Discover the secret to a delicious air fryer Cornish hen cooked right from the freezer. You'll enjoy crispy and flavorful meat without having to thaw.
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With the air fryer, you can achieve a perfectly cooked and crispy-skinned whole hen in half the time of a roasted Cornish hen. The hot circulating air inside the fryer ensures even cooking and locks in all the flavors, resulting in a tender and juicy bird that is simply irresistible.
Not only does cooking a Cornish game hen in the air fryer save you time, but it also produces healthier results. Since this method uses little to no oil, it significantly reduces the calorie content compared to traditional frying or roasting techniques.
Reasons to Love
- No need for thawing. You can skip the tedious process of thawing your Cornish hen with this air fryer recipe. Simply remove it from the freezer and pop it into the air fryer. This eliminates the hassle of planning ahead.
- Retains moisture and tenderness. The circulating hot air in the fryer ensures even cooking, resulting in juicy meat that is far from dry.
- Crispy skin without excess oil or grease. The hot air circulation in the fryer creates a beautiful golden crust while reducing the need for added fats.
- Versatile seasoning options. You can experiment with various herbs, spices, marinades, or rubs to enhance its flavor profile.
Ingredients
You only need a few basic seasonings to cook Cornish hen in the air fryer.
Here are the ingredients used to make this simple recipe:
- frozen Cornish hen
- garlic powder
- smoked sweet paprika
- salt and ground black pepper
- olive oil
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer to 245°F (118C) and set cook time for 30 minutes.
Cook frozen Cornish hen in an air fryer basket or tray.
Slowly turn Cornish hen over after 10 minutes.
Cook for an additional 10 minutes. Increase the temperature to 270°F (132°C), and slowly turn Cornish hen, wing side up.
Remove thawed Cornish hen and pat dry. Season cavity with salt and ground black pepper. Brush skin with olive oil. Increase air fryer to 370°F (188°C) and set the timer to 45 minutes.
Season the Cornish hen with salt, ground black pepper, and a mixture of the other seasonings.
Place back in the air fryer and turn every 10 minutes, with the breast side up at the last 5 minutes.
Once the Cornish hen is golden after 45 minutes and the instant-read thermometer registers 165°F at the thickest part of the inner thigh while the juices run clear, remove the air fryer tray. Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Hint: Turning the whole Cornish hen is easier with the use of two flat kitchen tongs. One part of the kitchen tong is inserted in the cavity to get a good grip while the other supports the turning process.
Variations
Consider experimenting with various seasoning and flavoring options for an even more mouthwatering air fryer Cornish hen.
- Change the seasonings. Add spicier seasonings like cayenne pepper or chili powder to add an extra kick or herbs such as thyme and rosemary for an herbal tone.
- Thaw and marinate. Skip thawing the meat in the air fryer and marinate it before air frying. A mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and minced garlic will infuse the meat with a refreshing citrusy taste.
- Baste during cooking. Enhance the flavor and juiciness of your Cornish hen by basting it with marinade or melted butter during cooking. This adds moisture and imparts delicious flavors to the meat.
You can also try the seasoning blend used in our air fryer chicken legs recipe.
Tips
Top tip: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to avoid undercooking or overcooking. The recommended temperature for cooked poultry is 165 degrees F (74°C). Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the hen to get an accurate reading.
- Preheat the air fryer. To ensure that your air fryer cornish hen cooks evenly and thoroughly, it's important to preheat the air fryer before placing the hen inside. This allows for a consistent cooking temperature and helps achieve a crispy exterior.
- Allow enough space around the hen. To allow proper airflow and even cooking, make sure there is enough space around the hen in the air fryer basket or on the tray. Overcrowding can lead to unevenly cooked portions.
Following these tips, you can create a mouthwatering air fryer cornish hen recipe that is perfectly cooked and flavorful.
Serving suggestions
You can enjoy this flavorful dish as a main course for any occasion. We like to serve it with a vegetable ratatouille and a side of potatoes.
Creamy mashed potatoes with gravy are a classic accompaniment when. you want something comforting and satisfying. Scalloped potatoes or twice-baked potatoes are a good choice if you want to skip the gray.
Add a touch of freshness and balance to your meal with a simple green salad. You can also include some crusty Italian artisan bread on the side.
Storage
Once cooled, wrap the Cornish hen tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It is recommended to store it in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. The cooked bird can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
For longer storage, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or place it in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. Properly frozen cooked Cornish hens can be stored for up to three months without significantly losing quality.
Related Recipes
Love air frying? Here are a few more air fryer recipes to try:
- Air fryer frozen wings are deliciously crispy.
- Garlic bread in the air fryer is perfectly toasted.
- Homemade chicken nuggets in the air fryer are quick and tasty.
- Shrimp skewers are bursting with flavor.
- Home fries in an air fryer are an irresistible side dish.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Cornish Hen from Frozen
Ingredients
- 1 Cornish hen about 22 ounces / 1.375 pounds net weight
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 245°F (118°C) and set it for 30 minutes.
- Gently transfer Cornish hen onto Air Fryer tray and slowly insert tray into the middle cooking chamber, near the rotisserie catch. Let’s start thawing the frozen Cornish hen.
- Slowly turn Cornish hen over after 10 minutes. No need to wait for the “turn food” reminder provided by the Air Fryer.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix garlic powder and smoked sweet paprika. Set aside.
- After 10 minutes, increase the temperature to 270°F (132°C), then slowly turn Cornish hen, wing side up. Then turn over the other side of the wing after 5 minutes.
- Slowly remove the Air Fryer tray with thawed Cornish hen. See tips or notes when closing the door.
- Before the Air Fryer timer ends (30 minutes set), increase the heat to 370°F (188°C) and set the timer to 45 minutes.
- Pat dry the whole Cornish hen. Remove any remaining broken ice from the cavity, if any.
- Season cavity of Cornish hen with salt and ground black pepper.
- Brush the skin with olive oil. Season with the salt, ground black pepper, and the garlic mixture.
- Slowly insert Air Fryer tray into the middle cooking chamber, near the rotisserie catch.
- Turn on each side after every 10 minutes, with the breast side up at the last 5 minutes.
- Once the whole Cornish hen is golden after 45 minutes and the instant-read thermometer registers 165°F at the thickest part of the inner thigh while the juices run clear, remove the Air Fryer tray.
- Allow to Air Fryer Cornish hen to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Jessica
I've always wanted to make a Cornish hen. This air fryer version is one of the easiest ways I've seen yet. I'll give it a go this weekend when the in-laws come over. Thanks for the help!
Devy
This recipe is brilliant. I don't have to worry about forgetting to take the chicken out of the freezer before I need to cook it. Thank you for saving me hassle.
Rachna
This was so delicious and such an easy recipe to make. I love making chicken in my air fryer.
Emilie
I haven't had a cornish hen since I was in high school! My sister and I loved to make a special anniversary dinner for my parents every year and one year we had cornish hens. They turned out amazing. Had no idea it could be so easy with the air fryer. Thank you so much for the instructions for cooking a cornish hen from frozen in the air fryer. (I've never seen them not frozen.) So helpful!
Sharon
This recipe turned out awesome! I have always been a bit intimidated to make a cornish hen but this recipe broke it down so simply and using the air fryer made it even easier.
Sage Scott
Cornish hens are a delightful change from everyday chicken, and I love how fast and easy it is to make them perfectly from frozen in the air fryer with this recipe.
Jenny
I love cornish game hens! I am awful at remembering to pull meat for dinner the next day so this is perfect! The air fryer is such a dinner saver, so using a frozen hen would make it even better!
Rose
I'm always looking to try new recipes in my air fryer and my family enjoyed this meal! I'll make it again!
claudia
This is the perfect solution to the dreaded " Oh no I forgot to pull out the frozen chicken" but with a twist! It was my first time trying cornish hen and now I can't wait to have it again for dinner this week, I think I'm going to try it with the cayenne pepper tip you mentioned.
Shilpa
I love that there is no thawing needed for this recipe. It’s a life saver when we forget to defrost the Cornish hen.
Sue
Making a cornish hen is the best use yet for my air fryer! This meal got cheers all around!
Claire
This saved the day this weekend!!!
Hubby and I had the busiest day running about after the kids for various events. And then once they were all Yes all!!! A rare and unknown thing for all 5 kids to have birthday party sleepovers to go to! We sat down to decide where to go to dinner. But quite frankly all we really wanted was dinner at home, to watch a movie that might contain a come cursing and snuggle up on the sofa together.
We didn't want takeout and I didn't want to cook anything too difficult. So I grabbed a frozen cornish hen (I bought 4 last Christmas and didn't cook them!!!) and followed your recipe.
We just had it pulled apart with some dinner rolls and salad and it was delicious. So tender and juicy and so easy!
THANK YOU
Lisa MarcAurele
Yay! So glad this recipe saved the day!
Chichi
I had frozen Cornish hen from Costco which I forgot to pull out to thaw. Then I found your recipe. The hen turned out juicy, moist and delicious. Thank you.
Anne
I got a crispy skin and juicy meat with no thawing needed. The air fryer makes frozen food so easy, which is good because I tend to forget to thaw stuff!
Ksenia
Hats off to you for the amazing frozen Cornish hen recipe for the air fryer! Your method delivered a juicy hen with crispy skin, all from frozen. Your clear instructions and flavorful seasonings made it a hassle-free yet impressive meal. This recipe has earned a permanent spot in my go-to list – thanks for sharing your culinary expertise!