How Long To Cook Cornish Hen At 400°F – With Tips

Roasted Cornish hens are great for dinner dates and can be an excellent alternative to turkey and large broiler chickens. 

These hens are inherently tasty due to their size and you can play around with the flavors a lot since this versatile meat goes with anything! But when it comes to cooking, can these smaller chickens handle the heat?

How long should you cook Cornish hens at 400°F? You can cook Cornish hens for about 40-45 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken measures at around 165°F-175°F. This type of chicken will be able to handle the high heat, so long as you keep a close eye on the entire roasting process and timer.

Read below to learn more about these delicious hens, some great tips on how to prepare them, and how you can cook them for special occasions! 

What Are Cornish Hens?

Cornish hens are a variation of broiler chickens but are smaller than a typical hen.

These chickens are a hybrid breed between hens and Indian Game or Cornish fowl. They are also affectionately called Cornish Game Hen or Rock Cornish Hen.

While it is a slightly different breed, you can still think of Cornish hens as more of a characteristic of a bird than a different breed because these hens are only consumed when they meet certain specifications. 

If you have seen them being served in restaurants, you might have noticed that they are much smaller than a regular chicken and usually served whole for just one person. This makes Cornish hen super attractive as a gourmet dish at many restaurants.

The reason why they have a smaller body is because Cornish hens are only consumed when they are immature and young. The bird is usually slaughtered when it is around 4-6 weeks old and weighs just under 2 pounds. 

Interestingly, an adult Cornish hen will be identical to a typical hen in the context of its size and weight – but these birds will usually not be slaughtered for consumption. 

Additionally, young Cornish hens are bred to have slightly larger breasts to make up for their smaller size and can require more attention than regular broiler chickens. Thus, they are more expensive than hens and will usually be found on the menus of upscale restaurants. 

Of course, these chickens are widely consumed in households as well! Cornish hens have been growing in popularity among home chefs who usually prepare this bird for special occasions. 

How To Cook Cornish Hens At 400°F

These hens can cook fast and you can use high temperatures to give them a very delicious exterior thanks to the rendered skin and chicken fat. Even without a lot of seasonings, this chicken will naturally be flavorful! 

There are several ways to cook Cornish hens; the most popular method is to roast them whole. Again, these hens are known to handle high heat well and can easily cook at temperatures of up to 400°F using any method. 

It is also worth mentioning that the size of a Cornish hen can vary, and this can slightly impact the cooking time. However, you should always aim to cook the chicken for at least 35 minutes before checking for doneness. 

Remember, since it is a smaller bird, it will not require that much time to cook. You can crank the heat on high and get the most out of these chickens without losing moisture or flavor within 40 minutes. 

Cornish hens go great with simple seasonings like salt, pepper, herbs, and lemon slices and you can even play around with the ingredients and try butter bastes, prepackaged seasonings, and more! 

Preparing the hens is very simple. We recommend that you start with at least two hens. Remember, they are small and perfect for one person, so if you want to surprise a loved one, then we highly recommend that you get a separate per person.

The Best Recipe For Cornish Hen

Ingredients:

• 2 Cornish hens with their skin on
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 large lemon
• Olive oil
• Rosemary
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• Thyme

Instructions:

1. Start by preheating the oven at 400°F. 
2. Run the hens under clean water and dry them with a paper towel. Make sure that there is no moisture on or inside the body cavity. 
3. Place both hens on a baking tray and start by drizzling olive oil on all sides. Then, sprinkle salt and pepper on each side. You will want to season the meat to taste, so err on the side of under-seasoning so that you can add more later once you can taste it. We also recommend that you season the inside cavity with just salt – more on this in just a second. 
4. Cut a lemon four ways and put either a quarter or half a lemon inside the hen. You will also want to add 2-3 garlic cloves, rosemary, and thyme inside the cavity as well. 
5. Here’s a great pro tip: carefully put your fingers between the breast bone and the skin of the bird to create a separate cavity or a pocket made of chicken skin. 
6. You can add rosemary and thyme to this pocket for added flavor. Be careful when putting in the herbs, you wouldn’t want to puncture or rupture the skin! 
7. Once done, tuck in the wings of the hen on the underside so that they fold downwards. This is to keep the wings and the wingtips from burning. Place the hens in the oven and let them cook for about 40-45 minutes at 400°F.
8. After 35 minutes, check the chicken breast or thigh with a cooking thermometer for doneness. The internal temperature of the chicken should be around 165-175°F. 
9. When the hens are done, remove them from the oven and quickly place a foil over them. The foil will help lock in all the juices and flavors. Let the birds sit for about 5 minutes. 
10. Serve with a slice of lemon, some herbs, and any sauteed vegetable of your choice! 

Important Tips And Tricks 

The above recipe is just one way to cook Cornish hen. 

There are also other great methods that you can experiment with to get the most out of this meat. For example, you can try different bastes to add umami flavors to the chicken as it cooks. 

You can also try roasting the chickens in an open BBQ pit for more browning and to get that distinct smokey flavor. There is no rule book here! You can experiment with the flavors any way you like.

Cornish hens can also be cooked with or without basting. For example, the above recipe only calls for a simple, stuffed hen, but there are other ways to cook the bird using different sauces, marinades, and bastes. 

However, when it comes to cooking the chicken at high heat, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind to retain the flavor and juiciness of the meat:

• Always be nearby when cooking Cornish hen at 400°F. Even though this bird can handle the heat, it can start to quickly burn and dry up once it reaches the 45-minute mark. You will have to keep a close eye on the oven after 30 minutes. 

• If you want to cook the bird longer at 400°F, then we recommend that you pick a recipe that requires you to baste the chicken as it cooks. 

• Try hybrid cooking methods to get the most out of the hen without drying the meat. A great way to do this would be to first cook the hens for about 35 minutes at 400°F and then continue cooking in a pan at high heat to get a good sear and caramelization on the skin. 

• Always use a cooking thermometer when cooking Cornish hens. Since it’s a smaller bird cooked at high heat, it can easily overcook – just like regular chicken. Measuring the internal temperature of the bird is the best way to guarantee a juicy and deliciously cooked hen. 

• Always cook the vegetable side dishes and the hens separately so that you don’t have to repeatedly open the oven door to move the sides around. You need to leave the hens undisturbed while they cook to let the meat cook evenly and the flavors develop properly.

Related Questions 

Cornish hens make for wonderful dinner dates and celebratory meals. Their size makes them ideal for every type of foodie and the best part is that you can eat a whole chicken and still have room left for dessert! 

Now that you know how to cook Cornish hens at 400°F, here are a few related questions that you may have:

Is Cornish hen meat gamey?

No. Even though they are called Cornish Game Hens, they do not have a gamey flavor. Their flavor can be best compared to regular chicken – but even a bit better.

They share almost the same flavor as regular chicken no matter what part of the chicken you have. 

Can you make a broth using Cornish hens?

Yes. You can use Cornish hens to make a broth just like regular chickens but you might get better nutritional value from cooking a larger bird instead, due to its size.

Alternatively, you can also try cooking an adult Cornish hen, which is just like a typical broiler chicken. 

Young Cornish hens are more expensive and their meat is best suited for roasts or BBQs rather than soups or broths. 

Are Cornish hens healthier than regular chickens?

Yes. Since it is a smaller bird, Cornish hens have less fat and fewer calories than large broiler chickens. They are also bred to have more breast meat when they are 4-6 weeks old which makes them a great source of protein too. 

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