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Home » Recipes » Meal Recipes

Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens

Published: Jan 15, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 8 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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a pinterest pin with the photo of a cooked cornish game hen

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. This recipe cooks two-game hens in just 30 minutes in your air fryer.

a roasted cornish game hen on a large plate
Jump To:
  • Why this recipe is great:
  • What you need to make this recipe:
  • Recipe step by step directions
  • Oven Directions:
  • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
  • Serve with:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

I am still using my air fryer. I love how quickly it cooks meat without drying them out. I decided to try my favorite cooking herbs in this new game hens recipe to see how much flavor can infuse into the meat using an air fryer.

Stuffed with orange, garlic, and fresh herbs. This recipe for roasted Cornish game hens recipe will quickly become a family favorite. If you love game hens, you will also want to try this oven-roasted Bacon-Wrapped Cornish Game Hens recipe.

If you love using fresh herbs in cooking as much as I do, you will love these recipes that use fresh herbs. Any of these fresh herbs will taste amazing in this air fried cornish hen recipe.

I am happy to report that the air fryer did a great job with cooking the whole hens. Fitting two whole hens in the air fryer was very easy! If you love cornish hens, give these Slow Cooker Cornish Hens or Roasted Cornish Hens recipes a try too!

Why this recipe is great:

There are so many things to love about this easy air fryer cornish hens recipe, but one of my favorites is how quickly you can cook a whole game hen! The air fryer can cook a small thawed (not frozen) hen in about 20 minutes!

Game hens are low-cost and have the same delicious roasted flavor as a roasted chicken.

What you need to make this recipe:

cornish game hen ingredients
  • Cornish game hens - Usually these can be found in the frozen meats section, often in a twin pack. Place in the refrigerator a couple of days before cooking to thaw.
  • Oranges - You can use regular oranges, or use mandarin oranges as I did.
  • Butter - Use a vegan butter if you would like these game hens to be dairy-free.

Recipe step by step directions

Are you ready to see how easy it is to air fry game hens in the air fryer? Check out my fun air fryer cornish game hens web story too!

melted butter and seasonings in a bowl

Step 1: Add your melted butter, garlic, and seasonings in a bowl and mix it well.

Cornish game hens with butter and herbs rubbed under the skin

Step 2: Insert half of a mandarin orange into the cavity of each hen and then rub the butter herb mixture both under the skin of the breast area and on top of the skin.

Two raw game hens in an air fryer ready to cook

Step 3: Spray oil on the rack of the 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.

Cooked game hens in the air fryer

Step 4: Set your air fryer to the recommended poultry setting. For my air fryer, I cooked my hens for 20 minutes at 375º F.

It is important to 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 an additional 10 minutes.

I will say I am NOT happy with the Cozyna brand of air fryer I currently have. It makes an odd smell when I use it and a small piece has broken off the handle. It is no longer available on Amazon so I wonder if they had too many issues.

If you love using your air fryer, did you know you can also roast a turkey breast in the air fryer? It is soooo good!

Oven Directions:

You can easily bake 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, 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 use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. You want them to be at 165 degrees F before eating so if they are not at that temperature, you will need to bake them longer.

The front view of the air fried cornish game hen

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

Do Cornish game hens taste like chicken?

These game hens do taste a lot like chicken because they are so similar. You will find Cornish hens to have less fat and more white meat due to their small size.

How many does a game hen feed?

This probably depends on how hungry you are. One hen can feed two people who are not very hungry, or one very hungry teenage boy :-).

Do you cook game hens breast up or down?

For this air fryer recipe, I cooked the game hens breast up so that the seasonings I put under the skin can marinate the meat as it cooks, adding a ton of flavor!

Can you cook frozen game hens in the air fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen game hens in the air fryer. You will need to extend the cooking time by 20-30 minutes. Note in cooking frozen hens in the air fryer, you won't be able to get the seasoning under the skin. If you want the flavor to really cook into the game hens, you will need to thaw them.

If you do decide to cook them before thawing, you will need to increase the cooking time significantly and check the internal temperature.

What herbs are good for cooking?

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 as needed for recipes.

Serve with:

  • Must-Try Gluten Free Thanksgiving Sides
  • Easy Gluten Free Mashed Cauliflower With Cheese
  • Grandma's Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
  • Quick and Easy Mashed Rutabagas Recipe

If you are looking for more, here are my best gluten free air fryer recipes!

Recipe

a roasted cornish game hen on a large plate

Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens

Sandi Gaertner
A deliciously seasoned Cornish game hens recipe that is cooked quickly in the air fryer.
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Meal Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 569 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Cornish game hens
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 orange
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon flat leaf parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Add the melted butter and seasonings to a bowl and mix well.
  • Cut a small 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

  1. 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.
  2. You can use regular oranges or mandarin oranges as I did.
  3. Use vegan butter if you would like this recipe to be dairy-free.
  4. The roasted game hens will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Can you cook frozen game hens in the air fryer? Yes, you can cook frozen game hens in the air fryer. You will need to extend the cooking time by 20-30 minutes. Note in cooking frozen hens in the air fryer, you won't be able to get the seasoning under the skin. If you want the flavor to really cook into the game hens, you will need to thaw them.

If you do decide to cook them before thawing, you will need to increase the cooking time significantly and check the internal temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 569kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 39gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 257mgSodium: 819mgPotassium: 590mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 690IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 2mg
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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.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. CeeCee

    November 20, 2021 at 4:57 am

    What size is your air fryer? I’ve been looking but can’t decide on which brand/size to buy!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      November 20, 2021 at 8:22 am

      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.

      Reply
  2. sam

    June 19, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      June 19, 2021 at 5:58 pm

      You are welcome Sam :-).

      Reply
  3. Janice Kaili

    December 24, 2020 at 3:50 pm

    5 stars
    I received an Air Fryer and now hunting for recipes !!
    So, THANK YOU..........

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      December 26, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      You are very welcome Janice.

      Reply
  4. Laura

    May 05, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    I really need to get an air fryer. Loving all these fabulous recipes you've developed using it!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      May 05, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      It really is a huge timesaver for us.

      Reply

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