I personally like to split one hen between two people because my parents have smaller appetites but I will include recipes for split or whole birds.
Split Cornish Game Hen over Dressing
Ingredients:
· 1 Cornish game hen
· 2 tbsp. and 2 tbsp. Butter, divided
· Dash Rosemary, ground
· Dash Sage, ground
· Dash Thyme, ground
· ¾ cup Chicken broth
· 1 cup Bread, cubed
· ½ onion, chopped
· 1 piece of celery, chopped
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. Place cubed bread in one layer on baking sheet – use any kind of bread or a mixture of breads.
3. Bake for 10 minutes or until dry and golden.
4. Mix together rosemary, sage and thyme
5. Combine 2 tbsp. butter, ½ seasoning mix, bread cubes, onions, celery, and broth in baking dish
6. Cut hen in half
7. Spread butter on skin side and under skin of the hen
8. Rub remaining season on skin side
9. Place on top of dressing
10. Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165º
OR
Stuffed Cornish Game Hen
Ingredients: · 2 Cornish Game Hens
· ½ tsp Rosemary
· ½ tsp Thyme
· ½ tsp Sage
· 4 tbsp. and 4 tbsp. Butter, divided
· ¾ cup Chicken broth
· 1 cup Bread, cubed
· ½ onion, chopped
· 1 piece of celery, chopped
Directions: 1. Preheat Oven to 350ºF
2. Place cubed bread in one layer on baking sheet – use any kind of bread or a mixture of breads.
3. Bake for 10 minutes or until dry and golden.
4. Decrease oven temp to 325ºF
5. Mix together rosemary, sage and thyme
6. Combine 4 tbsp. butter, ½ seasoning mix, bread cubes, onions, celery, and broth in bowl
7. Rub butter and remaining seasoning mix onto the skin of the hens and ender the skin of the hens.
8. Stuff the birds with dressing and place remaining mixture in baking dish or roasting pan
9. Place hens in baking dish or roasting pan over dressing and cover
10. Bake for 1 ½ hours
11. Remove cover increase oven temp to 450ºF and bake an additional 10 minutes for a golden crispier skin
12. Make sure inner temp is 165ºF
If you don’t want the bread stuffing you can stuff it with a vegetable mix something like root vegetables. Parsnips, carrots, and celery are delicious roasted with the hens.