This easy air fryer Cornish hens recipe delivers crispy skin, juicy meat, and a tasty dinner! No need to fire up the big oven to roast a tasty bird that’s simple enough for weeknights and elegant enough for company.
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (or 380°F, depending on available settings)
Pat your Cornish hen dry with a paper towel
1 Cornish game hen
Rub the oil all over the hen, making sure it’s well coated
1 Tbsp olive oil
Add the seasonings in a small bowl and mix to combine
1 Tsp salt, ½ Tsp black pepper, 1 Tsp paprika, 1 Tsp onion powder, 1 Tsp garlic powder, 1 Tsp oregano, ½ Tsp poultry seasoning
Apply the seasoning all over the oiled bird (including under the skin and inside the cavity)
Place the seasoned Cornish hen in the air fryer, breast side down
Cook on the air fry setting for 20 minutes at 375°F
Flip the hen over, then cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the bird reaches 165°F
Rest for 10 minutes before serving
Notes
You can use a frozen Cornish hen if needed, but it will add 10-15 minutes to cooking time, and won’t give you crispy skin due to the extra moisture. I highly recommend defrosting if possible
The olive oil can be swapped for other high smoke point oils, such as avocado or grapeseed if preferred
If you don’t want to make your own spice blend, you can use about 1 ½ - 2 Tbsp of any of your favorite premade chicken seasoning blends. I like herb and garlic and barbecue myself, but honestly feel free to use your favorites!
This recipe easily doubles if you want to cook two hens at once (since they’re typically sold in a pack of 2)
You can tie the end of the legs together using cooking twine if you’d like a more elegant presentation or if you’re having trouble moving the bird around otherwise
For a dinner that’s ready when you get home, you can alternatively place the seasoned birds in a crock pot with ½ cup chicken stock in the base. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours. I like to finish in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F to crisp up the skin before serving
To flip the Cornish hens over I recommend using a pair of kitchen tongs to grab them by the cavity in the rear and use that to flip them
If you have an air fryer oven with a rotisserie attachment, season the bird as normal, then attach it to the rotisserie. Cook for 45-60 minutes at 375°F until internal temp is 165°F
Refrigerate any leftover Cornish hen in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Since it is a single serving, though, you may not have leftovers. If the bird wasn’t previously frozen, you can always freeze it for a few months. I recommend shredding the cooked meat off the bone for faster defrosting later
Reheat already cooked Cornish hen in the air fryer at 400°F for 3-5 minutes, or until the temperature reaches 165°F again. The time will vary based on the size of the portion you’re reheating
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sides added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only