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Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

Cornish Hen Air Fryer

Published: Jan 10, 2023 · Modified: Mar 8, 2023 by Ginny · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This 30 Minute Cornish Hen Air Fryer is super tender and juicy, yet incredibly fast for a weeknight meal! Once you have this, it will quickly become a family favorite.

top down view of a cornish hen in the air fryer after being cooked.
Crispy Air Fryer Cornish Hens
Contents hide
1 🍽️ Why This Recipe Works
2 🍗 Ingredients
3 ⏲️ Equipment and Tools
4 🍴 Instructions
5 🍴Optional Air Fryer Neck and Giblets
6 🌿 Variations – Great Herb Flavors to Try
7 Meal Prep Options
8 ❗ Expert Tips
9 Recipe FAQ
10 🥦 Serving Options
11 Air Fryer Cornish Hen

I could not believe how “hands off” this recipe is.

I didn’t have to heat up the house by turning on the oven, or spending time with the stove top.

 Instead, this is simply add-to-air-fryer and virtually forget about it! Try to think of those nights when you need hands off dinner! This is it!

This recipe is the perfect match for serving with mashed potatoes, mashed rutabagas or mashed cauliflower.

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🍽️ Why This Recipe Works

Easy | This is such a simple and easy recipe for just about everyone to make. Tender meat on the inside, crispy skin on the outside.

Hands Off | This is a fantastic recipe when you need one that is totally hands off once you put a quick rub.

Simply Delicious | This is one of those simple, yet delicious meals that you can go back to time and time again and never get tired of it.

🍗 Ingredients

ingredients for the cornish hen recipe with labels on a sheet pan.
Simple Ingredients for a Cornish Hen in Air Fryer

Cornish Game Hen – This is pretty easy as it is the star of the show here. You will find these little birds in the poultry section of the grocery store. You may also find them in the freezer section by beef liver and turkey. Each hen weighs in at 1-2 pounds.

Herb Mix – I used a combination of dried chives and herbs de Provence, but use what you have available in your pantry.

⏲️ Equipment and Tools

Air Fryer | We used this in both our Instant Vortex 7 in 1 and in our Ninja basket and it works out great in both machines. If you have a Cosori, Nuwave, PowerXL or Phillips, the instructions will work the same. With all AF, they all are calibrated slightly different and so check the timing early the first time you cook with any new recipe.

Tongs | It makes it a lot easier to turn over the hens and to remove from the basket by using tongs that can be inserted into the cavity to flip. These are one of my favorite Air Fryer Accessories to make sure I don’t burn my fingers when removing food!

All your burning questions: Can You Put Parchment Paper in Air Fryer? Can You Put Foil in the Air Fryer?

🍴 Instructions

This is extremely easy.  This cook up like little rotisserie chickens that serve 1-2 people.

process photos showing seasoning the hen, placing them in the air fryer basket, cooking it and serving.
Simple Instructions for Cornish Game Hens Air Fryer

Step One: Cut the wrapping away from the hen and remove the bag that has the neck and liver.  Set them aside, as we’ll use them later.  Pat dry with paper towel.

There are two options for preparing the hen:

Option One: Add a couple of small pads of butter between the skin and the meat on the breast in order to help the skin brown and crisp up.  A couple of spritzes of olive oil does the trick too.

Option Two: Season the hen with the following:

  • Poultry Seasoning – Rub the outside of the hen with a liberal amount of poultry seasoning.  Make sure to add some to the cavity of the bird as well.  
  • Fresh Herbs – Grind fresh rosemary, thyme and sage to create a dry rub.  Unfortunately, it is still winter here, and the fresh herbs weren’t available without spending more money than I wanted at the store.
  • Lemon and Vegetables – Stuff the inside of the bird with a sliced lemon and fresh carrots and celery.  Note that you may need to cook the bird for a few extra minutes if the cavity is filled.  Also, discard the stuffing after the cornish hen is cooked. It is just meant to provide additional flavoring to the hen.
  • Olive Oil and Dry Rub – I sprayed the skin with a bit of olive oil and then applied my favorite dry rub, Dizzy Pig’s Coarse Ground Dizzy Dust.  I put that seasoning on almost everything! It is sooo good!
  • Chives and Herbs de Provence – This is the mix I used in the photos above.

