ensuring everyone gets a beautifully roasted bird all to themselves. This recipe elevates the natural delicate flavor of rock cornish game hen with a vibrant garlic and herb rub, transforming it into a golden-brown masterpiece that’s surprisingly simple to prepare. If you appreciate the versatility of chicken, you’ll find rock cornish game hens to be an exciting and equally easy alternative. For those who enjoy exploring poultry dishes, you might also want to try our classic Chicken Cacciatore or the rich and flavorful Chicken Paprikash.
Roasted rock cornish game hen with herbs, golden brown and beautifully plated.
What is a Rock Cornish Game Hen?
Often simply called Cornish hens, rock cornish game hens are a hybrid breed, a cross between Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chickens. These are young chickens, typically only 4 to 6 weeks old when processed, resulting in their small size, usually weighing between 1 to 2 ½ pounds. Their size makes them ideal for individual servings, perfect for when you want to serve a whole roasted bird without the need for carving a larger chicken or turkey. Roasting at a high temperature is the best method to cook rock cornish game hens, as it ensures crispy skin and juicy, flavorful meat. While stuffing can add extra flavor, a simple yet aromatic dry rub is often all you need to enhance their natural taste. Rock Cornish game hens are an excellent choice for smaller holiday gatherings or special occasions when a whole turkey feels too grand, yet you still desire a celebratory roasted poultry centerpiece.
Ingredients for Flavorful Rock Cornish Game Hens
Ingredients for herb roasted rock cornish game hens, including hens, herbs, garlic, lemon, and seasonings.
- Rock Cornish Game Hens: You’ll need two, about 1.25 to 1.5 pounds each. Ensure they are fully thawed if frozen, or use fresh hens. Discard any giblets that may be included, as they are not used in this recipe.
- Oil: Opt for olive oil or avocado oil for the best flavor and high-heat cooking properties.
- Fresh Herbs: Fresh rosemary and thyme create a classic and fragrant herb profile. You can substitute with dried herbs in a 1:1 ratio if fresh aren’t available. Feel free to use only thyme or only rosemary if preferred.
- Seasonings: Coarse salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and paprika (regular, sweet, or smoked) form the base of the seasoning, adding depth and color.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves are essential for a pungent and savory flavor boost in the rub.
- Lemon Zest: Lemon zest adds a bright, citrusy note that complements the herbs and garlic, enhancing the overall flavor of the rock cornish game hens.
Step-by-Step Guide to Roasting Rock Cornish Game Hens
Begin by prepping the rock cornish game hens to ensure they roast beautifully and evenly.
Pat the rock cornish game hens thoroughly dry, both inside the cavity and on the outside skin, using paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving crispy skin during roasting. Set the dried hens aside.
Patting dry rock cornish game hens with paper towels, preparing them for the herb rub.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the minced garlic, lemon zest, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, paprika, coarse salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, creating a fragrant herb and garlic rub.
Mixing olive oil, herbs, and spices in a bowl to create the rub for rock cornish game hens.
Divide the prepared herb and garlic rub evenly between the two rock cornish game hens. Massage the rub onto all sides of each hen, ensuring to coat the skin thoroughly and also to get some of the rub inside the cavity for maximum flavor penetration.
Coating rock cornish game hens with the herb and garlic rub, ensuring even coverage.
To ensure even cooking and a more attractive presentation, tuck the wings of each hen behind their backs. Then, using butcher’s twine, tie the drumsticks together. This trussing technique helps the hens cook more uniformly and prevents the legs from splaying out during roasting.
Trussing rock cornish game hens with butcher's twine, tying the legs together for even cooking.
Place a roasting rack inside a roasting pan. Transfer the trussed and seasoned rock cornish game hens onto the rack in the pan. Using a spatula, scrape any remaining herb and garlic oil rub from the bowl and spread it over the top of the hens, ensuring no flavorful rub is wasted.
Adding remaining herb rub to the top of rock cornish game hens in a roasting pan.
