Air Fryer Cornish Hens

Why Air Fry Cornish Hens?

• This easy recipe is a great option when you want roast chicken but don't have time.
• You can air fry a whole chicken. However, these miniature chickens are a perfect option for serving just one or two people.
• Because of their smaller size, cooking a game hen is much faster than cooking a whole chicken.
• This easy air fryer recipe is so simple and easy. It's perfect dinner for a special occasion or for weeknight dinners.
• The high heat of the air fryer means the hens cook quickly, so you get perfect crispy skin and tender and juicy meat inside.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Cornish Game Hen Most of the time the hens are sold frozen so you'll need to plan ahead for defrosting time. (see the "Helpful Tips" section further down in this post for thawing instructions) A two pound hen will serve two people, or one person with leftovers.
• Oil Avocado oil is my favorite for air frying. It has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point. You can also use olive oil.
• Seasonings This recipe uses rosemary, thyme and sage, along with salt and pepper. You can also use a poultry seasoning blend, a chicken spice blend, Italian seasoning, or just your favorite seasonings.

Instructions

Full instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. In a small bowl, combine oil and seasonings
2. Pat the Cornish hen dry with paper towels before rubbing the seasoning mixture over the entire hen.
3. Place the bird, breast side down, in the preheated air fryer basket.
4. Flip breast side up after 25 minutes. Continue to cook a further 15 minutes to achieve super crispy skin.

Helpful Tips

• Your Cornish hen should be completely thawed before cooking. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, depending on the size of the bird and the temperature of your fridge. You can also thaw the bird in water. Submerge the frozen hen, still in its packaging, in a bowl or sink filled with cold water. Change the water every half hour until completely thawed.
• Never thaw poultry at room temperature, which can allow dangerous bacteria to grow.
• Don't thaw the hen in the microwave. The bird won't thaw evenly and could start to cook before completely thawing.
• Start off cooking the hen breast side down to ensure that the breast meat doesn't dry out.
• Allow the cooked hen to rest for 10 minutes before slicing or splitting. The resting period is important so that the juices are redistributed throughout the meat.
• Poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°. Use a meat thermometer to check.
• The cooking time for this air fryer Cornish hen recipe is for an approximately 2 pound hen. If you have a larger or smaller bird, the cook time will need to be adjusted.
• If you have a larger air fryer, or smaller birds, you can cook two hens at once. My air fryer is 6 quarts and has room for one 2 pound bird or 2 smaller ones.
• If you prefer to use fresh herbs for this air fryer Cornish hen recipe, put them in a blender, or mash them with a mortar and pestle before combining them with oil. This keeps the herbs on the food rather than blowing around in the air fryer.
• Store leftover Cornish hens in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• To freeze, remove the meat from the bones and store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months. For safe freezing guidelines, see Can You Refreeze Chicken?

How to Serve

If you have a 2 pound hen, you can split it with a sharp knife (after resting) for two servings. Smaller birds can be served as a whole Cornish hen.

What to Serve With Cornish Hens

Any side dishes you would serve with chicken will work equally well with Cornish hens. Try a salad, like my Classic Potato Salad, or Mediterranean Buckwheat Salad.

You can find some side dish inspiration if you want to air fry your vegetables, too. Check out 21 Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes.

Classic pairings are vegetables like Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots, or Sautéed Green Beans. Check out Side Dishes, for lots more ideas.