This Citrus-Glazed Cornish Game Hens Recipe Is a Definite “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner”
They're brined to juicy tenderness and glazed with a bright orange marmalade sauce.
Hosting a fancy dinner party? We have just the decadent main course to impress your guests. Our citrus-glazed cornish game hens recipe has a flavor like no other with fresh orange and rosemary. This dish also uses cornish game hens instead of regular chickens, so what’s the difference? Cornish game hens are small, young chickens with very tender meat. However, they don’t require any carving as each one is a single serving. We also have a trick to keep chicken breast moist.
To infuse the hens with the most flavor, we created an irresistible glaze with orange marmalade, mustard and rosemary. However, you can make pineapple-peach cornish hens by swapping in peach jam for marmalade and use pineapple juice in place of orange. Regardless of the flavors you choose, this citrus-glazed cornish game hens recipe will be a hit. Tell us below what kind of flavors you enjoy on your chicken! And check out our ‘Lazy’ Roast Chicken recipe for when you’re in a pinch.
Yields
Total Time
Prep Time
Cook Time
Ingredients
- ¼ cup orange marmalade
- 2 Tbs. orange juice
- 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
- 3 Cornish game hens (about 1 lb., 10 oz. each)
- 1 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
Instructions
Heat oven to 375°F. In small pot, combine orange marmalade, orange juice, mustard and rosemary; over medium heat, cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is syrupy and coats back of spoon, about 5 min.
Rub hens with oil; sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper. Arrange on a rack set in a roasting pan. Roast until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh, not touching bone, reads 170°F, brushing occasionally with half the marmalade mixture after 35 min., about 1 hr., 20 min. Let stand 15 min. before splitting each hen in half. Brush with remaining marmalade mixture just before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 510
- Fat: 34 gram
- Saturated Fat: 9 gram
- Protein: 39 gram
- Carbohydrate: 10 gram
- Cholesterol: 230 mg
- Sugar: 8 gram
- Sodium: 370 mg