Roast the rock cornish game hens in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) on a lower oven rack for 50-60 minutes. To ensure they are cooked to perfection, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The thickest part of the breast should reach between 163°F to 165°F (73°C to 74°C).
Roasting rock cornish game hens in the oven, turning golden brown and crispy.
Once cooked, remove the roasted rock cornish game hens from the oven and let them rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
Slicing roasted rock cornish game hens, revealing juicy and flavorful meat.
Serve the herb roasted rock cornish game hens whole for an elegant presentation, or cut them in half lengthwise. Garnish with lemon wedges, fresh rosemary sprigs, and thyme sprigs, if desired, for an extra touch of freshness and visual appeal. Excellent side dish pairings include Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans Almondine.
Roasted herb rock cornish game hens plated with lemon wedges and fresh herbs, ready to serve.
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating Tips
Make-Ahead: For the best quality, rock cornish game hens are ideally enjoyed immediately after roasting. However, if needed, you can keep them warm in a pan covered in a low-temperature oven (around 200°F) for a short period.
Storage: Store leftover roasted rock cornish game hens in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, they can be frozen, well-covered, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: To reheat, place the rock cornish game hens in a baking pan with about ½ cup of water or chicken broth to maintain moisture. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Ensure the internal temperature reaches a safe temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Chef’s Notes and Flavor Enhancements
- Flavor Boost: For an even deeper flavor, consider brining the rock cornish game hens before roasting. Use the brine recipe from my best-fried chicken recipe for excellent results.
- Spice it Up: Customize the flavor profile by using different dry rubs. Try a zesty BBQ Rub, a smoky Southwest Rub, or a spicy Cajun Rub for a different twist.
- Don’t Forget the Twine: Always remember to remove the butcher’s twine from the rock cornish game hens before serving.
- Aromatic Vegetables: Enhance the roasting pan drippings and add extra flavor to your hens by adding roughly chopped vegetables to the roasting pan. One yellow onion, 2 carrots, and 2 celery ribs, all roughly chopped, will create a flavorful base for pan sauces or gravies.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
Video
Rock Cornish Game Hen Recipe
Rating: 5 from 24 votes
This Rock Cornish Game Hen Recipe, featuring a fragrant garlic and herb rub, is roasted to a perfect golden brown, creating an ideal entrée for any occasion.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
- 2 thawed Rock Cornish Game Hens
- 1 finely grated garlic clove
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh rosemary
- 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon regular paprika
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Pat the rock cornish game hens dry inside and out with paper towels. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine garlic, lemon zest, rosemary, thyme, paprika, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix well.
- Evenly distribute the herb rub over the rock cornish game hens, coating all sides and inside the cavities.
- Tuck wings behind the hens and tie drumsticks together with butcher’s twine.
- Place hens on a rack in a roasting pan. Scrape any remaining rub over the hens.
- Roast for 50-60 minutes, or until the thickest part of the breast reaches 163°F to 165°F (73°C to 74°C).
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes.
- Cut in half or serve whole, garnished with lemons, rosemary, and thyme if desired.
Recipe Notes
Make-Ahead: Best served fresh, but can be kept warm in a low oven.
Store: Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days, or freeze for 3 months.
Reheat: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes with ½ cup water in the pan, covered with foil.
Flavor Boost: Brine hens using best-fried chicken recipe.
Customize Rub: Try BBQ Rub, Southwest Rub, or Cajun Rub.
Remember Twine: Remove twine before serving.
Add Aromatics: Roast with onion, carrots, and celery for extra flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 578kcal
Carbohydrates: 1g
Protein: 39g
Fat: 46g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g
Monounsaturated Fat: 24g
Cholesterol: 227mg
Sodium: 1301mg
Potassium: 556mg
Fiber: 0.4g
Sugar: 0.1g
Vitamin A: 540IU
Vitamin C: 3mg
Calcium: 34mg
Iron: 2mg
Course: Entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Chef Billy Parisi
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