This easy Air Fryer Cornish Hen recipe is a hassle-free dinner packed with flavor that takes a fraction of the time it takes in the oven. The result is tender, juicy meat with a crispy, flavorful skin every time. Perfect for holiday feasts and special occasions yet easy enough for weeknight dinners.
FYI - This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All links are products I use when making my recipes.
Table of Contents
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Why You'll Love Air Fryer Cornish Hens
- What is a cornish game hen?
- Ingredients
- How to Thaw Cornish Hens
- How to Air Fry Cornish Hen
- Essential Tips for Air Fryer Cornish Hen Perfection
- Recipe Variations
- How to Serve Air Fried Cornish Hen
- What to Serve with Cornish Game Hens
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Leftovers
- More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Dinner Recipes
The air fryer is your secret weapon for quick and delicious chicken dinners. The air fryer takes chicken recipes to the next level, making dinnertime a breeze without sacrificing flavor or quality.
Recipes like our Air Fryer Lemon Chicken Breast make a zesty and tender dish that's ready in a flash. It's a perfect balance of tangy lemon and succulent chicken, all crisped up to perfection in the air fryer. For a heartier option, this Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe takes a classic and turns it into a hassle-free masterpiece.
And if you're thinking dinner date options, this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu will melt their heart. It's a French classic reimagined with a crispy, golden exterior and a cheesy, ham-filled interior. Say goodbye to the oven and hello to the convenience and deliciousness of air-fried chicken.
Why You'll Love Air Fryer Cornish Hens
Quick and Easy: It takes a fraction of the time to cook over roasting in the oven. Bonus- cleanup is a breeze!
Crispy Skin: The air fryer's use of hot air circulation ensures that the Cornish hens will have irresistibly crispy and crackling skin and extremely moist and tender meat.
Small Size for Smaller Families – an easy substitute for a big turkey holiday dinner when you’re not entertaining a crowd.
Impressive Party Option – Make a dinner really special, and air fry a Cornish hen for each person attending your affair.
What is a cornish game hen?
A Cornish game hen, often simply called a Cornish hen, is a particular breed of chicken that is harvested young, typically at just under five weeks old. Due to their youth, these birds are much smaller than the average chicken, weighing between 1 to 2 pounds. Their small size makes them ideal for individual or double servings.
The name "Cornish game hen" can be slightly misleading, as it isn’t exclusive to the Cornish breed. The term often refers to a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds. While "hen" implies female, both male and female chicks can be labeled as Cornish game hens if they meet the weight criteria.
Cornish hens are particularly prized for their tender and succulent meat, which is a result of their young age. Their flavor is mild and less gamy than that of older chickens, making them a preferred choice for many gourmet dishes. When roasted or cooked in an air fryer, the skin crisps up beautifully while the inside remains juicy and flavorful, offering a delightful dining experience.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this air fryer cornish hen recipe. The exact measurements can be found in the printable recipe card below.
For the hens:
- Cornish game hens
- Olive oil
Needed for dry rub seasoning:
- Dried rosemary
- Dried oregano
- Dried thyme
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
For stuffing in the cavity:
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Garlic cloves
- Lemon
Variation - You can use your favorite seasoning mix, either homemade or store-bought. Cajun, Greek, or Italian are great options.
How to Thaw Cornish Hens
Most cornish game hens at grocery stores are frozen. They must be thawed before cooking them in an air fryer or oven. Here are two tried-and-true methods for thawing cornish hens:
- Refrigerator Method: For a no-fuss approach, simply move your frozen hen into the refrigerator. Allow it to gradually thaw overnight, ensuring it's uniformly defrosted by the time you're ready to cook.
- Cold Water Bath Method: If you're short on time, the cold water bath is an effective way to expedite thawing. Place the Cornish hen in a sealed plastic bag and submerge it in cold water. To maintain a consistent temperature and prevent bacterial growth, replace the water every 30 minutes.
A word of caution: Always avoid thawing your Cornish hen at room temperature. This can encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, compromising both safety and flavor.
How to Air Fry Cornish Hen
These are the simple steps for prepping and cooking cornish hens in air fryer:
- Pat dry Cornish hens then brush all over with olive oil.
- Mix all spices and herbs for the dry rub in a small bowl. Rub it over the entire surface of the Cornish hens.
- Stuff the cavity with a lemon wedge.
- Add a garlic clove or two to the cavity.
- Finish filling the cavity with sprigs of rosemary.
- Tie the legs together.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F. Spray the basket with oil then gently place the Cornish hens in the bottom, breast-side down.
- Air fry for 20-25 minutes and then flip the hens over and air fry for another 15-20 minutes. They are done when a digital thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the hen registers 165°F.
Essential Tips for Air Fryer Cornish Hen Perfection
Here are some tips for making the best air-fried cornish hens that are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfectly cooked.
- Prioritize Thawing: Ensure your Cornish hens are completely defrosted before introducing them to the air fryer. This guarantees an evenly cooked hen with a moist inside and a golden, crispy outside.
- Dry Them: Pat the skin of your hens dry before coating them with oil. The drier the skin, the better the oil sticks to it and makes it crispy.
- Giblet Removal: Double-check that all giblets have been cleared from the hen's cavity.
- Tie the Legs: Trussing the legs of your hens with kitchen twine gives a picturesque presentation.
- Begin with the Breast Down: Start by positioning the hen's breast side down in the air fryer. Given the compact nature of most air fryers, this technique shields the breast meat from excessive heat, preventing overcooking. Remember to flip the hen closer to the end of cooking to achieve a crispy skin.
