Cornish Game Hens seasoned with a rub of chili powder, Kosher salt, lime zest and juice and EVOO; then roasted until golden brown.
Our daughter loves cornish game hens or "little chickens" as she liked to call them when she was younger. My husband and I like them, but it's not something I make often.
Since shopping has been a little difficult lately, I get what I can, when I can and purchased some cornish hens at my local grocer. Of course, I wanted to try a new way to prepare them and came up with this Chili Lime version.
What is the difference between a chicken and cornish hen?
The main difference between a Cornish hen and a chicken is the size of the bird once it's fully grown. Cornish hens usually don't weigh more than 2 pounds, while whole chickens are much heavier.
It's a breed of chicken that originated in England and is produced from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds.
They are also sometimes called Rock Cornish game hens and are mostly sold in packs of two.
How do you make Chili Lime Roasted Cornish Hens?
For this recipe you'll need Cornish hens, chili powder, Kosher salt, lime zest and juice and EVOO. Combine all of the ingredients (minus the hen) in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
Place the hens in a roasting pan; then brush the mixture on top and place in a preheated 350 degree F oven. Roast for approximately 45-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reads at least 165 degrees F.
Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size of your bird. Allow the hen to rest for 5 minutes; then cut each hen in half down the middle so that each person gets a breast, wing and leg section. Two Cornish hens can generally serve four people.
My family really enjoyed this recipe and our youngest; who is now 18, got to eat her favorite "little chickens". The meat is so juicy and tender it practically falls off of the bone. We served ours with Twice Baked Lime Sweet Potatoes and Chili Lime Sautéed Zucchini. ~Enjoy!
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Chili Lime Roasted Game Hens
Ingredients
- 2 whole cornish hens
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 lime, zest and juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine all of the ingredients (minus the hen) in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Place the hens in a roasting pan; then brush the mixture on top and place in the oven. Roast for approximately 45-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reads at least 165 degrees F. (Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size of your bird.)
- Allow the hen to rest for 5 minutes; then cut each hen in half down the middle so that each person gets a breast, wing and leg section.
Nutrition
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