Air Fryer Cornish Hens

Air Fryer Cornish Hens – tender, juicy meat with crispy skin over a bed of roasted vegetables. You’re just 30 minutes away from the ultimate chicken dinner.

If you’re not familiar with cornish hens, they’re basically small chickens and when air fried taste like mini rotisserie chickens.

They’re the perfect size for 1-2 people and fit even in my small air fryer. This is an easy recipe for any level cook that yields big results.

I love roast chicken – even better when it’s an entire meal in one pan (er –  air fryer). The vegetables are flavored by the roasting chicken and become absolutely irresistible.

What was once a Sunday Supper, special occasion or holiday meal is now a simple, any night meal because it cooks in just 30 minutes.

That also makes it ideal for dinner guests and smaller holiday gatherings.

AIR FRYER CORNISH HEN RECIPE:

These are my favorite seasonings but there are many options with delicious flavor. Get creative!

NOTE: this recipe is for ONE CORNISH HEN. If you’re making two, you’ll want to double the ingredients.

• 1 small onion peeled and cut in thick slices
• 2-3 medium carrots peeled and cut in thirds
• 2 medium potatoes peeled and cut in half
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and black pepper
• Cornish hen
• 2 tablespoons butter melted
• fresh herbs (see NOTE below)
• half of one lemon cut in half
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

NOTE: I buy ‘poultry herb blend’ that contains thyme, rosemary and sage (it’s like Thanksgiving but in an easy air fryer recipe!).

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CORNISH HENS:

Add the peeled, sliced carrots, onion and potatoes to a medium bowl (I left the skin on the potatoes but peel if you prefer).

Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil completely coating, then season with salt and pepper to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of black pepper).

Scatter the vegetables in the bottom of the air fryer basket.

Next dry the inside and outside of the bird using paper towels. Remove any giblets from inside cavity of the hen.

Stuff the cavity with the lemon wedges (not shown) along with one sprig each of rosemary, thyme and sage then set aside.

Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in a small bowl then blend in garlic powder.

Brush the outside of the cornish hen with butter (reserve the remaining butter) then generously season with salt.

Add the cornish hen(s) to the top of the vegetables breast side down.

Air fry for 15 minutes then carefully turn the cornish hen over. Brush with the remaining butter-garlic mixture then continue air frying another 10-15 minutes.

Remove the hen and vegetables from the air fryer. Let the hen rest 10-15 minutes before cutting.

WHY COOK BREAST SIDE DOWN?

The best way to roast a whole chicken is breast side down. This lets the dark meat baste the breast as it cooks and protect the breast meat from drying out.

HOW TO TEST FOR DONENESS:

Insert an instant read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken (I check both the thigh and breast). You’re looking for an internal temp of 165° and the vegetables are tender. Cooking time will vary with air fryers and the exact size of the cornish hen.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How do I know when the hen is done? I recommend using an instant read thermometer. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when your meat is cooked to perfection. You want the hen to have an internal temp of 165°.

Do Cornish Hens taste like a ‘regular chicken’? Yes – cornish hens are a variety of chicken – just younger and smaller.

How many people does a cornish hen serve? That’s a tough question. It depends on appetites. For some, one hen may feed two people. Others may eat a whole hen.

What goes with cornish hens?

If you’re not roasting vegetables with your hens (or even if you are) below are a few really good side dishes that go perfectly with roast chicken:

Gouda Mashed Potatoes – creamy, buttery mashed potatoes blended with smoked Gouda cheese for delicious elevated flavor.

Old Fashioned Bread Sausage Stuffing – easy old fashioned stuffing from scratch. This is my family’s #1 Thanksgiving side dish – bakes outside the bird. 

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts – roasted brussels with crispy bacon tossed in a maple syrup-Dijon mustard glaze.

Cole Slaw – this is the best cole recipe you’ll find. Just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes = crunchy slaw in a homemade creamy tangy-sweet dressing.

Cranberry Sauce – quick, easy stovetop recipe. Loaded with fresh cranberries and citrus flavor. 1000 times better than the canned stuff.

HOW TO STORE LEFTOVERS:

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

LOOKING FOR MORE EASY AIR FRYER RECIPES?

There are many delicious meals, appetizers and desserts coming out of the air fryer these days. Below are a few of my favorites:

Air Fryer Turkey Breast – garlic herb butter roasted juicy turkey breast loaded with the best flavors of fall. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any holidays – ready in under an hour!

Air Fried Baked Potatoes – perfect crispy skin with fluffy soft potato inside. Steakhouse style baked potato cooked in the air fryer!

Tender Juicy Air Fryer Steak Fajitas – tender, juicy marinated steak strips, onions and bell peppers cooked completely in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Roast Broccoli – tender broccoli with the crispy brown edges we crave – cooks in just 8 minutes!

Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers – easy 20 minute recipe with the taste of grilled you can enjoy all year.

Enjoy!

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If you tried this Cornish Game Hen Recipe, then I’d love if you’d leave a comment and some stars below!