Air fry cornish hen in ninja foodi

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Make the BEST and easiest Air Fryer Cornish Hens in minutes with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. Easy to make in the Ninja Foodi too!

Air Fryer Fanatics

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Cornish Hen Recipe

Cornish Hens

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Green Beans And Potatoes

Cooking With Olive Oil

Air Fryer Recipes Easy

Multicooker

Fancy Food

Cooking Sprays

These Air Fryer Juicy Cornish Hens are cooked fresh or frozen with plenty of herbs and spices for full flavor. These mini rotisserie chickens are great for any dinner or holiday main dish.

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What is a Cornish Hen

Cornish hens rarely weigh more than 2 pounds each. They are a particular breed of chickens and are often referred to as game hens. The flavor and taste is a lot similar to chicken.

You can prepare Cornish hens the same way you would prepare chickens. There are lots of flavor options to choose from.

Each hen serves 2, so they are a lot easier to portion than a whole chicken. Simply slice in half.

I buy mine with the giblets removed. If you have hens with the giblets you will have to remove them from the cavity. You can read about How to Remove Giblets from Chicken here.

How to Make Cornish Hens in the Air Fryer

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Rub the Cornish hens in oil, poultry seasoning, thyme, smoked paprika, rosemary, and garlic powder.
2. Place the hens breast side down in the air fryer.
3. Air fry.

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

Cook for 25 minutes on one side, flip and then cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cornish hen reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.

Air Fryer Temperature

I use 350 degrees.

More Spices and Substitution Tips

• Dried Basil
• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Blackening Seasoning Recipe
• Cajun Seasoning

Can You Cook it From Frozen?

Cook frozen birds for 20 minutes on 350 degrees. Open and season the chicken, flip the chicken and season it on the other side.

Cook it for an additional 20 minutes on 370 degrees, flipping halfway through.

Recipe Tips

• Wear cooking gloves while handling the chicken if preferred.
• Be sure to wash your hands and kitchen utensils really well after handling raw chicken.
• Try to season every inch of the chicken to avoid bland chicken. Use more seasoning than the recipe suggests if needed.
• Removing the chicken without altering the presentation can be tricky. The chicken will need to rest after cooking. If you are having trouble removing the chicken with tongs (without altering the presentation), you can always allow the chicken to cool some and then remove it with your hands.
• Use any of your favorite seasonings. Common seasonings include poultry seasoning, sage, paprika, and more.

What to Serve with the Dish

Air Fryer Loaded Baked Potatoes
Southern Baked Ham With Pineapple
Air Fryer Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus
Air Fryer Garlic Cheesy Bread
Air Fryer Homemade French Fries
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Air Fryer Lobster Tails

More Air Fryer Chicken and Poultry Recipes

Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham
Smothered Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Lamb Chops
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken

Be sure to check out my post on 20 Quick and Easy Air Fryer Thanksgiving Holiday Recipes.

These Air Fryer Juicy Cornish Hens are cooked fresh or frozen with plenty of herbs and spices for full flavor. These mini rotisserie chickens are great for any dinner or holiday main dish.

Save this recipe here.

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer cornish hens

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 530kcal

• 2 Cornish hens Mine weighed 1 1/4 pounds each.
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground rosemary
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste
• cooking oil I use olive oil.
• 2-4 slices fresh lemon

• Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Place the lemon slices in the basket.

• Pat the cornish hens dry. I use paper towels.

• Rub both sides of each bird with oil. Sprinkle the seasonings and spices on both sides.

• Place the cornish hens breast side down in the air fryer on top of the lemons. You don't want the legs to overcook.

• Air fry for 25 minutes on 350 degrees.

• Open the basket and flip the corn hens. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until your cornish hens have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer. If you like really crispy skin, adjust and add additional cook time as necesary.

• Place the meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken, which is typically the chicken thigh area. I like to test the breast too, just to ensure the entire chicken is fully cooked

• Remove the hens from the air fryer basket and place it on a plate to rest for at least 15 minutes before cutting into the chicken. This will allow the moisture to redistribute throughout the chicken before you cut into it.

• I buy my hens with the giblets removed. If you have hens with the giblets you will have to remove them from the cavity. You can read about How to Remove Giblets from Chicken here.
• Be sure to wash your hands and kitchen utensils really well after handling raw chicken.
• Try to season every inch of the chicken to avoid bland chicken. Use more seasoning than the recipe suggests if needed.
• Removing the chicken without altering the presentation can be tricky. The chicken will need to rest after cooking. If you are having trouble removing the chicken with tongs (without altering the presentation), you can always allow the chicken to cool some and then remove it with your hands.
• Use any of your favorite seasonings. Common seasonings include poultry seasoning, sage, paprika, and more.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Serving: 0.5hen | Calories: 530kcal | Protein: 48g | Fat: 39g

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Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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