February 26 2025

Juicy Cornish Hen: The Secret Garlic Herb Butter Method

Cornish Game Hens with Garlic Herb Butter – but don’t let the fancy name scare you, they’re just little chickens! I’ll show you how to prepare these little beauties perfectly, from prep to plate.

=== 🍽🍸🥩 RECIPE ===
2 Cornish Game Hens, thawed and patted dry
1 batch garlic & herb butter (see recipe below)
Salt & Pepper
Kitchen shears
Pastry brush
Large sheet pan

Garlic & Herb Butter:
2 sticks (8 ounces/226g) salted butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped finely
Zest of one lemon
1 sheet of plastic wrap

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine thoroughly.
Place mixed butter in the middle of the plastic wrap. Form into a rough log shape.
Using the plastic, wrap up the butter like a burrito into a log. Twist the ends to seal.
Refrigerate until firm. Once firm, reserve half of the butter and cut the rest into 4 slices.

Place the reserved butter into a small pan and melt over medium heat. Set aside.

Prepare the chicken:
On a cutting board, lay a hen breast side down. With sharp kitchen shears, cut through on either side of the backbone. Reserve the backbone for stock. Turn the hen over and press down to flatten. Turn it back over and season the bottom with salt and pepper.

Once all hens are ready, loosen the skin on the breast with your finger. Place a slice of the garlic and herb butter under the skin on each side of the breast. Using a pastry brush, brush the melted butter over the breasts and legs of the chicken. Season with salt & pepper.

Roast at 350°F (180°C) for 30 – 40 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which allows it to finish at 170°F (73°C) .

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=== 📑 CHAPTERS ===
00:00:00 Cooking Cornish Game Hens with Garlic Herb Butter
00:00:46 How to Make Garlic Herb Butter
00:01:25 Making Garlic Herb Butter with Fresh Ingredients
00:02:08 How to Form a Butter Log
00:03:11 Preparing Hens: Step-by-Step Guide to Spatchcocking
00:03:56 How to Spatchcock a Chicken
00:04:49 Perfect Seasoning Techniques for Spatchcock Chicken
00:05:31 Butter-Based Poultry Seasoning Technique
00:06:26 Perfect Garlic Herb Buttered Chicken
00:07:18 Perfect Oven-Roasted Chicken Tips
00:08:35 Perfectly Tender Chicken with Garlic Herb Butter