Glazed Cornish Hens with Pecan Rice Stuffing Recipe

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ByJi-hyun

Are you planning a small get-together in your home? Perhaps, you’re preparing a romantic dinner for two? Or maybe you just want to impress your family with an elegant dinner? Whatever the case, here’s a healthy and light recipe that is sure to make an impact on everyone at the dinner table.

Cornish hens are small birds that are similar to chickens but are about half of the size. They’re cute little birds that are fun to serve, and every person on the table gets their own. They’re easy to cook too! Read on to know how to make this Glazed Cornish Hens with Pecan Rice Stuffing Recipe at home!

Glazed Cornish Hens with Pecan Rice Stuffing Recipe Ingredients

Pecan Rice

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
  • 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins

Cornish Game Hens

  • 8 cornish game hens (20 to 24 oz each)
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups unsweetened apple juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Recipe Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a large saucepan, saute the rice, cumin, and curry in butter over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until the rice is lightly browned.
  3. Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
  4. Stir in the pecans, onion, and raisins.
  5. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
  6. Pour apple juice into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half. Remove from heat, stir in honey and mustard. Set aside 1/2 cup for serving.
  7. Rub the skin of the hens with butter, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tuck the wings under the hens and tie the legs together.
  8. Spoon the rice mixture inside the cavity of the hens.
  9. Place the hens breast side up in a shallow roasting pan.
  10. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, then brush with the apple glaze.
  11. Continue roasting, glazing every 10 minutes until a thermometer reads 180 degrees for the hens and 165 degrees for the stuffing. Bast occasionally with the pan drippings.
  12. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes, and remove the twine before serving.
  13. Serve with the reserved apple sauce on the side.

Recipe Tips

  • You can use any type of long-grain rice for this recipe. White rice, brown rice, and wild rice are the most common to use.
  • If all eight hens won’t fit in your roasting pan, you can bake them on two baking pans with wire racks. Make sure to rotate the baking pans occasionally so that the hens cook evenly.
  • If you don’t have chicken broth, you may use chicken stock as a substitute. You can also use vegetable stock.
  • Don’t overstuff the hens.
  • You can serve this dish with mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, or a salad on the side.

Final Note

This Glazed Cornish Hens with Pecan Rice Stuffing Recipe make for a great, festive main course. Rice mixed with incredible flavors makes for a hearty stuffing, and the cornish hens glazed with apple sauce hit the right spots. If you have an upcoming event in your home, this is certainly a dish that shouldn’t be absent from your table.

Looking for other dishes to serve to your family? Check out our recipes.

Hailing from California, USA. Ji-hyun is a Korean American 🇰🇷🇺🇸 with two growing boys who eat their weight in rice each week. After graduating UCLA & becoming a mom she started We Know Rice as a guide for all the students and moms out there looking to cook healthy and filling meals.