Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2007

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Fowl Territory

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (30)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(30)

Cook Time:
15 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Total:: 35 min

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Ingredients

2 (1 1/4 to 1 3/4 pounds) Cornish game hen
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 pieces thick-sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
20 to 24 pearl onions

Directions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Wrap a brick in aluminum foil and place into the oven to heat.

Place the game hen breast side down on a cutting board. Using scissors or poultry shears, cut from the neck to the tailbone to remove the backbone. Once you remove the backbone you will be able to see the inside of the bird. Make a small slit in the cartilage at the base of the breastbone to reveal the keel bone. Grab the bird with both hands on the ribs and open up like a book, facing down towards the cutting board. Remove the keel bone. Cut small slits in the skin of the bird behind the legs and tuck the drumsticks into them in order to hold them in place. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.

Fry the bacon in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once crisp, remove the bacon from the skillet and reserve. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan. Immediately add the two birds to the pan, skin side down. Add the onions to the pan around the edges. Top the birds with the brick and allow to remain on the heat for 5 minutes. Place the pan into the oven and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until the thigh meat reaches 170 degrees F. Remove from the oven and allow the bird to rest for 5 minutes before serving with the onions and bacon.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions
Jo Supply, NC 10-18-2009
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The best Cornish hens ever and so easy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Thsi dish was so easy to make and the hens were delicious. I will be making this dish alot whenever we need something a... little special. The bricks were easy to use and I was lucky enought o be able to get my late grandmother's large cast iron skillet. The only thing I had to change was they needed a little more time in the oven but that was not a big deal about 10 extra minutes to get them up to temp. My husaband loved this meal nad he hates cornish hen and my two very picky children (ages 2 and 6) asked for seconds. I have given this recipe to my mom and sister it is so good. Next time I will add more bacon and onion because the kids ate them all. LOLRead more
recipe Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions
Christie Sherwood, AR 05-19-2009
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Excellent bird! Cooked 3 at a time.
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Mmmmm....this was tasty and impressive. My only problem was that it took way longer than advertised to cook. But that could... have something to do with the fact that I put the chix in skin side up rather than down, and I put three birds in an extra large pan. Once I discovered my mistake, I used the extra cooking time to flip the birds (ha) and get a little color on the skin. I was dreading butchering the birds b/c I was a little intimidated, but it was quite easy. Watch the episode. I'm a little allergic to onions, so I used shallots and garlic cloves. While the chicken was resting, I deglazed the pan w/white wine and cooked everything down, then added a bit of cornstarch slurry. Spooned some on each bird, topped w/bacon, and YUM!Read more
recipe Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions
Mark Cranberry Twp, PA 05-01-2009
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Surprisingly delicious
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

When I first saw this recipe I wasn't all that impressed - it seemed too easy with too few ingredients. But Alton had never... let me down before so I gave it a shot. Something strange and wonderful happens with the combination of bacon fat, chicken fat and the onions. I was really blown away - perhaps my favorite Alton recipe of all time (and that's saying a lot).Read more
recipe Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions
Moriah Eugene, OR 01-20-2009
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You have done it again A.B.!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Once again an outrageous recipe. The only thing I would have to say was I couldn't figure out the backbone which was strange... because I watched this episode :(. SO I just ended up cutting up my hens into boneless breasts, drumsticks, thighs, etc. I followed everything else except for the brick, I used another cast iron skillet wrapped it in silver foil and had no problem heating it. The bacon was what really made it and those pearl onions omg! People told me it tasted like french onion soup haha. I will definitely make this recipe again but I will have one of the cute guys at my butcher shop butterfly it for me!Read more
recipe Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions
Ginger Valencia, CA 12-18-2008
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Moist, flavorful, EASY!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I found this recipe to be a very fast and easy way to cook a moist game hen. In the past, I have roasted game hens and ended... up with somewhat dry meat more often than not. (No doubt, because I stuffed them. Yes, I know now, "stuffing is evil!") I used smallish hens and they were finished right one time. I think I will try this with a fryer chicken. It is a great cooking technique and how can you beat moist poultry and crispy bacon! Read more
recipe Cornish Game Hen with Bacon and Onions
Ruth Haslet, TX 11-20-2008
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Excellent Recipe
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My family loved it! I added extra bacon and onions and I also added rosemary with the salt and pepper to give it more... flavor. This is something I will definately make again!Read more