Combine oil, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Rub the seasoning mixture over the entire Cornish hen.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and preheat to 400°
Place the bird breast side down and cook for 25 minutes
Flip the bird over and cook for 15 minutes more, or until a meat thermometer inserted internal temperature inserted into the inner thigh reads 165°
Remove from the air fryer and allow to rest 10 minutes before splitting or slicing.
Notes
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 the 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 cook start cooking 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?