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This air fryer Cornish hen recipe makes tender meat that is so moist and juicy, with a crispy outer skin. These small hens are full of flavor, and in just a few simple steps, I have a delicious dinner.
Cornish hens are just the right size for an individual plate. They are also fun for holiday dinners, small meals, or for when I want to serve them for a gourmet meal.
Table of Contents
WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE
I love these small hens as a quick meal. I like to think of them as mini rotisserie chickens because that’s what they look like and are similar in taste. Because taste like regular chicken, I know everyone will love them!
I especially like them because I only need olive oil, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper! That’s it! Meals that only need a few ingredients are the best!
Air frying means they are done pretty quickly so when I need a fast weeknight dinner, they are a great choice! But when I need a bigger meal, I make this Air Fryer Whole Chicken or Air Fryer Turkey Breast.
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WHAT ARE CORNISH HENS?
Cornish game hens are a small breed of chicken. They are a cross between the Cornish Hen and White Plymouth Rock breed of chicken. They are small, usually around two pounds so they are a perfect meal for one!
Because they are younger chickens, they have less fat and more white meat and less dark meat, which is what I prefer!
INGREDIENTS
- Cornish Hens such as Tyson Cornish Game Hens
- olive oil- avocado oil or melted butter work too
- poultry seasoning- or a mixture of thyme, rosemary, and sage
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CORNISH HENS
STEP 1
Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F.
STEP 2
While the air fryer is preheating, prepare the hens by patting them dry with a paper towel. Remove any giblets package that may be inside the hens.
STEP 3
Brush the hens with olive oil, coating both sides, then sprinkle the poultry seasoning and salt and pepper, also on both sides of the hens.
STEP 4
Place hens breast side down in the preheated air fryer basket.
STEP 5
Air fry the hens at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, and then flip to the other side. Continue air frying for an additional 10-15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
STEP 6
Once they are done, let the hens rest for 5-10 minutes in their own juices before slicing and serving.
TIPS
Cooking time may vary depending on the size. The hens will be done when they have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and are golden brown.
Choose fresh Cornish hens. But, if using frozen, be sure to completely thaw before air frying. Because they are small, it should only take one day in the refrigerator for them to thaw.
Letting the hens rest after cooking helps their juices soak into the meat, which makes them juicier.
Serve with air fryer roasted vegetables, air fryer roasted potatoes, or even a simple green salad. The hens are so versatile they go with almost anything!
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VARIATIONS
The herbs I use are my favorite seasonings and make the hens have crispy skin and juicy meat. I use the same combination on my air fryer turkey breast. But I also like to switch up the seasoning blend for variety.
Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or a favorite dry rub, are all great options for flavor.
Of course, you can add a spice blend such as garlic cloves, garlic powder, or any other fresh herbs.
STORING AND REHEATING
If you have leftovers, first let hens cool to room temperature. Once they have cooled, store them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It may be easiest if you remove the meat from the leftover chicken before storing.
To reheat, return to the air fryer and heat for 3-5 minutes until meat is heated through.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Although the outside of the hen may be turning a beautiful golden color, it needs to have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. If you have slightly bigger hens, you may need to add additional cook time. An instant-read thermometer is a really useful tool when making air fryer recipes.
The olive oil or butter helps to do that! This perfect dinner has a fantastic flavor from the herbs too.
A small hen can technically feed 1-2 people. It’s a little tricky to determine an exact portion per person because they are only 1 1/2 -2 1/2 pounds.
MORE AIR FRYER CHICKEN RECIPES
I love this simple air fryer Cornish hen recipe. They are so fun to make and are delicious!
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Air Fryer Cornish Game Hen
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish Hens
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional: If you don't have poultry seasoning, use ½ teaspoon thyme½ teaspoon rosemary½ teaspoon sage
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F. If you don't have a preheat option, let your air fryer run on 380 degrees F for 3-5 minutes.
- Prepare the hens by patting them dry with a paper towel. Remove any giblets package that may be inside the hens. (They usually are already removed.)
- Brush the hens with olive oil, coating both sides, then sprinkle the poultry seasoning and salt and pepper, also on both sides of the hens.
- Place hens breast side down in the preheated air fryer basket.
- Air fry the hens at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Then flip to the other side, and and air fry for an additional 10-15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Let the hens rest for 5-10 minutes in their own juices before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have a square af. Also it comes with a rotisserie. How long would I need to cook it?
You will need to adjust the cook time according to the wattage of your air fryer. This recipe was made with a Cosori 5.8 and that is at 1700 watts, so you may need to adjust your cook time by adding or taking away a little time. Either way, it should be close to the same time within a couple of minutes I would guess.
This came out very good and moist. Thanks!
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it!