Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens Recipe
Juicy, flavorful, and tender meat wrapped with crispy, golden skins, these air fryer cornish game hens are so easy to make! I love how simple cornish hens are to whip up on a weeknight for dinner but also elegant enough to serve for special occasions. Have these cornish game hens air fried in 40 minutes!
Servings 4 servings
Calories 575kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cornish game hens (2 pounds each)
- ½ lemon cut in half
- oil spray
For the Butter Mixture
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
For the Oil Mixture
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Take cornish hens out of the fridge and place them on a large cutting board or a sheet pan. Pat them dry on all sides using paper towels and leave them out to rest.
- Meanwhile, prepare the butter mixture by mixing together the softened unsalted butter, fresh thyme leaves, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In another small bowl, combine the oil with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Place the lemon wedges into the cavity of each of the cornish hens.
- Using fingers or a long spatula, gently pull the skin away from the meat. Spread the mixture under the skin of the breasts. If you have extra butter, you can add them to skin under the thighs as well.
- Rub the bird with the olive oil mixture until it’s evenly coated on all sides.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the two cornish hens into the air fryer, breast side down and air fry for 25 minutes at 350°F. Flip the cornish hens over and air fry them for another 10 to 17 minutes at 400°F to crisp up the breasts. Add additional time if the skin has not crisped to your liking.
- Let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 575kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 242mg | Sodium: 1012mg | Potassium: 588mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 692IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg