Cornish Game Hen Cooking Time

Stuffed Cornish Game Hens

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hour

Makes

2 servings

THIS ENTREE makes an ordinary day special. Whenever I cook Cornish hens for my husband and me, it stirs up warm memories of family times around the holiday dinner table. I bake the extra stuffing separately so we're sure to have enough. -Nancy Aubrey, Ruidoso, New Mexico

Stuffed Cornish Game Hens

Stuffed Cornish Game Hens Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup butter, divided
3 cups crumbled cornbread
3 cups soft bread crumbs
1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained
1 cup chicken broth
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
2 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh mint or 1/4 teaspoon dried mint flakes

Directions

In a large skillet or saucepan, saute celery and onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in cornbread, bread crumbs, pimientos, broth, egg, poultry seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well.
Stuff each hen with 3/4 cup stuffing. Place extra stuffing in a greased 1-qt. baking dish; refrigerate. Place hens breast side up on a rack in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover loosely with foil; bake at 375° for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt the remaining butter; add garlic, lemon zest, mint and remaining salt and pepper. Brush over hens. Bake 15-30 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180° for hens and 165° for stuffing. Bake the extra stuffing, covered, for 30 minutes.

Soft Bread Crumbs

To make soft bread crumbs, tear bread into pieces and place in a food processor or blender. Cover and pulse until crumbs form. One slice of bread yields 1/2 to 3/4 cup crumbs.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 1728 calories, 106g fat (44g saturated fat), 601mg cholesterol, 3675mg sodium, 106g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 7g fiber), 82g protein.