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Herb Butter Cornish Hens with Bacon Gravy

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Herb Butter Cornish Hens roasted to a golden perfection and complemented with a savory bacon gravy. Seasoned & basted with an herb infused butter to create the most succulent and flavorful Cornish hens.

While you’re here be sure to check out this Juicy and Tender Oven Roasted Chicken and this Garlic Butter Seafood Boil!

Herb Butter Cornish Hen

When we host our annual Christmas brunch, these Herb Butter Cornish Hens with Bacon Gravy help create such a great meal. Moreover, the Cornish Hens are the perfect size and selection for this dish. They are easy to prepare and cook in a breeze.

Herb Butter Cornish Hen
Herb Butter Cornish Hens

For the bacon gravy, we always have to use our favorite Wright® Brand Hickory Smoked Bacon. We love this bacon because they are quality pieces of thick cut bacon. Bacon gravy requires a hearty bacon, that will stand-up to being fried and chopped.

Herb Butter Cornish Hen

Every year, the kids wake us up way before the sun is even thinking about rising to open their gifts! Since opening gifts are the first and ONLY thing on their mind in the morning, we don’t worry about breakfast. Christmas brunch is now our tradition.

Herb Butter Cornish Hen

What started out as us hosting grandparents, has since turned into us hosting extended family, and friends alike! It always makes for a great celebration after the chaos of Christmas passes. Each year we host, we try to have something prepared for our guest to take home with them.

Savory Bacon Gravy

This Savory Bacon Gravy makes an awesome gift to send our guests home with. Once the gravy is prepared and cooled, simply place it in 8 ounce jars. Decorate the jars with festive holiday labels and bows. Our guests will love to have the bacon gravy to use the next day for breakfast, or store in the refrigerator for up to one week to use later.

Where to find the ingredients for the Herb Butter Cornish Hen & Bacon Gravy:

Tyson Premium Cornish Hens are available at your local Walmart stores. While at my local Walmart, I found the Cornish Hens in the middle bin in the meat department. As far as the Wright Brand Hickory Smoked bacon, head to the deli department at your local Walmart, it should be tucked away where the other breakfast meats are. I’d also recommend you head to Walmart’s online grocery to place orders ahead for pick-up or delivery too to make your life a breeze! Also, be sure to take advantage of this Ibotta rebates offer (LINK)!

Herb Butter Cornish Hen

What is the spatchcock technique?

With this particular recipe we used the spatchcock technique. By definition, spatchcock means to split open and dress to prepare for grilling. Furthermore, the spatchcock technique is perfect for the herb butter Cornish hens because it ensured even cooking. Furthermore, it helps provide an even golden brown skin for the Cornish hens.

How to prepare the Herb Butter Cornish Hens:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Clean the Cornish hens by removing any giblets. Using kitchen shears, cut down each side of the back bone of the Cornish hen. Start at the neck and cut down to the tail. Remove the backbone and open up the hen.
Herb Butter Cornish Hen
Herb Butter Cornish Hen
  • Mix the butter, fresh rosemary, thyme, and ground sage in a small bowl until well combined.
Herb Butter Cornish Hen
  • Loosen the skin of the hens with a finger, and evenly distribute the infused butter under the skin on each one. Reserve 2 tablespoons of butter to rub over the top and baste the hens with.
Herb Butter Cornish Hen
  • Lay the Cornish hens flat and season the front and back liberally with the seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • Add the chicken stock directly into the baking dish. Bake the hens for about one hour, check on them after 30 minutes to baste with juices.
Herb Butter Cornish Hen
  • Hen is done when it is golden brown, and the wings or legs are tender when you gently pull them.
Yield: 2 Hens

Herb Butter Cornish Hens w/ Bacon Gravy

Herb Butter Cornish Hen

Rosemary and thyme crusted Cornish hens roasted to a golden perfection, and complemented with a savory bacon gravy. Seasoned & basted with a herb infused butter to create the most succulent and flavorful Cornish hens.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