- Monitor Temperature: Always check the hen's internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. It's ready when it reads 165°F at the meat's thickest part.
- Patience Before Serving: Allow the hen to rest for about ten minutes post-cooking. This pause lets the juices redistribute, culminating in a tender and flavorsome bite every time.
Recipe Variations
There are two other ways to air fry a cornish hen, spatchocked and rotisserie.
Air Fryer Spatchcock Cornish Hen
- Lay the bird breast side down on a cutting board.
- Using poultry shears, begin cutting along one side of the backbone, starting from the tail end. The shears should cut through the ribs with some resistance but remain firm and steady. Repeat the cut on the opposite side of the backbone.
- Remove the backbone and either discard it or save it for making stock later.
- Open the bird out and turn it over, so the breast side is facing up. Using the heel of your hand, press down firmly on the breastbone until you hear a crack. This will help the bird lay flat during cooking.
- Rub oil over the hen and season it with the dry rub.
- Air fry at 400°F for 24 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Air Fryer Rotisserie Cornish Hen
Some larger toaster oven air fryers have a rotisserie feature. This is how to cook rotisserie cornish hen in air fryer:
- Rub oil and seasonings all over the hen, ensuring it's well-coated.
- Secure the Cornish hen onto the rotisserie spit that comes with your air fryer, making sure it's balanced. This is crucial for even cooking.
- Place the rotisserie spit with the hen into the air fryer. Air fry at 360°F for about 25-30 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- To ensure your Cornish hen is cooked to perfection, use an instant-read thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the hen (usually the thigh, avoiding the bone). The internal temperature should read 165°F.
- Once cooked, remove the hen from the air fryer and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
How to Serve Air Fried Cornish Hen
Place the air-fried Cornish hens on a platter decorated with lemon slices and rosemary sprigs. Remove the lemon from the cavity, or use a fresh wedge, and squeeze it over the top of each hen. Let rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
What to Serve with Cornish Game Hens
Side dishes to serve with cornish hen are the same as you would with roasted chicken. Here are some favorite sides:
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
- White, brown, wild, or seasoned rice.
- Steamed or roasted broccoli.
- Sweet Potato Casserole
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Leftovers
Storing Leftover Cornish Hen in the Refrigerator:
- Allow the leftover Cornish hen to cool to room temperature, but do not leave it out for more than 2 hours.
- Cut the hen into smaller portions if you haven't already. This makes it easier to reheat later. Use airtight containers or resealable plastic bags to store the leftovers. Squeeze out as much air as possible if using bags.
- For best quality and safety, eat refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days.
Freezing Leftover Cornish Hen:
- As with refrigerating, allow the hen to cool to room temperature within 2 hours before freezing.
- To prevent freezer burn, wrap the portions in aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap. After wrapping, place them in airtight freezer bags.
- Clearly label the bags with the contents and the date you froze them. This will help you rotate and use up older items first.
- Place the wrapped hen in the coldest part of your freezer to ensure rapid freezing.
- For best quality, use frozen Cornish hen within 3-4 months. While it can remain safe beyond this time frame, the quality and flavor might diminish.
- Thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating or using the leftovers.
Reheating Leftovers:
- In the air fryer: To reheat cornish game hens in an air fryer, preheat the fryer to 400°F and cook the hen for 3 to 5 minutes.
- In the oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the hen in a baking dish, and add a few tablespoons of water or chicken broth to keep the meat moist. Cover the dish with foil and bake it for about 10 minutes, until the internal temp is 165°F.
- In the microwave: Place the hen on a microwave-safe plate. Cover it with parchment paper to avoid splatters. Microwave in 15-second increments until warmed.
Always reheat cornish hen until it has an internal temperature of 165°F.
More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
Find lots of quick and easy air fryer recipes right here on 2CM!
LOVE QUICK & EASY RECIPES? FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, & PINTEREST FOR ALL THE LATEST RECIPE INSPIRATION! PLUS JOIN MY EMAIL LIST AND RECEIVE A FREE E-BOOK.
Air Fryer Cornish Hens
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish game hens (1.5-1.75 lbs each)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Dry Rub
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ teaspoon rosemary
- ¾ teaspoon oregano
- ¾ teaspoon thyme
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
For Cavity
- 2 rosemary sprigs (for cavity)
- 2 garlic cloves, slightly smashed (for cavity)
- ½ lemon, cut in half (for cavity)
Instructions
- Pat Cornish hens dry with a paper towel and place on a plate in the refrigerator for 1 hour to overnight. This is optional but will make for crisper skin.
- When ready to air fry, preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
- Rub 1 tablespoon of olive oil over each of the Cornish hens.
- Mix all herbs and spices in a small bowl. Rub the seasoning all over the oiled hens.
- Place a sprig of rosemary, 2 garlic coves, slightly smashed and ¼ lemon into the cavity.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil such as avocado or olive oil.
- Place the Cornish hens breast side down into the air fryer.
- Air fry for 20 minutes then flip them over and air fry for another 15-20 minutes When they are done, they should reach a temperature of 165°F when the digital thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the hen.
- Remove from the air fryer, turn them breast side up, and let them rest for 10 minutes.
- Carefully remove the lemon quarter from the cavity and squeeze over the hens.
- Serve on a plate garnished with rosemary sprigs and lemon slices.
Notes
- Prioritize Thawing: Ensure the Cornish hens are completely defrosted before cooking.
- Dry Them: Pat the skin of your hens dry before coating them with oil.
- Begin with the Breast Down
- Monitor Temperature: Always check the hen's internal temperature. It's ready when it reads 165°F at the meat's thickest part.
Leave a Reply