Make these tender roasted Cornish hens infused with lemon, garlic, and herbs for incredible flavor. It's an easy dinner party recipe resulting in crispy skin, juicy meat, and elegant presentation. Who wouldn't love that?
Remove the 4 Cornish Game Hens from their package and pat them dry inside and out.
Rub the Cornish hens all over with 1 - 2 tbsp oil and sprinkle with a liberal coating of the 1 - 2 tbsp Italian spices and 1 tsp Kosher salt, making sure to season inside the cavity and under the skin as well.
Secure the legs by tying them together with butcher's twine.
Place the 2 Lemons, 1 Onion, and 3 Celery stalks in a roasting pan or cast iron skillet.
Carefully cut the top of the 2 heads of Garlic off, exposing the bulbs.
Rub the garlic with oil and nestle into the vegetables along with the fresh parsley, sage, and rosemary.
Add the 1/2 cup White wine to the bottom of the pan and nestle the game hens atop the veggies.
Roast the Cornish Hens
Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for about 1 hour, uncovered, until the skin gets golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part of the breast.
Rest and Serve
Carefully transfer the roast hens to a cutting board and tent with foil.
Rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve one bird per person on a large dinner plate with a sprinkle of salt and Pinch of freshly ground black pepper and the roasted veggies alongside.
Notes
If the roast cornish hens haven’t picked up enough color, remove them from the oven and adjust the temperature to broil. Add the roasting pan back to the oven, allowing the skin to crisp up and get golden brown.
You can make a delicious sauce from the drippings in the pan. Discard the veggies and add a little chicken broth. Place the pan over a burner set to medium-high heat and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up any browned bits and let the sauce simmer. Add in fresh herbs and remove the pan from the heat; stir in 3 to 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to make the sauce rich and creamy. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, if needed. Spoon it over the birds and delicious sides when serving.