Air Fryer Cornish Hen

This air fryer cornish hen recipe gives you tender, juicy meat encrusted with perfectly seasoned crispy skin in less than 40 minutes. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 261kcal

Author Arman Liew

Ingredients

1 cornish hen around 2 pounds each
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon Rosemary dried
1/2 teaspoon basil dried
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, Rosemary, and basil.
Pat the cornish hen dry with a paper towel. Rub the olive oil all over the bird, season with salt and pepper, then rub the spice mix all over, including all cavities and underneath the skin.
Place the Cornish game hen in the air fryer basket, tuck the wings underneath, and air fry for 35 minutes breast side down. Continue cooking until the Cornish hen reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (70°C).
Let the hen rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Video

Notes

Cornish hen size: I use Tyson hens, which are around 2 pounds each. Larger hens will need to be cooked longer. If your game hen is smaller than 2 pounds, I suggest checking the internal temperature at the 30-minute mark.
Leftovers: Keep in the fridge, covered, for 5 days. You can also freeze it for 3 months.
Reheating: Heat the leftover Cornish hen in a 360ºF air fryer until the skin is crispy again and the meat is heated through (around 5 minutes).

Nutrition