Juicy, crispy Air Fryer Cornish Hen in underneath an hour! Good for weeknight dinners—straightforward to prep, stuffed with taste, and no oven required.
Cornish Hen within the Air Fryer
This Air Fryer Cornish Hen recipe makes it straightforward to get pleasure from a superbly roasted hen—juicy inside, crispy exterior, and performed in underneath an hour. My air fryer recipes are constantly fashionable, which I get as a result of it’s such a time saver within the kitchen for busy weeknights! I created this recipe for 2 however you probably have a bigger air fryer basket (mine is 8 quarts) you possibly can simply match two hens in it for 4 individuals! The hens are seasoned with easy herbs and spices, making it excellent for weeknight dinners and even date nights, with out heating up the kitchen. I serve this with a easy salad, like my panzanella salad to make it a meal. In the event you can’t discover Cornish hens, attempt my Buttermilk Air Fryer Entire Rooster or my traditional Entire Roasted Rooster (made within the oven).
Components You’ll Want
In addition to the Cornish hen, the opposite elements are all pantry staples. See the recipe card under for the precise measurements.
- Cornish Recreation Hens are a pleasant various to a complete hen if you happen to’re solely cooking for one or two individuals.
- Olive Oil is used to create a rub for the hen, which provides moisture and taste.
- Herbs: Chop recent thyme and rosemary. You too can use dried herbs or a combine, reminiscent of Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper. You can use any seasoning you want, reminiscent of paprika or poultry seasoning.
- Lemon: Stuff the hen with lemon wedges to infuse it with citrus taste.
Find out how to Air Fry a Cornish Hen
In the event you’re hen is frozen, thaw it for twenty-four to 36 hours within the fridge. In the event you’re brief on time, let it sit in chilly water till thawed, altering out the water each half-hour. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.
- Prep the Cornish Hen: Pat the surface of the hen dry with paper towels to make sure the pores and skin will get crispy. To dry the within, stand the hen up on a baking sheet so the liquid drains from the cavity.
- Make the Rub: Mix the olive oil, half of the salt, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Season the Hen: Rub the paste throughout and put the lemons inside. Tie the legs with kitchen twine to make it simpler to get the hen within the air fryer (optionally available). Let the hen relaxation for half-hour at room temperature or refrigerate uncovered in a single day. The longer you permit it, the extra taste it should develop.
- How Lengthy to Air Fry a Cornish Hen: Spray the air fryer basket with oil or use parchment and put the hen inside. Air fry at 380°F for 20 minutes on both sides*
- Relaxation: Take away the hen from the air fryer basket and let it relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than reducing, which is able to stop the juices from working out.
*Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest a part of the thigh, guaranteeing you don’t contact the bones. When it reads 165°F, it’s fit for human consumption.
No air fryer? No downside!
Bake the Cornish recreation hen at 425°F for 50 to 60 minutes.
FAQ
Is a Cornish hen only a small hen?
Sure, Cornish hens, also referred to as Cornish recreation hens, are small, younger hybrid chickens that weigh lower than 2 kilos. They’re additionally leaner than common chickens. Their smaller dimension makes them very best for air frying, however you probably have a bigger basket (roughly 8 quarts), you possibly can match 2 at a time.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Cornish Hen
Roasted hen is a traditional. Listed here are a few of my favourite facet dishes that might be scrumptious with it:
Storage
- Refrigerate the Cornish recreation hen for as much as 4 days.
- Freezer: Take away the hen from the bones and freeze it in an hermetic container for 3 months.
- Find out how to Reheat: Thaw the hen within the fridge, and eat it chilly or microwave it till heat. It’d be nice added to salads, soups, or grain bowls.
- Meal Prep Tip: In the event you’re air fryer is bigger, double the recipe and prepare dinner 2 hens on the similar time.
- Bonus Tip: Save the carcass and use it to make home made hen inventory.
Extra Air Fryer Rooster Recipes You’ll Love
For extra dinner concepts, try my Rooster Recipes and Air Fryer Recipes collections, plus these 5 scrumptious air fryer hen recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
Yield: servings
Serving Dimension: 1 /2 hen, pores and skin eliminated
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Dry off your cornish hen with paper towels. Be sure the hen is dry, together with the within. It helps to prop them up initially so the liquid drains from the cavity.
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Put together the paste in a small bowl. Use every part aside from ¼ teaspoon of the salt and the lemon. Mix all elements and create your paste and put aside.
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Use the ¼ teaspoon of reserved salt to season the cavity of the hen. Coat the hen with the herb seasoning throughout and stuff every cavity with the lemon items. Tie the legs with kitchen twine.
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Let the hen relaxation for half-hour or as much as in a single day, uncovered within the fridge.
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Spray your air fryer basket frivolously with oil and set the hen within the air fryer basket, breast facet down. Air fry 380°F levels for 20 minutes. Flip the hens over fastidiously and prepare dinner for an additional 20 minutes.
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Allow them to stand 10 minutes earlier than carving.
Final Step:
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In case your air fryer basket is massive sufficient, you may make 2 on the similar time by doubling the recipe.
No Air Fryer? No Downside
Bake the Cornish recreation hen at 425°F for 50 to 60 minutes.
Serving: 1 /2 hen, pores and skin eliminated, Energy: 434.5 kcal, Carbohydrates: 4 g, Protein: 68.5 g, Fats: 15 g, Saturated Fats: 3.5 g, Ldl cholesterol: 309.5 mg, Sodium: 653 mg, Fiber: 1.5 g, Sugar: 0.5 g
