Cornish Hens with Apple-Cranberry Rice Stuffing (2024)

Cornish hens are one of my favorite main dishes for fall and winter entertaining. Stuffed with a wild rice, cranberry, and apple stuffing and roasted with an apple cider glaze, these elegant hens are a gorgeous alternative to turkey. Don’t miss the sommelier wine pairingsto complete the meal!

Back in the 80’s, Cornish hens were all the rage for special occasions. My mother used to roast them by the panful for our family, their buttery aroma wafting throughout the house as we awaited dinner.

We had roasted chicken often, but this wasn’t just any roasted chicken dinner. The elegant, diminutive hens, perched on our plates in their individual splendor, were the definition of “holiday”.

Of course, the sophistication of it all was pretty much lost on my 5-year-old self. I was just tickled pink to have a tiny chicken on my plate for dinner.

I still love serving Cornish hens during the holidays. If I’m hosting a smaller Thanksgiving gathering, the hens are the perfect alternative to roasting a large turkey. They also make a beautiful presentation for Christmas dinner or New Year’s Day.

I mean, just look at that platter!

What is a Cornish Hen?

Here in the United States, commercial “Cornish Hens” are a hybrid of two chicken breeds: Cornish and Plymouth Rock. They are young and small birds, 4-6 weeks old, weighing no more than two pounds.

You’ll often hear them referred to as “Cornish Game Hens” or “Rock Cornish Game Hens.” Despite being called “game hens”, these chickens are not game birds at all, and can be male or female.

Cornish Hen vs. Poussin

Sometimes, you’ll see Cornish hens marketed as “poussin,” or “spring chickens,” though there are some differences between them. Poussins can be any breed of immature, small chicken, not just the specific breeds above that define Cornish hens.

Poussin chickens are traditionally a bit leaner than Cornish hens, and tend toward the smaller end of the weight chart. Whenever I find poussins at poultry farms, they are right around one- to one and a quarter pounds.

Both Cornish hens and poussins have a delicate flavor and moist, tender texture. They can be used interchangeably in this recipe, though will roast at slightly different rates. At the grocery store, I like to buy natural, air-chilled poultry, and find the hens of this quality the most delectable.

Making Stuffed Cornish Hens

Given the delicate nature of these birds, I prefer to stuff them with a loose rice stuffing instead of a more substantial bread stuffing.

Prepping the stuffing for the hens doesn’t take long, and can be done ahead. All you need to do is sauté onions and celery in butter until softened, and stir in pecans, apples, and herbs until toasty and fragrant. Toss with cooked rice and sweetened dried cranberries, and you’re ready to go.

Each Cornish hen will accommodate about ½ cup of loose stuffing, sometimes a spoonful or two more. For proper cooking, you don’t want to pack the stuffing into the bird tightly.

What Type of Rice Should I Use?

For the stuffing base, I use a blend of white, brown, wild, and red rice (called “Royal Blend” at my market). You can also use a standard long grain and wild rice blend.

For the best texture and flavor, I rinse the rice until the water runs clear and simmer it in chicken broth. It’s important to cook the rice until it’s tender, butdon’t overcook it. The stuffing should be soft, but not mushy.

Tips for Roasting Glazed Cornish Hens

I typically don’t fully truss a Cornish hen as I would a larger roasted chicken,but I do tuck the wing tips under the bird and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.

Roast the hens on a rack set in a roasting pan or on a rimmed baking sheet. You want the hens to have a little bit of space around them while roasting so the air will circulate and they’ll cook evenly.

Before roasting, I brush the hens thoroughly with melted butter and season them with salt and freshly-cracked pepper. The butter will help the browning process and add flavor.

After the first 20 minutes of roasting, I start glazing the hens with a simplecider-Dijon-maple reduction. (Easy to make ahead on the stove!).The glaze gives the skin a sweet-tart finish and a gorgeous color.

Serving Cornish Game Hens

For most Cornish hens in the 1.25 to 1.5 pound range, one bird serves one person. Larger hens can be split in half to serve two guests.

If serving a full hen, there’s no need to carve before plating. After resting the hens, snip away the kitchen twine from the legs and transfer to dinner plates or a serving platter.

While there is enough rice in each bird for a single serving, I like to make an extra batch and serve it alongside the hen. Sometimes, guests will want an extra scoop of rice and it makes a pretty presentation.

Place the extra rice stuffing in a buttered pan, cover, and warm at 325 degrees F for 20-30 minutes before serving.

Make this elegant meal even more special with a wine pairing!Certified Sommelier and Italian Wine Ambassador, Hugh Preece, suggests the following:

Traditional Pairing: St. Michael-Eppan Riesling ‘Montiggl’ Sudtirol, Alto Adige

“Clean yellow-green color, on the nose intense stone fruit and white flowers; on the palate, elegant grapefruit, sage, thyme, almond, balanced minerality, good acidity, with a touch of roundness and a persistent finish.

Daring Pairing: Tenuta San Giorgio Sangiovese ‘Ciampoleto’ Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Tuscany

“Nice bright, ruby red baby Brunello, on the nose, fruity with ripe berries as well as autumnal flowers. Smooth, supple and fresh on the palate with thyme, cherry, raspberry, sun dried tomato, clove, leather, clay, strawberry finish, delicate tannins that give it a very nice structure. Moderate in body and very accessible.”

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