If you haven’t tried a Cornish game hen, this easy Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens recipe is just what you need to cook these hens like a pro. These hens cook to perfection with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. This recipe cooks two game hens in just 30 minutes in your air fryer.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy.
❤️ Sandi’s Recipe Summary
The Quick Bite: These juicy, air-fried Cornish game hens are a delicious, low-cost option and make a great budget meal. They have all of the chicken flavor in a much smaller size.
Why Trust My Recipe: I have tested this recipe several times and rubbing the seasonings and oranges under the skin locks in flavor. The meat turns out tender and juicy every time.
I tested this air fryer using two game hens, and my air fryer did a great job fitting the whole hens. If you haven’t tried it, it is such a time saver for getting a meal on the table. I also have cooked game hens other ways, including in my slow cooker and in the oven. If you prefer other methods, I have also tested Slow Cooker Cornish Hens or Roasted Cornish Hens recipes if you want to try more game hen recipes.
This recipe for roasted Cornish game hens recipe will quickly become a family favorite. Another family favorite game hen recipe is this Bacon-Wrapped Cornish Game Hens recipe. Serve with this easy Celery Root and Apple Slaw.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Cornish Game Hens – Usually, these can be found in the frozen meats section at your grocery store, often in a twin pack. Place in the refrigerator for a couple of days before cooking to thaw.
- Butter – Use salted butter. Use plant-based butter for a dairy-free option. Butter helps moisture retention, helping to keep the game hens juicy as they cook.
- Oranges – You can use regular oranges or mandarin oranges, as I did. Oranges add delicious flavor. Lemons also work.
- Garlic – You can use fresh or minced jarred garlic.
- Herbs – I like to use dried parsley and thyme. Fresh herbs also are nice to use and add fresher flavor.
If you are trying to decide on what air fryer to get, I have a great list of the best air fryers for gluten free. I include a great pros and cons list for each model.
How To Cook Cornish Game Hens In The Air Fryer:
Add your melted butter, garlic, and seasonings to a bowl and mix them well.
- Insert half a mandarin orange into the cavity of each hen.
- Gently loosen the breast skin.
- Rub the butter mixture under the skin and over the outside.
👀 Sandi Says: Add little slits in each game hen leg and push a little herb butter under so the flavor cooks into each drumstick too.
- Spray oil on the rack of the air fryer. For this recipe, I used my Corsori Air Fryer.
- Add both Cornish game hens into the air fryer basket and put it into your air fryer.
- It is okay if the hens are touching…air fryers are not huge, so don’t worry if they slightly touch each other.
Email This Recipe To Me!
I will email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
- Set your air fryer to the recommended poultry setting.
- I cooked my hens for 20 minutes at 375º F in my air fryer.
- Smaller 1 to 1.25 lb hens consistently finished at 20 minutes, while larger hens needed closer to 30 minutes.
Air fryer models vary slightly in wattage, so always rely on internal temperature rather than time alone. Check the temperature internally with a meat thermometer. You want them to have an internal temperature of 165º F. If your hens are not done, cook for an additional 10 minutes.
If you love using your air fryer, did you know you can also roast a turkey breast in the air fryer? It is so good!
Tips For Success:
- Insert a knife under the skin and peel it up gently. Rub the butter herb mixture under the skin. It allows the flavor to cook into the meat.
- Clean the cooked meat off the bones. I use the bones to make bone broth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Because they are so similar, these game hens taste a lot like chicken. Due to their small size, Cornish hens have less fat and more white meat.
This probably depends on how hungry you are. One hen can feed two people who are not very hungry or one starving teenage boy :-).
For this air fryer recipe, I cooked the game hen breast so that the seasonings I put under the skin can marinate the meat as it cooks, adding a ton of flavor!
Yes, you can cook frozen game hens in the air fryer in general, but it doesn’t work in this specific recipe. The key to this recipe turning out perfectly is getting the butter and seasonings under the skin, and you can’t do that if the game hens are frozen.
For this recipe, I used fresh thyme and flat-leaf parsley. You can also use fresh basil, tarragon (though not with the basil), rosemary, or any others you like with citrus. I like to grow fresh herbs in my kitchen window and use them as needed for recipes.
Oven Baking Directions:
You can easily bake a Cornish game hen in the oven.
- Stuff the herbs under the skin as you would if you were cooking them in the air fryer, but place them in a baking dish with the breast up.
- Cover with foil for the first 30 minutes of baking, then remove the foil so the skin can get crispy!
- Bake at 350º F for 45-60 minutes, then check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
- You want them to be at 165º F before eating, so you will need to bake them longer if they are not at that temperature.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
Store leftover Cornish hens in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the leftovers in a freezer-safe zipper bag.
Serve With These Sides:
If you want more easy recipes you can make in the air fryer, here are my best gluten free air fryer recipes!
- My best Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
- Air Fryer Rutabagas
- Kid-Friendly Kale and Apple Salad
- Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Easy Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens (Juicy & Ready in 30 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish game hens
- 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 1/2 tsp fresh
- 1 teaspoon flat leaf parsley 1 1/2 tsp fresh
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
Email This Recipe To Me!
I will email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Instructions
- Add 4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon flat leaf parsley, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt to a bowl and mix well.
- Cut 1 orange or mandarin orange in half and put it into the cavity of each Cornish game hen.
- Gently pull up the skin on the breast of each hen.
- Spread the butter herb mixture under the skin, then rub the remaining butter all over the outside of each hen.
- Oil the bottom of the basket of your air fryer. See note.
- Add the two hens.
- Cook at 375º F for 20 minutes.
- Open the air fryer and use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- If the temperature is 165º F, your hens are done. If they are not hot enough internally, cook for an additional 10 minutes and recheck the temperature.
- When the hens are finished, remove from the air fryer
Notes
- I used a spray coconut oil for the basket of my air fryer and you can a different oil, but make sure it is made for high heat.
- You can use regular oranges or mandarin oranges as I did.
- Use vegan butter if you would like this recipe to be dairy-free.
- The roasted game hens will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older January 2021 post with more recipe details.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
What size is your air fryer? I’ve been looking but can’t decide on which brand/size to buy!
Hi CeeCee, I made this in the 3.4 quarts Corsori Air Fryer. I like that one very much but recently bought the Ninja Foodie Air Fryer because it has two separate compartments. I like this because I can cook meat and veggies separately. In the Corsori you can fit the two hens easily. In the Ninja Foodie you would probably need to cook one in each compartment. I hope this helps.
Thank you.
You are welcome Sam :-).
I received an Air Fryer and now hunting for recipes !!
So, THANK YOU……….
You are very welcome Janice.