I’ve been air frying since 2016, back when folks were still side-eyeing this gadget like, “Do we really need another countertop appliance?” Trust me, I put in the years of testing so you don’t have to, and these air fryer Cornish hens are proof it was worth it. They come out with perfectly crispy skin, juicy meat, and big flavor with little effort.
Watch Brandi Make this Recipe!
What is a Cornish Hen
Cornish hens rarely weigh more than 2 pounds each. They are a particular breed of chickens and are often referred to as game hens. The flavor and taste is a lot similar to chicken.
You can prepare Cornish hens the same way you would prepare chickens. There are lots of flavor options to choose from.
Each hen serves 2, so they are a lot easier to portion than a whole chicken. Simply slice in half.
I buy mine with the giblets removed. If you have hens with the giblets you will have to remove them from the cavity. You can read about How to Remove Giblets from Chicken here.
How to Make Cornish Hens in the Air Fryer
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prep the Hens: Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels to help the skin crisp in the air fryer. Spray or rub them lightly with cooking oil.
- Mix the Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, thyme, rosemary, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the hens, coating both the outside and inside cavity.
- Air Fry Until Cooked: Air fry until the skin is golden brown and the thickest part of the breast and thigh reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the hens from the air fryer and let them rest for 10-15 minutes before serving so the juices redistribute.
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Air Fryer Cornish Hens Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish hens Mine weighed 1 ¼ pounds each.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground rosemary
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking oil I use olive oil.
- 2-4 slices fresh lemon
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Place the lemon slices in the basket.
- Pat the cornish hens dry. I use paper towels.
- Rub both sides of each bird with oil. Sprinkle the seasonings and spices on both sides.
- Place the cornish hens breast side down in the air fryer on top of the lemons. You don't want the legs to overcook.
- Air fry for 25 minutes on 350 degrees.
- Open the basket and flip the corn hens. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until your cornish hens have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer. If you like really crispy skin, adjust and add additional cook time as necesary.
- Place the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken, which is typically the chicken thigh area. I like to test the breast too, just to ensure the entire chicken is fully cooked
- Remove the hens from the air fryer basket and place it on a plate to rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting into the chicken. This will allow the moisture to redistribute throughout the chicken before you cut into it.
Video
Notes
- I buy my hens with the giblets removed. If you have hens with the giblets you will have to remove them from the cavity. You can read about How to Remove Giblets from Chicken here.
- Be sure to wash your hands and kitchen utensils really well after handling raw chicken.
- Try to season every inch of the chicken to avoid bland chicken. Use more seasoning than the recipe suggests if needed.
- Removing the chicken without altering the presentation can be tricky. The chicken will need to rest after cooking. If you are having trouble removing the chicken with tongs (without altering the presentation), you can always allow the chicken to cool some and then remove it with your hands.
- Use any of your favorite seasonings. Common seasonings include poultry seasoning, sage, paprika, and more.
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
Cook for 25 minutes on one side, flip and then cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cornish hen reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
I use 350 degrees.
Cook frozen birds for 20 minutes on 350 degrees. Open and season the chicken, flip the chicken and season it on the other side.
Cook it for an additional 20 minutes on 370 degrees, flipping halfway through.
Yes, as long as they fit in your air fryer basket without overlapping. Air circulation is what makes them cook evenly and crisp up.
You don’t have to, but you can if you want deeper flavor. Even a quick 30-minute marinade with olive oil, lemon, and garlic goes a long way.
Rubbing them with a little olive oil and not overcooking is the trick. Letting them rest for 10 minutes before serving also locks in the juices.
Usually one hen feeds one person, but if you’re serving lots of sides, one hen can stretch for two.
Variations and More Spices that Work Well
- Dried Basil
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Blackening Seasoning Recipe
- Cajun Seasoning
- Honey Mustard
- BBQ style with BBQ Sauce
Air Fryer Cornish Hen Recipe Tips
- Wear cooking gloves while handling the chicken if preferred.
- Be sure to wash your hands and kitchen utensils really well after handling raw chicken.
- Try to season every inch of the chicken to avoid bland chicken. Use more seasoning than the recipe suggests if needed.
- Removing the chicken without altering the presentation can be tricky. The chicken will need to rest after cooking. If you are having trouble removing the chicken with tongs (without altering the presentation), you can always allow the chicken to cool some and then remove it with your hands.
