Cornish game hens are a delicious and fun main dish for all occasions. They look so fancy but are surprisingly easy. Here is our easy Cornish Hens slow cooker recipe!
Slow Cooker Cornish Game Hens
Back when Oliver was born, I lined up a series of guest posts so I could take a break.
One of those posts was for Cornish Game Hens…and it’s been one of our most popular recipes since.
I actually had never had a Cornish Game Hen until I made them using that recipe, and they are so fun.
They are perfect for smaller crowds, and people love getting their own bird!
The original recipe is one that you make in the oven, but today, I am going to share one that you can make in your slow cooker.
We made these for my parents and Grandpa, and they just loved them. I thought they turned out perfect.
These are perfect if you are limited on oven space – and I promise, they turn out just as tasty as in the oven!
Mine were done in about five hours on low, however, my slow cooker tends to cook faster than most that I’ve worked with, so I would plan on a little bit longer time.
I cooked sweet potatoes, onions, and apples with the cornish hens, which made for a delicious side dish.
I also used the juices from the cornish hends to make a delicious gravy. I just thickened it up with some corn starch and brought everything to a boil. YUM!
For more great slow cooker recipes, check out All Free Slow Cooker Recipes! WE love them!
FAQ
How long do Cornish game hens take to defrost? I usually place them in the refrigerator for 24 hours before I want to cook them.
Are Cornish Hens baby chickens? According to Wikipedia, “Cornish Game Hen is the USDA-approved name for a variety of broiler chicken, produced from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds, that is served young and immature, weighing no more than two pounds (900 g) ready to cook”
Are Cornish Hens Keto? Yep! Without any seasonings or toppings, cornish game hens are Keto. Unless you add some kind of breading with bread crumbs, they will likely be a good Keto option.
Can you cook Cornish hens frozen? This website has instructions on how to cook them frozen. However, it is not recommended to cook them frozen in the slow cooker.
How many Cornish hens per person? Generally, one game hen is perfect for an adult or teenager. When we cook them for our children, one is good for two of them.
How to eat Cornish hens? We just put them on everyone’s plate and you can easily eat it with a knife and fork.
What temperature for Cornish hen? You will want to cook your game hens until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at its thickest spot.
Where to buy Cornish hen? I am normally able to find them at most grocery stores. Costco will occasionally carry them in packs of six, I believe, and it’s the best price. However, they aren’t always in stock. I have purchased them from King Soopers (Kroger) and Target.
Are Cornish hens organic? The Tyson ones that I buy aren’t organic, however, I have seen Simple Truth organic cornish game hens recently (this is a Kroger brand)
What to eat with Cornish Hen?
With the game hens being your main dish, there are plenty of delicious side dishes that you could make to go along with these.
I recommend:
Recipe for Cornish Hens in Slow Cooker
Equipment
Slow Cooker (This is the one I have)
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish hen
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon Onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Oregano
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup chicken broth
Directions
Mix together all the seasonings and rub liberally on the cornish hen.
Place both cornish hens into the slow cooker.
Mix together lemon juice and chicken broth and pour over the top of the cornish hens.
Slice up butter and place over the top of the hens.
If you want, put sliced up sweet potatoes, onions, and apples into the slow cooker as well.
Cook on low for 5-7 hours
Put cornish hens on a pan and carefully broil until the skin is crispy
Slow Cooker Cornish Hen Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish hen
- 2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoon pepperPepper
- 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon Onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Oregano
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Mix together all the seasonings and rub liberally on the cornish hen.
- Place both cornish hens into the slow cooker.
- Mix together lemon juice and chicken broth and pour over the top of the cornish hens.
- Slice up butter and place over the top of the hens.
- If you want, put sliced up sweet potatoes, onions, and apples into the slow cooker as well.
- Cook on low for 5-7 hours.
- Put cornish hens on a pan and carefully broil until the skin is crispy
Carl B says
I made the Cornish hen recipe the other night it came out wonderful. I also used my ninja. My question is I didn’t like the lemon juice in the gravy. Can I leave it out and use a little more broth. Thanks
Katie says
yep, you should be able to!