how long to cook cornish hen

Baked Cornish Hens

Total Time

Prep: 70 min. Bake: 1 hour

Makes

4 servings

Make it easy on yourself--bake Cornish hens with a simple wild rice, dried apricot and almond stuffing all in one dish. Serve with a green vegetable and cranberry relish. To save time, start with precooked wild rice, sold in pouches in the rice section.

Baked Cornish Hens

Baked Cornish Hens Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2/3 cup uncooked wild rice
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
2 tablespoons chopped almonds
1 cup apricot nectar, divided
1/2 cup sweet white wine or apple juice, divided
1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
2 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each), cut in half
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
Dash ground cinnamon

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring broth and rice to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 60-70 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Meanwhile, in a nonstick skillet, saute onion and celery in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the apricots, almonds, 1/3 cup apricot nectar, 1/4 cup wine, 1/4 teaspoon salt, poultry seasoning and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Stir into cooked rice.
Spoon mixture into four mounds in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray; top each with a Cornish hen half. Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 180°.
In a large saucepan, combine remaining nectar and wine. Bring to a boil; cook for 5-7 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Add the vinegar, cinnamon and remaining salt and pepper. Reduce heat; cook and stir over medium-low heat for 1 minute. Serve with hens and rice.