3 Amazing Italian Herb-Roasted Cornish Hens Secrets
Make your holiday meal special with these individual Italian Herb-Roasted Cornish Hens. They offer perfect portions and a wonderfully flavorful crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Poultry
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian Inspired
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 Cornish Hens
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon, halved
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp up.
- In a small bowl, mix together the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Rub the olive oil all over the outside of each hen.
- Sprinkle the herb mixture evenly over the hens, making sure to cover all surfaces.
- Place half a lemon and two rosemary sprigs inside the cavity of each hen.
- Place the hens breast-side up in a roasting pan.
- Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Let the hens rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, you can place the seasoned hens on a wire rack set inside the roasting pan.
- If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can add a pinch more dried Italian seasoning.
- This recipe serves two people, one hen each.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cornish Hen
- Calories: Approx. 450
- Sugar: Negligible
- Sodium: Approx. 300mg
- Fat: Approx. 25g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: Varies
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Negligible
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: Approx. 50g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 170mg