Air Fryer Cornish Hen

This Air Fryer Cornish Hen recipe is perfect for entertaining or an elegant dinner at home. The hens are rubbed with lemon and flavorful spices and then air-fried to perfection. The hens are packed with flavor and you’ll get perfectly crisp skin every time! No one will ever know they only take about 30 minutes to cook with hardly any fuss at all!

If you have never had a Cornish game hen, or feel intimidated by it, let me settle your fears right now! The air fryer is your best friend when you think something is too complicated to cook!

An air-fried Cornish hen is a thing of glory….season it up however you like, pop it in the air fryer, flip it once….it comes out perfectly golden with crispy skin every single time! How easy is that?!

While roasting a whole Cornish hen in the oven is also delish, it can take up to an hour to cook 2 birds, depending on their size. In the air fryer, you can have two 16 oz. birds cooked in about 30 minutes! These hens are perfect for a holiday dinner but also easy enough for a busy weeknight!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You’ll need the following ingredients to make these delicious Air Fryer Cornish Hens:

INGREDIENT NOTES

Cornish Hens: For this recipe, I used 16 oz. Cornish game hens. At the store, they usually range from about 16 oz to 32 oz. A 16 oz. hen is perfect for one person. If you are serving 4 people, 32 oz. hens will be your best bet–two people can share one hen.

Use whatever size suits you, just remember that the cooking times listed in the recipe card are for a 16oz. hens. Also, keep in mind the size of your air fryer when choosing hens to buy.

Lemon: No wasting the lemon here! You’ll use the zest to get the outside of the hen nice and flavorful, then cut up the rest and tuck it inside the bird to keep it moist and tasty on the inside!

Rosemary: I also love tucking fresh rosemary sprigs inside the birds along with the lemon. However, if you only have dried rosemary, that’s fine too. Just mix it into the spice mixture and leave it out of the inside. Also see: 15 Best Substitutes for Rosemary.

Seasonings: Smoked paprika adds delicious flavor to the birds, but more importantly, that deep, rich color. Garlic powder complements the paprika, and salt and black pepper balance everything out.

HOW TO MAKE CORNISH GAME HENS IN THE AIR FRYER: STEP-BY-STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Combine your spices in a small bowl.

Step 2: Rinse and pat your hens with paper towels until they are very dry. Rub olive oil all over the outside of the hen, then rub the spice mixture inside and out.

Step 3: Air fry hens for 16-18 minutes on one side. Then flip, and cook another 10-15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F when tested with an instant-read thermometer. Hens should be golden brown.

Step 4: Let the hens rest for 10 minutes before serving.

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS

• Use your hands: Rub the seasoning mixture all over the bird with your hands to get into all the little nooks and crannies of the birds..and it’s super fast, too! Don’t forget to season the inside, too!

• Consider the size of the bird: This recipe uses (2) 16 oz. hens. If you have bigger hens, just check them at about the 20-minute mark, flip, then use an instant-read thermometer at about the 25-30-minute mark and check for an internal temp of 165°F.

• Properly check the temperature: When using a meat thermometer, make sure you are inserting it into the thickest part of the leg. Also, ensure the thermometer isn’t hitting a bone, which will give you an inaccurate reading.

• Don’t toss the drippings: There may be yummy juices in the bottom of your air fryer basket, so don’t forget to pour them over the top of the hens when serving!

STORAGE & REHEATING

• Storage: Leftover Cornish hens should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

• Reheating: Whole leftover hens or picked-off meat can be reheated in a microwave. You can also wrap the hens in aluminum foil and reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes.

• Freezing: If you want to freeze leftovers, first take the meat off the bones. Place the meat into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat when ready to enjoy.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CORNISH HENS

Game hens are like miniature chickens – they go with all of your favorite side dishes like Roasted root vegetables, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, or mashed potatoes! Need more ideas? Check out the 38 Best Sides to Serve with Cornish Game Hens!