Cornish Hens

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Thanksgiving

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (33)

Cook Time:
35 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
2 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 35 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

1 large Spanish onion, sliced
2 Cornish hens
Cornbread Stuffing, recipe follows
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Place the sliced onion in the bottom of a roasting pan. Remove the giblets from the hens, and rinse them inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outsides dry. Place the hens on top of the sliced onion.

Pack the cavities of the hens with the cornbread stuffing.

Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the hens. Rub the hens with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast the hens for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.

Cornbread Stuffing:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups cornbread
1 celery stalk, diced
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Break the cornbread into pieces and place the pieces in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture to the cornbread. Add the celery, chicken stock, parsley, salt and pepper, and mix together.

Yield: 2 servings

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Cornish Hens
Barbara Orrville, OH 11-25-2009
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Just right for two!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Our children are spread across the USA with one in the military. Thanksgiving is usually the two of us and this receipe is... perfect for us. We have prepared this receipe over the holidays and cooked extras when we have guests. We love the simplicity of this receipe and rarely have any leftovers! To me this is a successful holiday! Thank you Ina....we adore you!Read more
recipe Cornish Hens
J Concord, NH 10-19-2009
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Easy and delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've never made Cornish hens before and was looking for an easy recipe for my first time and was so glad to have found this... one! The hen was moist and delicious and the stuffing was so sweet and very complimentary of the hen. I omitted the celery from the stuffing because my husband and I aren't big fans of celery and added a little shredded cheddar cheese to the stuffing. After reading comments that the hen was a little bland, I used some olive oil and Emeril's chicken rub seasoning on the outside of the bird and it was excellent! There was some left over stuffing so I put it in two small oven safe dishes, topped them with cheddar cheese, and baked until crispy. It was a great side! This was a great recipe and I will definitely use it again! Read more
recipe Cornish Hens
Vera San Francisco, CA 08-28-2009
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Great easy preparation
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this last week and it was so easy to prepare. Ina's recipes are all so easy and tasty. I loved the recipe so much,... tonight I am stuffing a chicken with the cornbread stuffing I used for the cornish game hens.Read more
recipe Cornish Hens
Mary Jonesboro, GA 08-22-2009
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Oldie but Goodie
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My mom used to make this when I was young and I had not cooked this myself in many years. I put more seasoning on mine. I... like the Paula Dean mix of garlic, parsley, salt and pepper and I add Rosemary too! Sometimes you can get the bottle labeled "Herbs of Provence" which has most of the spices I listed. Mine cooks faster in my electric oven and my daughter in law has to cook hers longer in her gas oven. Thanks for reminding me to cook some of the Classics that I had forgotten about. My chicken was delicious. Read more
recipe Cornish Hens
DeAnna Lake in the Hills, IL 05-07-2009
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Wow, so easy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this last night for my boyfriend and he loved it!! I put two hens in the oven for 45 minutes not covered. They came... out golden brown and delicious! The cornbread stuffing was a nice touch. I will make this again for sure! Read more
recipe Cornish Hens
Jewel Normantown, WV 05-02-2009
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What did I do wrong??
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I fixed the hens just like it said, except I didn't do the stuffing. I baked them @ 425 covered for about and hour and then... uncovered about 30 min, they still were not done. It is not my oven, it is new, so if someone could tell me what I am doing wrong, the same thing happens when I bake regular chicken. So it is something I am doing. Otherwise this was very good once I got them cooked! I love Ina, and all the dishes she makes, I just wish she was on more! Read more