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cornish hens in a Crockpot slow cooker with broth and herbs
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Slow Cooker Crockpot Cornish Hens

I’ve been sharing reliable recipes for decade, and I know what it’s like to worry if something will actually turn out right. That’s why I love slow cooker Cornish hens, they’re foolproof. A quick rub of oil, a splash of broth, and a few hours later you’ve got juicy, fall-off-the-bone meat that’s perfect for dinner without the headache. I’ve tested the timing and method so you don’t have to. Set it and forget it.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword cornish hens in Crockpot, cornish hens in slow cooker, Crockpot cornish hens, slow cooker cornish hens, slow cooker game hens
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Servings 2 Cornish hens
Calories 220kcal
Author Brandi Crawford

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup broth
  • 2 Cornish hens Mine weighed 1 ¼ pounds each.
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Standard Poultry Spice Blend (You can also use a store-bought rub).

Creole Seasoned Spice Blend

Instructions

  • Pour the broth into the bottom of the slow cooker. My slow cooker is 7 quart.
  • Pat the Cornish hens dry and rub both sides of the Cornish hens with olive oil and sprinkle the spices throughout onto both sides. Rub the spices into the Cornish hens. I like to place the rosemary and thyme inside the cavity of the hens. You can also place them over the poultry.
  • Place the seasoned Cornish hens over the broth. Use enough spices to fully coat the hens. Add additional spices if necessary.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on High for 3-4 hours or on Low for 6-7 hours.
    Poultry should be cooked until it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. Test using a meat thermometer. I find that I am able to achieve this within a couple of hours. If you like tender fall-off-the-bone meat, you will likely need to the hens an hour or so longer after this point. Use your judgment and check in on the process to avoid overcooked meat.
  • After cooking, you should let the Cornish hens cool for about 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature before serving. If you slice into the meat too soon, you will miss out on the internal juice distribution, which will result in dry meat.

Notes

You can double the recipe to cook additional Cornish hens if you wish.
Feel free to use your favorite chicken rub or store bought rub to season the hens.
Adding liquid to the Crockpot is recommended. The liquid helps keep the meat moist and infuses it with flavors during the slow cooking process. I like to use chicken broth, any type of broth or stock will work. Water will work, too.
After the Cornish hens have finished cooking in the crockpot and are tender, you can transfer them to a baking sheet and broil them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up the skin.
You can also place them in an air fryer at 350 degrees and cook until the skin is crisp.

Nutrition

Serving: 4oz | Calories: 220kcal | Protein: 19g | Fat: 16g