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Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens Holiday Cozy New Way to Make This Special Dinner

Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens recipe, served and ready to eat, easy homemade dish
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This Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens Holiday recipe offers a delicious easy dinner option with crispy golden skin and juicy meat. It’s perfect for a weeknight family dinner or small holiday dinner ideas with minimal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cornish hens about 1.5 pounds each
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest or 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Heat your air fryer to 360 degrees.
  2. Mix olive oil with salt, italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and lemon zest or lemon juice in a small bowl.
  3. Dry the cornish hens using paper towels and coat them with the seasoning blend under and over the skin, then tuck the wings underneath.
  4. Put the hens breast side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 35 minutes.
  5. Turn the hens over and cook for 10 more minutes to crisp the skin, making 45 minutes total cook time. Ensure they reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit internally.

Notes

  • Pat the cornish hens dry before cooking using a paper towel to help the oil stick better for crispier skin
  • Flip them with 10 minutes left to air fry
  • While I don’t flip every food in the air fryer, flipping these helps get both sides nice and crispy without overcooking one side too much
  • Tuck the wings under the hen
  • This helps keep them in place and prevents them from cooking too quickly and burning
  • Leave enough space for cooking the birds
  • I can fit one in my older smaller air fryer and two cornish hens in my square Cosori basket with enough space to still allow the hot air to circulate
  • Let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days
  • Reheat leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 360 degrees F for about 15 minutes until warmed thoroughly
  • Turn the temperature up to 400 degrees F for a few minutes if the skin needs to get a little crispier

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.amgroyal.com/air-fryer-cornish-game-hens-holiday/