7 Thanksgiving Cornish Hen Recipes

Cornish Game Hens with Rice Stuffing

Cornish game hens are stuffed with a delicious nutty wild rice mixture and roasted until golden and crispy skinned to create a delightful centerpiece for Thanksgiving dinner. "I love this recipe!" says home cook KCWRIGHT. "It seems like a gourmet meal but is very easy to make. It turned out juicy and delicious."

Cornish Hen with Tart Cherry Sauce

Juicy Cornish hens with crispy skin with a sweet-tart cherry, red wine, and orange sauce are simply wonderful to serve to company. "Absolutely delicious!" says reviewer jennysilvano. "The hens were so succulent, and the cherry sauce was just tart enough to bring all of the flavors together. Can't wait to make it again!"

Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Cornish Hen Dinner

Make it a Thanksgiving dinner to remember when everyone gets their own individual Cornish hen! The hens are roasted in a sheet pan on a bed of potatoes, onions, and carrots for easy prep and clean up! The pan drippings make the base for a flavorful gravy.

Cornish Game Hens with Garlic and Rosemary

Cornish game hens are stuffed with fresh rosemary and lemon wedges and basted with a white wine broth for an easy, elegant main dish. "Fantastic recipe!" says reviewer HETTIE15. "I'm so glad I found this one. I made two hens for Thanksgiving for my fiancee and myself, and it was perfect!"

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Roasted Orange-Tarragon Cornish Hens

This impressive, roasted Cornish game hen is a perfectly delicious alternative to turkey if you are celebrating Thanksgiving with just a few guests. "Plan on 1 per person for a generous serving," suggests recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar France C, "or split in half if you're planning on serving plenty of sides."

Easy Cornish Hens

Two Cornish game hens are generously seasoned with herbs and slow-cooked in a lemon broth for a mouthwatering meal for four. "Very tender, moist, and savory," says reviewer rachel. "Paired it with some traditional Thanksgiving fixins for a mini Thanksgiving! My family loved it."

Apricot-Glazed Cornish Hens

This simple cornish hens recipe delivers sweet heat, thanks to the tantalizing combination of apricot preserves and spicy sriracha. "A nice twist on the traditional roasted cornish hen," says CookingWithShelia.

More Inspiration

Our entire Cornish Hen Recipe Collection has more ways with these small-yet-delicious birds. Also check out our related recipes and collections for more Thanksgiving inspo:

• Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
• Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• All Thanksgiving Recipes