Step Two: Turn the air fryer to 390 degrees on AIR FRY function and pre heat it.  It takes three or four minutes for it to come up to temperature.  When it is at full temp, it will beep.

Step Three: Set the timer for 30 minutes and add the cornish hen, breast side up. I placed mine on the lower shelf, right above the drip tray or place in the air fryer basket.

After 15 minutes, carefully remove the tray and turn the hen over.  I used two forks or a set a tongs to help this. Be careful, as this is very hot, and there will be drippings.

Tip: I use a ¼ sheet pan to rest the air fryer shelf on.  I line it up to the front of the air fryer and then pull the shelf with the Cornish hen straight on to it.  It eliminates any drips on the door or my floor.

Using the sheet pan trick, remove the hen and test the internal temperature.  It should be a minimum of 165°F degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius), per the USDA. If not, add it back to the air fryer for a few more minutes. 

🍴Optional Air Fryer Neck and Giblets

With about 12 minutes left, add the neck and giblets to the air fryer tray.  I made the mistake the first time I made them by adding them at the very beginning of the cook, but they were rock-hard and over cooked by the time the hen was done.  The second time, I added them with 12-14 minutes left and they were thoroughly cooked and oh-so delicious.

two cornish hens in the air fryer.
Juicy and Crispy Skin for Air Fry Cornish Hen

🌿 Variations – Great Herb Flavors to Try 

If you want to try out different combinations of herbs that you have in your spice cabinet, here are a few great combinations to start with right now! 

Tip – If you aren’t a Herbs de Provence lover, that’s ok. Mix up a couple of herbs from your cabinet together using the same ratios and use that as a rub! I want you to learn to use your spice cabinet and mix up herbs to create amazing flavors! 

  • Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Marjoram 
  • Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley
  • Rosemary and Thyme 
  • Thyme, Rosemary, Tarragon and Marjoram 
  • Sage, Oregano, Parsley 
  • Sage, Marjoram and Parsley 
  • Oregano, Basil, Parsley and Thyme 
  • Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper

Meal Prep Options

I bet you won’t spend more than five minutes preparing the bird for the air fryer.  Seriously, it is that fast!

Meal prep this the night before by taking the hen out of the packaging, adding the pads of butter or rubbing it with any seasonings. Then, place it in the fridge until you are ready to start. If you choose to do this, it is simply transferring the hen from the refrigerator to the Air Fryer. You have your evening free.

two Cornish Hens on a sheet pan with bowls of fresh vegetables.
Perfectly Trussed and Cooked Air Fryer Cornish Hen Recipe

❗ Expert Tips

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. If you do, it slows down the time it takes to cook, reduces the air flow, and the food won’t be as crispy.

Try using poultry or turkey tongs when removing from the machine. This helps keep the presentation gorgeous when you are serving for special occasions and guests.

Don’t forget to the olive oil spray or rub with melted butter. This helps make sure the exterior is crispy just as we did for our Air Fryer Whole Chicken. You don’t have to do this with bacon or country style ribs that are fatty on their own.

**We do not recommend Pam cooking spray as it has been documented to damage the surface of the machines.**

Always remember to start at the lowest time for any recipe as all machines are calibrated differently. For this one, start the total time at 20-25 minutes so you can check to see how it’s going for the first time then you know for the second time exactly what it is for YOUR MACHINE.

Always rinse and dry off the bird after taking it out the packaging before applying EVOO or butter. This helps ensure you get the crispiest skin and exterior.

Always remember to remove the neck and giblets from the internal part.

One hen serves two people.

