I’m not saying this is the best Cornish hen recipe ever, but these smoked cornish hens are basically next level "herb chicken!"
These birds get top-notch treatment; they're dry brined, marinated, smoked and then fried for both internal juiciness and external crispiness.
This recipe may sound highly involved, but it’s actually not. The steps are super easy to execute, but you will have to plan ahead since it’s a multi-day process. I normally start the brine on Thursday night and cook Sunday afternoon.
This is a beautiful aromatic, great tasting bird. One look and you’ll be asking me to break you off…a piece.
What is Cornish Game Hen?
Cornish hens are a breed of chickens. I call them mini chickens due to both their size and age. I like them because they can be served as an individual serving of shared among two people. If you up the number of sides then you can stretch things to 3 people. Their youth, make them extra tender. Check-out the article how they are different than regular chickens to understand how regular chickens and Cornish hen.
Smoked Cornish Hens Ingredients
This is your basic herb chicken recipe that’s been flipped and leveled up using a Cornish hen. The recipe doesn’t call for a lot of ingredients because it is very technique driven. Fresh herbs are a must for the marinade.
How To Make This Cornish Game Hen Recipe (Step by Step)
Step 1: Prepare the hen
Cut along the right of the backbone from the tail to the neck.
To flatten the bird, you need to break the breastbone. To do this, press down on each of the wings, at the same time until the bone cracks.
Step 2: Brine the hen
Step 3: Marinate the hen
Step 4: Smoke the hen
Step 5: Fry the hen
Serving Suggestions
The more I write this post the more I move to thinking this is in fact the best Cornish hen recipe. Most recipes call for roasting, but smoking plus frying combination is soooo much better! This is a comforting dish so I like to prepare it with other comforting dishes like:
Collard Greens w/ Smoked Turkey
Expert Cornish Game Hen Recipe Tips
- Keep your dry brine ingredients simple. Between the brine, marinades, and smoking there will be more than enough flavor
- Spatchcock aka butterfly your hen for faster and more even cooking. Use a good set of kitchen sheers to cut the back away
- If using frozen hens, make sure they thaw fully before cooking
- Let hen rest for 5 minutes after final step. If you slice into it immediately juice will leak everywhere
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where Can I Buy Cornish Hens
Cornish hens are fairly mainstream. You can easily find them in most grocery stores or even Walmart. I find them more often in the freezer section and occasionally behind the glass of the meat market section.
Does Cornish Hen Taste Like Chicken?
Yes, given they are in fact chickens, but slightly milder since they are much younger in age.
For similar recipes try these:
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Equipment
- Smoker
- fryer
Ingredients
For the brine
- 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon Black Pepper
- ½ tablespoon Ground Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Coriander
- ½ tablespoon Paprika
For the Marinade
- 2 cups Fresh Cilantro leaves only
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Oregano leaves only
- 2 Jalapeños de-seeded and de-veined
- 4 Garlic Cloves roughly chopped
- 2 medium Limes juiced
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
- ½ tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ lbs Cornish game hen
Instructions
- Remove the backbone from the Cornish hen using kitchen sears or a sharp knife. With hen remaining skin side up press down firmly with palms of the hands to break the breast bone
- Mix brine ingredients together and rub generously all over the hen. Place the hen on a plate lightly covered with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a blender or food processor. Feel free to make ahead. Add the brined hen to a large ziplock bag and add the marinade. Let sit overnight.
- Remove hen from the refrigerator and take out of the ziplock bag. You can rinse off the marinade or leave as is (I don’t rinse). Start smoker and preheat to 250 degrees while the hen rests and reaches room temperature. Smoke the Cornish hen about 1 ½ hours. Remove and set aside.
- Preheat fryer with oil to 350 degrees. Fry the Cornish hen for 2 minutes.
Notes
- Keep your dry brine ingredients simple. Between the brine, marinades, and smoking there will be more than enough flavor
- This is essentially herb chicken so feel free to make changes to fresh herbs used in the marinade. Parsley, thyme, rosemary are all good adds in some combination.
- Spatchcock aka butterfly your hen for faster and more even cooking. Use a good set of kitchen sheers to cut the back away
- If using frozen hens, make sure they thaw fully before cooking
- Let hen rest for 5 minutes after final step. If you slice into immediately juice will leak everywhere