Last Updated on January 21st, 2020

This post was originally published on July 7, 2014.

I wanted to give you at least one recipe with last week’s homemade seasoning salt in action so here is a cute little Cornish game hen. The seasoning salt gives it a great, multi-layered flavor and the whole thing is very easy to make.

How to roast a Cornish game hen:

Let’s start at the beginning. What is a Cornish game hen anyhow? Well, the bottom line is that a Cornish game hen is simply a small chicken. The USDA has specific age and weight requirements as to what can be called a Cornish game hen but simply put that’s all it is, a small chicken.

The words “game” and “hen” have no actual meaning here because Cornish game hens are not game birds and they can be either gender.

What about the “Cornish,” you ask? Well, apparently most chickens that are bred in the U.S. today have some type of Cornish root, so therefore nearly all chickens you find here are indeed Cornish. Who knew? Not me, I had to look it up. :)

Anyhow, so how do you roast a Cornish game hen? It’s very simple, you roast the bird the same way you roast any chicken, just for less long.

Step 1. Start this recipe by heating the oven to 375 degrees F. and gathering your ingredients:

• 2 Cornish game hens
• 1 small onion, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 carrots, cut into chunks
• 3 red potatoes, cut into chunks
• vegetable oil, such as canola
• about 2.5 teaspoons homemade seasoning salt (recipe below)

Step 2. Briefly rinse the birds with cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels and brush them with vegetable oil.

RECIPE NOTE: It’s really important to get the game hens completely dry because only dry skin will get nice and crispy in the oven.

Step 3. Rub the game hens with the seasoning salt.

Step 4. Set the two hens into two small or one large cast iron pan along with the potatoes, carrot and onion, then drizzle the vegetables with a bit of oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Transfer the pan(s) into the oven and roast everything until the birds’ internal temperature measures 165 degrees F.

More chicken recipes:

• Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Mediterranean Chicken Salad
• Sumac Chicken with Broccolini and Brown Butter Almonds
• Spicy Pulled Chicken (Oven Baked)

Made this recipe? It would be awesome if you could leave a rating. No need to type anything, just tap or click the stars in the recipe card and you’re done. Thanks!

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5 from 1 vote

Roasted Cornish Game Hen with Homemade Seasoning Salt

An easy recipe for roasted Cornish game hen(s) flavored with a homemade seasoning salt.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 10 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: homemade seasoning salt, roasted cornish game hen

Servings: 2

Calories: 650kcal

Author: Nicole Branan

Ingredients:

• 2 cornish game hens
• 1 small onion, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 carrots, cut into chunks
• 3 red potatoes, cut into chunks
• a little bit of vegetable oil

For the seasoning salt:

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon half-sharp Hungarian paprika
• 2 teaspoons dehydrated roasted garlic
• 2 teaspoons dehydrated toasted onion
• 1/2 teaspoon dried French thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

Instructions:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Grind all seasoning salt ingredients in a mortar with a pestle until you have a fine salt. Set aside.
• Rinse the Cornish game hens briefly with cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels.*
• Brush vegetable oil onto the birds and generously rub seasoning salt on them (about 1 teaspoon for each bird).
• Place the hens and the vegetables into one large or two small cast iron pans. Drizzle a little bit of oil on the vegetables, then sprinkle them with seasoning salt.
• Transfer the pan(s) to the oven and roast everything until the thickest part of the game hens' thigh meat registers 165 degrees F. (about one hour).

Notes:

*Make sure to get them really dry otherwise the skin will not get crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal