Air Fryer Cornish Hen

This air fryer Cornish hen recipe is easy to make and a delight to serve. With hardly any work on your part, the meat comes out moist and the skin is perfectly crispy.

When I was growing up, we used to have Cornish hens as a treat meal. The thing I loved about it is we would each get half a hen to eat. All . . . to . . . ourselves.

That itself was a treat. There were five of us children and although there was usually a great amount of food on our table, when we were having a poultry dish, I felt like I had to fight over getting a thigh or some dark meat. I’m not a chicken breast lover.

That’s why I love this recipe. The breast meat on these cute little birds comes out perfectly moist in the air fryer.

I love my air fryer.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.

Helpful tips

• I’ve used a few different air fryers; the oven type, the air fryer lid for my instant pot and the one that currently has my heart: the instant Vortex pro. The IVP is my current favorite because in my opinion, it is the easiest one to use and to clean.
• The temperature and timing of the recipe is the same for oven or basket types of air fryers. But if you have the basket type, make sure the hens aren’t touching each other or just barely touching.
• In recent years, experts have changed their recommendation on whether to wash poultry before you cook it. They now say that washing the bird increases the chances of getting food poisoning and of cross contaminating other things, like tools, surfaces and utensils in the kitchen. Here are two websites that talk about it.
• What I do is unwrap the chicken, drain the liquid straight down the drain and pat the bird dry with a paper towel, both inside and out.
• Most Cornish hens come in different sizes and the average weight is around 1 ½ pounds per bird. My hens were two different sizes but they were cooked the same amount of time and both turned out great.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Cornish hens – I’ve only seen them come in packages of two and I’ve always found them in the frozen aisle at the grocery store. You may have to ask your store’s courtesy desk where to find them.
• Olive oil – Extra virgin. I’m sure other oils would work, but EVOO is my go to oil.
• Tarragon – dried, organic.
• Smoked paprika – I enjoy the hint of smokey flavor but you can use regular paprika if you prefer.
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Pepper

How to make air fryer Cornish hen

Pre-step

Take out your air fryer, a small mixing bowl, and a whisk.

Step one

Carefully unwrap, drain and pat the hens dry with a paper towel, both inside and out.

Step two

In a small mixing bowl, add the tarragon, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. (A)

Step three

Use a whisk to combine the ingredients together. (B)

Step three

Pour a little olive oil into your hand and rub the oil all over the front and back of the Cornish hens.

Step four

Sprinkle the spice mixture over both the front and backs of the birds. Lay them breast side down on the air fryer tray or basket. Try not to let the birds touch. (C)

Step five

Pre-heat the air fryer at 400, and once it beeps, lower the temperature to 370 and place the birds in the fryer. Set the timer for 40 minutes.

Step six

Flip the hens at the 30 minute mark (D) and continue cooking until the timer beeps.

Step seven

Use a thermometer (I recommend this digital thermometer) to make sure the hens are cooked all the way through. The temperature should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I test the thickest part of the chicken thigh.

Don’t be afraid to add extra time if the temperature isn’t right, as all hens are different sizes.

Step eight

Let the birds rest for 10 minutes before cutting into them.

I decided to serve these Cornish hens with some oven roasted potatoes, peas and lentils.

I also cut the hens in half the way my folks did before I plate them.

It takes me back to my childhood.

I hope you enjoyed this air fryer Cornish hen recipe. Christopher and I did. 🙂

Other poultry dishes

• Saltimbocca
• Soup
• Marengo
• Cordon bleu

And as always, may all your dishes be delish.

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!