Air Fryer Cornish Hens

Indulge in a delicious and healthy version of this Air Fryer Cornish Hens recipe. Get perfectly crispy skin and juicy meat in just a few simple steps.

Cornish hens are so delicious because they are juicy on the inside and have crispy skin on the outside. This recipe is so easy because the air fryer does all the work. You just need to season the meat and then set it in the air fryer. The best part is that you get the crispy skin without any of the greasiness of deep frying, and it's seasoned to perfection for the best taste. The meat is succulent and to die for. These little birds make a fabulous meal and you only need a few ingredients to make it happen. Let's look at what you'll need to season the tender meat.

Video tutorial

Main ingredients

• Cornish Hens.
• Olive Oil. Or avocado oil.
• Spices. Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried rosemary, and salt.

How to make Air Fryer Cornish Hens

1. Make the spice blend. Place the dry spices in a small bowl, add olive oil, and mix well.

2. Prep the hens and brush with spices. Pat dry the cornish hens with paper towels. With a pastry brush, spread the seasoning mix all over the hens.

3. Air fry the hens. Place the hens into an air fryer basket and air fry for about 25-30 minutes at 380F, depending on their size.

Tips for the best Air Fryer Cornish Hen

• Place the hen right side up. You'll want to place the cornish hen with the breast sides up so they get fully cooked as this is the thickest part of the bird.
• Check the temp with a meat thermometer. Check the internal temperature of your mini rotisserie chicken with a meat thermometer. Poultry should be at least 165°F in the thickest part.
• Adjust cook time. Depending on the size of your hen, you may need to adjust how long you cook it. Larger hens will need more time to reach the cooked internal temp.
• Let it rest. Before you begin cutting into the cornish game hens, let the meat rest so the juices can reabsorb into the meat instead of running out, drying out your bird.

Variations to this recipe

• Substitute other seasonings. Add some black pepper, thyme, poultry seasoning, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or other fresh herbs. A teaspoon of garlic powder is good, too.
• Add cranberry sauce. Serve this dish with cranberry sauce on the side. The sweet tartness of the sauce goes so well with the air fryer whole chicken.
• Add barbecue sauce. This recipe is also delicious with barbecue sauce on the cornish hen. It's tangy flavor is a great complement.

How to store and reheat it

Store any leftovers of this cornish hen in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave, oven, or in the air fryer for a few minutes.

What to serve this with

• Grains & Potatoes. Serve this with side dishes of rice, quinoa, bulgur, sorghum, or potatoes. Enjoy it with this Rice with Mushrooms, Roasted Baby Potatoes, Twice Baked Potato Casserole, or Rice with Cabbage.
• Pasta. Serve this cornish hen with pasta, like this Easy Angel Hair Pasta, Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic, Radiatore Pasta in Creamy Sauce, or Quick Zucchini Pasta.
• Salad. This is the perfect main dish to serve with an Amazing Kale Salad, Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, Spring Mix Salad, Jennifer Aniston Salad, or Cabbage Salad with Corn. Or go with vegetables, like a side of Brussels sprouts or Fajita Veggies.
• Soup. Start the meal with your favorite soup, such as this Hearty Mushroom Soup, Lentil and Kale Soup, or Quick Orzo Soup.

I hope you love this Air Fryer Cornish Hen recipe as much as I do. It's juicy, crispy, and full of amazing flavor. Enjoy!

Printable recipe and nutrition information are located in the recipe card right below.

More tasty chicken recipes:

• Chicken Tinga
• Easy Chicken Kebabs
• Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast