Bacon-wrapped smoked cornish hens make the meatiest dreams come true. The sweet and savory flavor of bacon and the juicy and smokey bites of roasted cornish game hens will create a lusciously good meaty flavor that you’ve been looking for. Here’s an initial tip: don’t forget to use chicken brine, as smoked cornish game hens brine adds moisture and helps with caramelization when we roast it later on.
If you’re looking for the best smoked cornish hens recipe, this might be it! These smoked game hens are flavored with garlic and rosemary. With the juicy bacon wrap, you get an extra savory and smoky taste for your bacon-wrapped cornish hens.
How To Make Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Cornish Hens
Bite into juicy smoked cornish hens wrapped in crispy bacon, flavored more with a succulent baste that makes up a tasty sauce.
Ingredients
- 1½ lb cornish game hens, giblets removed
- 4 lemon wedges
- 1 rosemary sprigs, large, fresh, plus more for garnish
- 12 bacon slices, large
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 20 garlic cloves, peeled
- ⅓ cup dry white wine
- ⅓ cup chicken broth, canned and low-salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Wash hens and pat dry with paper towels.
- Season the cavity of the hen lightly with salt and pepper.
- Place 4 lemon wedges and 1 rosemary sprig in the cavity of each hen.
- Tie the legs and wings together to let the chicken stay tucked in place.
- Arrange the bacon to lattice design and wrap it around the chicken.
- Transfer into a roasting tray and brush the bacon with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Mix the garlic, chicken broth, and dry white wine in a bowl and pour around the bacon-wrapped cornish hens.
- Roast for roughly 30 minutes. After that, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
- When the bacon-wrapped cornish hens turn golden brown, check if the juices run clear and baste them every 10 minutes with pan juices, then cook for about 25 minutes longer.
- Pour the juices from the cavity of the hens into the roasting pan, then transfer the hens to a large serving platter. Transfer the pan juices and garlic to a heavy medium saucepan over low heat.
- Boil for about about 6 minutes until reduced to sauce consistency.
- Garnish with additional rosemary sprigs then serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Sugar: 1g
- :
- Calcium: 57mg
- Calories: 723kcal
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Cholesterol: 216mg
- Fat: 57g
- Fiber: 1g
- Iron: 2mg
- Monounsaturated Fat: 27g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g
- Potassium: 635mg
- Protein: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Sodium: 617mg
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Vitamin A: 215IU
- Vitamin C: 15mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is cornish hen healthier than chicken?
Cornish hens have a smaller size than chicken meat and they have fewer fat and calories. These hens are best served for 1 to 2 people. You can further reduce the fat and calorie content of cornish hens by removing the skin.
Do cornish hens taste gamey?
Compared to chicken meat, cornish hen meat has a slightly stronger gamier taste. But not more than the taste of quails. Once the hens are seasoned, they give a savory and light taste.
How do you keep cornish hens from drying out?
Refrigerating your game hens helps keep the moisture in. This method also dries up the skin and gives it a crispy result once you roast it.
Conclusion
Smoked cornish hens are one of the best things to wrap in bacon. We get to have a party of savory flavors that will always leave us wanting seconds! Serve this mouthwatering dish for special dinners – the juiciness and rich flavors will leave your guests astounded.Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!
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