If cooking one hen at a time, it will cook FASTER than if placing two hens in the air fryer as there is more air flow. If you can only fit one at a time, do that so that you end up with a better meal than forcing two hens into a machine that struggles.

Make sure to snag your {FREEBIE} Air Fryer Cooking Times Printable, Deep Fryer to Air Fryer Conversion Printable and Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Printable.

Recipe FAQ

How to Freeze Leftovers?

I cut the cornish hen in half using a sturdy kitchen knife.  The bones are very soft, so it is easy to do. To freeze them, I add it to a freezer safe airtight container. It stays good for several weeks. 
Alternatively, I have placed the whole cornish hen in a freezer bag after it cooled.  If I think it will stay frozen for more than two weeks before I plan to use it, I will wrap it with Saran or Cling Wrap and then put it in the freezer bag.  It helps to ward off the freezer burn.
USDA suggests not to freeze for longer than three months.

What does Cornish Hen Taste Like?

It tastes just like chicken. The benefit of these birds is that they are a much smaller species which will fit easily in the air fryer and is better for serving a small family.

What internal temperature do you cook this to?

Always cook poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F degrees using a meat thermometer. Always cook for the temperature NOT THE TIME.

What if the hens are not done at 25-30 minutes?

Continue cooking in five minute increments. This can be caused by the hens being larger than the basket or trays which can stop the air flow and reduce the heat cooking the hens. If using a basket, turn the hens over. If using a tray version, you are most likely only using one tray which will be at the bottom.

I’ve seen recipes cook hens at 365-375 and this one is at 390, why is that?

The 390 will yield a crispier skin. All of the options work and will work beautifully. If you use 365-375, the skin will be a little softer. The meat is still juicy and tender in all of the options. Never overcook. Cook until the internal temperature is 165 degrees, and don’t rely on the time.

How long do I need to defrost the frozen bird?

Two days in the refrigerator works great for these small birds.

Can I air fry frozen Cornish hens?

Yes, but we recommend thawing in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or using the quick thaw method below. If you have to cook these from frozen, place the bird in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Flip it over and continue cooking for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temp is 165 degrees. The skin will be softer using this method. The last 10-15 minutes, consider increasing the temperature to 390 degrees to make the exterior crispy…while keeping an eye on the internal temp.

How do I quick thaw?

Place the frozen hens in a big bowl of cold water and allow them to soak for 30 minutes and then change out the water again. Continue to do this for 1 -1.5 hours or 30 minutes per pound, according to Perdue Farms.

🥦 Serving Options

Serve these up with some nice side dishes for an amazing weeknight dinner that requires no attention. Heck, these hens are perfect for entertaining dinner guests.

Roasted Rutabaga Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato

Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed Rutabaga

Using Leftovers

If you have a little bit of meat left over, use it in:

Air Fryer Taquitos

Air Fryer Quesadillas

Air Fryer Chicken Enchiladas

Make sure to snag your {FREEBIE} Air Fryer Cooking Times Printable, Deep Fryer to Air Fryer Conversion Printable and Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Printable.

🍲 Related Air Fryer Recipes

  • pile of chicken wings and green onions on a white plate in front of the air fryer
    Air Fryer Sweet Asian Chili Chicken Wings
  • Sliced air fried tri tip roast and garlic mashed potatoes on a wooden cutting board.
    Air Fryer Tri Tip & Garlic Mashed Potatoes – Easy 30-Minute Dinner
  • whole pork tenderloin cut into slices and wrapped in bacon.
    Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
  • top down view of the whole chicken after cooking in the air fryer with BBQ rub.
    Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

top down view of a cornish hen in the air fryer after being cooked.

Air Fryer Cornish Hen

An unbelievably easy 30 Minute Meal using the Air Fryer. This Cornish Hen Recipe is easy, fast and delicious!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 101kcal
Author: Ginny

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 each Cornish Hen with the packet of the neck and giblets removed

Butter Option

  • 2 tbsp Butter sliced

Herb Rub Option

  • 2 tbsp Chives dried
  • ¼ cup Herbs de Provence

Instructions

Prepare the Cornish Hen

  • Remove the bag with the neck, liver and giblets from the cavity of the hen. Set aside.