- Use any of your favorite seasonings. Common seasonings include poultry seasoning, sage, paprika, and more.
What to Serve with Cornish Hens
You will love these with my air fryer loaded baked potatoes, Southern candied yams sweet potatoes, and Southern baked mac and cheese.
More Air Fryer Chicken and Poultry Recipes
Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham
Smothered Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken
Be sure to check out my post on 20 Quick and Easy Air Fryer Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes.
You may also love our Smoked Cornish Hen recipe and Slow Cooker Crockpot Cornish Hens.
Anonymous says
Just did this recipe minus the lemons 'cause I didn't have any and this still turned out FANTASTIC!!!
April says
Actually tried this recipe today (minus the lemons 'cause I didn't have any) and this recipe turned out FANTASTIC!!! Best Cornish Hens EVER!! Next i will try this same recipe with a whole chicken!!
staysnatched says
Yes! Whole chicken works just as well as cornish hens!
Mefortune says
I made this Cornish Hen in the air fryer and it was delicious!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Cynthia says
I made this last night and it was great! I was very nervous to try it but I put on my big girl pants and it came out perfectly! Thank you! 🙂
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you tried it.
Carmen B. McCall says
Can I inject my Cornish hen prior to frying?
staysnatched says
Yes you can.
Cassie says
Mine didn't look as good as this, but the flavor was fantastic! Love how easy this was. The star of our small Thanksgiving this year!
staysnatched says
Great for a small Thanksgiving!
Jacqueline says
This recipe came in clutch. So quick and easy. I switched up the spices a little just so I could use what I had. Definitely will be making it again.
staysnatched says
These work great for whatever you have!
Amy says
Delicious! I wanted to make this New Year's Eve for my husband and I and decided to do a trial run. These were soooo good! We will make this recipe part of our regular rotation!
staysnatched says
So glad you can add them to the rotation!
Ashley says
Made this recipe tonight for dinner and the Cornish hens came out amazing! Full of flavor and tender, definitely not dry and bland! We appreciated the extra notes and tips to follow as we started with frozen hens and they still came out perfect with some extra time in the air fryer and meat thermometer as advised.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad it worked out.
Sandra says
Really delicious and my husband loved it too. Will make again regularly-thank you!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad you both enjoyed it.
iamgenap says
I made these for my Christmas dinner and they were fantastic! It made me realize I can add Cornish hens to my rotation a lot more than I have them now. The recipe was easy and super delicious! The only thing I did differently is injecting the hens the night before. I recommend everyone give this a try.
staysnatched says
I love injecting! So much flavor.
Mo says
Cook less time in my apartment air fryer. 20 min then flip for 9
staysnatched says
Thanks for sharing!
Dee Dee says
@Mo, Thanks for the tip. i'll do this next time!
Judi says
@Mo, apartment air fryer? You mean a smaller one? I think that’s what I have
Dee Dee says
Very tender and flavorful, but the skin was thisclose to being very burnt.
staysnatched says
You have to keep a watchful eye. Glad you enjoyed them!
Joyce says
Do you preheat before cooking the little hens ??
staysnatched says
I only preheat if the air fryer manufacturer instructions says to preheat it.
Van says
I like to add fresh herbs in the cavity, thyme, rosemary, and a bay leaf. I'm making this tonight.
staysnatched says
That works so well!
Susan says
I made this recipe from a previous post from you. This is a great dish. Can't wait to make it again and also want to try the turkey wings recipe. The wings are my favorite part of a turkey. They look delicious
staysnatched says
I hope you enjoy those, too!
Lori says
Like one of the other reviews, I too was a little nervous to try this. But lo and behold, they turned out perfect. I cut the bird in half, with skin side up for most of the time and turned over for the remainder. I was only preparing one cornish hen, however.
staysnatched says
Thanks for sharing!
Bianca says
Simple & easy! Following your recipes makes me realize how much I was taught to overthink/over manipulate food. You make every recipe with easy to follow instructions. Our hens were crispy and still seasoned & juicy! Thank you!
Linda says
I made these last night and they were delicious!! Didn't use the lemon, but it was still out of this world!
staysnatched says
I'm glad to hear that it was out of this world!
Paula says
@staysnatched,
Cooking my first Cornish hen!
I am only cooking 1 so what is the temperature and time?
Thank you, just joined today
staysnatched says
Hi, it's the same.