Cornish Hens

  • 3 whole Cornish hens
  • 1 stick Unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon fresh Thyme
  • ½ cup Chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon Seasoning salt
  • ½ tablespoon Black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Ground sage
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon Onion powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9x11 baking dish with non-stick spray.
  2. Clean the cornish hens by removing any giblets. Using kitchen shears, cut down each side of the back bone of the cornish hen. Start at the neck, and cut down to the tail. Remove the backbone and open up the hen.
  3. Lay the cornish hens flat and season the front and back liberally with the seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  4. Mix the butter, fresh rosemary, thyme, and ground sage in a small bowl until well combined.
  5. Loosen the skin of the hens with a finger, and evenly distribute the infused butter under the skin on each one. Reserve 2 tablespoons of butter to rub over the top and baste the hens with.
  6. Add the chicken stock directly into the baking dish. Bake the hens for about one hour, check on them after 30 minutes to baste with juices.
  7. Hen is done when it is golden brown, and the wings or legs are tender when you gently pull them.

Notes

There is a loose flap of skin near the bottom of the breast. Cut a slit on both sides of this area to insert each leg into. This just helps keep the legs in place for a beautiful presentation.

Cooking times may vary by the size of the hens and different oven settings.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 792mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators.

© Tamara J.
Category: Dinner

How to make the Savory Bacon Gravy:

  • Fry the bacon until completely cooked, set aside. Reserve the bacon grease in the skillet.
  • Add the chopped onions to the bacon grease and cook until they become translucent, about 5-10 minutes.
  • Once the onions are translucent, add the flour to the skillet. Use a whisk to mix the flour in with the grease. After the grease is fully absorbed by the flour, slowly begin to add chicken stock.
  • Savory Bacon Gravy
  • Savory Bacon Gravy
  • Savory Bacon Gravy
  • Savory Bacon Gravy
  • Savory Bacon Gravy
  • Savory Bacon Gravy
  • Continue whisking the flour and chicken stock until there are no longer lumps of flour. The onions will provide a bit of texture. Add more chicken stock or water to thin the gravy out if it becomes too thick.
  • Once the flour is fully incorporated into the gravy, add the bacon back into the skillet.
  • Add the seasoning and mix well.
Yield: 2 Cornish hens

Savory Bacon Gravy

Savory Bacon Gravy

Bacon gravy is an amazing addition to virtually any meat, mashed veggie, or breakfast. Onions, herbs and spices along with chicken stock, make this an amazing, savory bacon gravy.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 6 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 slices Wright brand thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled, bacon grease reserved
  • 2 tablespoons All purpose flour
  • 4 cups Chicken stock
  • ½ Onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Seasoning salt (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon Ground sage
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Fry the bacon until completely cooked, set aside. Reserve the bacon grease in the skillet.
  2. Add the chopped onions to the bacon grease and cook until they become translucent, about 5-10 minutes.
  3. Once the onions are translucent, add the flour to the skillet. Use a whisk to mix the flour in with the grease. Once the grease is fully absorbed by the flour, slowly begin to add chicken stock.
  4. Continue whisking the flour and chicken stock until there are no longer lumps of flour. The onions will provide a bit of texture. Add more chicken stock or water to thin the gravy out if it becomes too thick.
  5. Once the flour is fully incorporated into the gravy, add the bacon back into the skillet.
  6. Add the seasoning and mix well.

Notes

Use water to loosen up the gravy if it become too thick.

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© Tamara J.

Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you a  shoutout!

About Tamara J.

Razzle Dazzle Life will take you on a journey with the plethora of recipes, tips, and tricks in the kitchen and home. Being a mom of four has required me to be extremely creative with cooking and life in general, in order to stretch the dollar and simplify things. Cooking is a form of art, so be creative and have fun with it. Allow me to show you tried and true recipes that the whole family can enjoy, and tips and ideas to help make your life easier!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  20. Simone

    I just love Cornish hens & I serve them almost every Thanksgiving instead of turkey, but I never thought of using the spatchcock method. Thanks for the suggestion & recipe!

    Reply

  22. Beth

    I love Cornish game hens (though my son doesn’t like it that he can tell they are little birds) and the golden, herby finish on these is fantastic. Love your explanation of how to spatchcock, too.

    Reply

  25. Chef Dennis

    I haven’t thought about Cornish Hens in ages, thanks for the inspiration! These tasty little hens will be making an appearance at my house soon

    Reply

  29. Kamryn

    I tried this recipe yesterday for my family and it was delicious me and the other 5 people in my house enjoyed it for dinner last night the hen and gravy was great.

    Reply

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