Cornish Game Hen Recipes for an Elegant Meal

Looking for an elegant, non-traditional option for your next holiday dinner? Since your guests will probably be expecting turkey or ham for the main course, why not surprise them with a Cornish Game Hen recipe instead? Your meal will be the talk of the town in more ways than one! Everyone will talk about how great the meal was, and they'll also chat about the unique and elegant meal you served.

Looking for an elegant, non-traditional option for your next holiday dinner? Since your guests will probably be expecting turkey or ham for the main course, why not surprise them by serving Cornish Game hens instead? Your meal will be the talk of the town in more ways than one! Everyone will talk about how great the meal was, and they'll also chat about the unique and elegant meal you served.

What is A Cornish Game Hen?

If you think the photo posted with this hub is a picture of a roast chicken entree, your eyes are deceiving you. This photo features deliciously prepared Apple Cinnamon Glazed Cornish Game Hens (recipe below). However, you aren't completely wrong. Cornish Game Hens actually are small chickens, weighing less than 2.2 pounds when prepared for cooking.

Where Can I Find Cornish Game Hens?

Most supermarkets carry Cornish Game Hens all year round, and many others stock them during the fall and winter holiday months. Check the freezer section, near the frozen turkeys and prepackaged chicken breasts. You'll likely see a Tyson label on the Cornish Game Hens you purchase, as Tyson is responsible for producing 2/3 of the U.S. supply of this delicious meat.

Preparing Cornish Game Hens

Each Cornish Game Hen is considered to be a single serving, so you will need one hen for every person attending your party or other dinner event. They are actually very easy to prepare. Just like people joke about different types of meat "tasting like chicken," preparing Cornish Game Hens is very similar to cooking chicken.

Apple Cinnamon Glazed Cornish Game Hen Recipe (serves 4)

Ingredients:

4 Cornish Game Hens, thawed

• 12 ounces of apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 3 tablespoons of water
• 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the hens thoroughly under cold water and pat dry. Place them in a large baking or roasting pan. Mix 1/2 cup of the apple juice concentrate with water and pour over the hens. Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.

While the hens are baking, prepare the sauce on your stovetop. Combine the remaining apple juice concentrate, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a small saucepan and mix well. Simmer over medium heat until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. When the hens have been in the oven for 45 minutes, remove them and brush them with the apple and cinnamon glaze. Return them to the oven and bake for approximately 10 or 15 minutes longer. When ready, the hens should be browned and the internal temperature should be 180 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Your guest will be so impressed when you serve these delicioius Cornish Game Hens at your next get together! You can find even more great ideas for how to cook Cornish Game Hens at Tyson.com.