Butter Option

  • Work your fingers between the skin and the meat of the bird to make room for the two pads of butter.

Herb Rub Option

  • Rinse and dry off the cornish hen. 
  • Combine the Herbs de Provence and freeze dried chives in a bowl and stir. 
  • Spray the cornish hen with the spray olive oil. This is going to help the hen get crispy on the outside. Then, using your hand, spread the herb rub on both sides of the hen.

Cooking the Cornish Hen

  • Preheat the Air Fryer to 390 degrees on the AIR FRY function. It should take 3-4 minutes.
  • When it is preheated, insert the hen with the breast side up.
  • Set the timer for 25-30 minutes.
  • After 15 minutes, carefully remove the hen from the air fryer and turn it over. I used two forks.
  • Put it back in the Air Fryer and set the time for the remaining 15 minutes.
  • Check the temperature to make sure it is at least 165 degrees F. Always cook to temperature for poultry, not necessarily to time. Check the bird early and check the temperature and to see if the juices are running clear.

Optional Cook the Neck, Liver and Giblets

  • With about 12 minutes remaining, open the Air Fryer and add the neck, liver and giblets to the tray. When the hen is completely cooked, these goodies will be fully cooked as well.
  • Remove and serve.

Notes

Substitute Spray Olive Oil: If you don’t want to do the pats of butter, spray olive oil instead. 
Use Herbs and Spices You Like: We made this with the Herbs de Provence and that combination is added to the recipe card. Substitute the herbs you like. 
Freezer Friendly: I cut the cornish hen in half using a sturdy kitchen knife.  The bones are very soft, so it is easy to do. To freeze them, I add it to a freezer safe tupperware container. It stays good for several weeks. Alternatively, I have placed the whole cornish hen in a freezer bag after it has cooled.  If I think it will stay frozen for more than two weeks before I plan to use it, I will wrap it with Saran or Cling Wrap and then put it in the freezer bag.  It helps to ward off the freezer burn.
Meal Prep Option: Meal prep this the night before by taking the hen out of the packaging, adding the pads of butter and rubbing it with any seasonings. Then, place it in the fridge until you are ready to start the air fryer. If you choose to do this, it is simply transferring the hen from the refrigerator to the Air Fryer. You have your evening free. 
Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot Duo Crisp: If you own either of these devices, cook the same way just use your crisping lid for the cornish hens. 
Herb Flavors to Try:
  • Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Marjoram 
  • Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley
  • Rosemary and Thyme 
  • Thyme, Rosemary, Tarragon and Marjoram 
  • Sage, Oregano, Parsley 
  • Sage, Marjoram and Parsley 
  • Oregano, Basil, Parsley and Thyme 
Internal Temperature: Always cook poultry to 165 degrees according to the USDA. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1half of hen | Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 100mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 350IU
Tried this recipe?Mention @savorandsavvy or tag #savorandsavvy!
Ginny
Ginny

Hi!

Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.

savorandsavvy.com/about-me/
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About Ginny

Hi!

Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bindi U says

    December 10, 2023 at 1:04 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe saved me so much hassle and I love finding out new ways to use my air fryer!

    Reply
  2. Robin says

    May 25, 2022 at 2:50 am

    Her recipe doesn’t include salt and it’s needed!!!! Poultry seasoning usually has no salt in it. And far too much herbs for one Cornish game hen in her recipe as well.

    Reply
    • Bindi U says

      December 10, 2023 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      I think it depends on the poultry seasoning you are using. If your seasoning mix doesn’t include salt, I think it is safe to assume that you can add that on your own.

      Reply
5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Family Photo Hi! I'm Ginny and for over 30 years, I've been creating simple and easy recipes without sacrificing on taste for our family on the go. I can't wait to show you how to do the same for your family. Read More...

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