Herb Butter Cornish Hen Recipe

This post was last updated on October 7, 2024 at 5:10 pm

March 30, 2021 by Tamara J. 69 Comments

Cornish Hen is the perfect recipe for gatherings, from holidays to cozy date nights. With roasted, tender meat, herb-infused butter, and rich bacon gravy, this entree feels like a feast!

Are you looking for other delicious main course options? Try my Smothered Turkey Wings and Oven Roasted Chicken next.

The Best Roasted Cornish Hen Recipe

I love making these roasted cornish hens whenever I’m hosting a special dinner or just want to treat myself to something a little fancy. With its golden brown, crispy skin and succulent meat, it never fails to impress.

This recipe is surprisingly easy to make, but it has that elegant touch that makes it feel like a restaurant-quality dish. I like to spatchcock the hens so they cook faster and more evenly.

And they’re the perfect size for individual servings so there's no need to carve a whole bird! It’s a great choice when I’m having guests over or planning a dinner party.

What is Cornish Hen?

A Cornish game hen is a small, young chicken that typically weighs around 1 to 2 pounds. The meat is tender and flavorful. When fully matured, these game birds are about half the size of a regular chicken.

Despite its size, it stays juicy when roasted, making it perfect for special occasions. Its compact size means it cooks faster than larger poultry, and it’s often served as a perfect individual portion for dinner parties or intimate meals.

Ingredients

Cornish hens: They are usually about 1.5-2 pounds each.
Unsalted butter: Use unsalted so you can control the amount of sodium. You could use olive oil but butter flavor is so mouthwatering and rich.
Fresh Herbs: Thyme has an earthy, subtle minty flavor.
Ground Herb: Ground sage has a bold, peppery taste.
Chicken stock: This helps the skin crisp up as it bakes.
Seasoning: I season the bird with seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

seasoned full chickens in baking pan before cooked

Bacon Gravy

Serve your cornish hens with bacon gravy for a savory addition! Bacon gravy requires hearty bacon, that will stand-up to being fried and chopped.

How to Cook Cornish Hens

See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

How to Spatchcock a Cornish Hen

First, I preheat my oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish or roasting pan with non-stick spray. Then, I clean the hens, removing any giblets.

I use kitchen shears to cut down each side of the backbone. I start at the neck and work my way down to the tail. Once the backbone is out, I open up the hens and flatten them.

Prepare Herb Butter & Season the Cornish Hens

I mix the softened butter, fresh rosemary, thyme, and ground sage in a small bowl until it’s well combined.

a bowl containing a stick of butter beside a small dish of dried herbs

herb butter in a bowl on a cutting board next to a wooden spoon

I like to loosen the skin with my fingers and spread the herb butter underneath, reserving about 2 tablespoons to rub over the top and baste the hens later. Then I lay the hens flat and season them generously on both sides.

How to Cook a Game Hen in the Oven

I pour the chicken stock directly into the baking dish, then pop the hens in the oven to bake for about an hour. I check on them after 30 minutes to give them a quick baste with the pan juices. This helps keep them juicy and full of flavor.

a baster applying garlic butter to spatchocked cornish hen

While the hens roast, it’s a great time to whip up a batch of my savory bacon gravy. It takes 15 minutes tops and serves as a delicious sauce.

The hens are ready when they’re golden brown and the wings or legs feel tender when I gently pull them. It’s such an easy recipe, and perfect for those cozy dinners or special occasions!

Pro Tips

Pat the hens dry with a paper towel before seasoning to remove any excess moisture. This helps achieve a crispy skin.
Roast the breast side up. This maximizes the skin’s exposure to the heat for a perfectly golden brown finish.
One hen is enough for one hearty serving or can be split into two smaller servings.
You can find premium Cornish hens at your local Walmart. I found mine in the middle section of the meat department at my store.

What goes well with Cornish hens?

Cornish hens pair perfectly with classic Southern sides like sweet cast iron cornbread, collard greens, and mac and cheese. Oven-roasted Brussels sprouts also complement the tender, roasted hens.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave.

We love using leftover bacon gravy the next day with breakfast dishes like biscuits or eggs. Store it in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat it over low heat on the stove.

close up view of spatchcock cornish hens

Frequently Asked Questions

Should Cornish hens be covered when baking?

Cornish hens don’t need to be covered while baking. Leaving them uncovered helps achieve a golden brown, crispy skin. If they start to brown too quickly, you can tent them loosely with foil for the last part of the baking time.

What temperature should Cornish hens be cooked at?

For the best results, bake Cornish hens at 350°F. This temperature ensures the meat cooks evenly while keeping it juicy and tender.

How do I keep the Cornish hens from drying out?

Allow the cooked hen to rest for about ten minutes before slicing it. This allows the juices to redistribute for moist, succulent meat. Adding butter to the hens is also helpful to keep them moist and tender.

More Chicken Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

After you try this Cornish Game Hen recipe, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more delicious recipes!

📖 Recipe

cornish hen on a tray with herbs around it as garnish

Herb Butter Cornish Hens w/ Bacon Gravy

Cornish Hen is the perfect recipe for gatherings, from holidays to cozy date nights. With roasted, tender meat, herb-infused butter, and rich bacon gravy this entree feels like a feast!

Print Recipe Save Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 1 30

Total Time: 1 40

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: a good recipe for cornish hens, cornish game hen, cornish game hen recipe, cornish game hen recipes, cornish hen, cornish hen recipe, cornish hen recipes, cornish hens, cornish hens recipe, how to cook cornish hens, roasted cornish game hen, what is a cornish hen

Servings: Hens

Calories: 365kcal

Author: Tamara J.

Ingredients

Cornish Hens

2 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
Bacon Gravy optional

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9x11 baking dish with non-stick spray.
Clean the Cornish hens by removing any giblets. Using kitchen shears, cut down each side of the backbone, starting at the neck and cutting down to the tail. Remove the backbone and flatten the hens.
Season the front and back of each hen with seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
In a small bowl, combine the butter, fresh thyme, rosemary, and ground sage.
Loosen the skin of the hens and spread the herb butter evenly under the skin, reserving 2 tablespoons for basting.
Add the chicken stock to the baking dish. Place the hens in the oven and bake for about 1 hour, basting with the pan juices after 30 minutes.
While the Cornish hens roast, you can prepare the savory bacon gravy to serve alongside. (The link to my detailed recipe is in the notes section below.)
The hens are ready when they turn golden brown, and the wings or legs feel tender when gently pulled.

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.

Click here for the Savory Bacon Gravy recipe.