These Air Fryer Juicy Cornish Hens are cooked fresh or frozen with plenty of herbs and spices for full flavor. These mini rotisserie chickens are great for any dinner or holiday main dish.
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FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.
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
- Rub the Cornish hens in oil, poultry seasoning, thyme, smoked paprika, rosemary, and garlic powder.
- Place the hens breast side down in the air fryer.
- Air fry.
Cook Time/How Long to Cook
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.
Air Fryer Temperature
I use 350 degrees.
More Spices and Substitution Tips
Can You Cook it From Frozen?
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.
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 the Dish
Air Fryer Loaded Baked Potatoes
Air Fryer Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus
Air Fryer Garlic Cheesy Bread
Air Fryer Homemade French Fries
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
More Air Fryer Chicken and Poultry Recipes
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Be sure to check out my post on 20 Quick and Easy Air Fryer Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes.
Air Fryer Juicy Cornish Hens
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish hens Mine weighed 1 1/4 pounds each.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1/2 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.
Mo
Sunday 4th of April 2021
Cook less time in my apartment air fryer. 20 min then flip for 9
staysnatched
Monday 5th of April 2021
Thanks for sharing!
iamgenap
Monday 18th of January 2021
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
Thursday 21st of January 2021
I love injecting! So much flavor.
Sandra
Tuesday 5th of January 2021
Really delicious and my husband loved it too. Will make again regularly-thank you!
staysnatched
Tuesday 5th of January 2021
Yay! I'm so glad you both enjoyed it.
Ashley
Sunday 27th of December 2020
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
Tuesday 29th of December 2020
Wonderful! I'm glad it worked out.
Amy
Wednesday 23rd of December 2020
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
Wednesday 23rd of December 2020
So glad you can add them to the rotation!