Grilled Split Cornish Game Hens are marinated in a Moroccan Spice Rub and grilled to perfection in just under 30 minutes. Delicious crispy skin with juicy tender Cornish hen served on top of our Vegan Chickpea Lemon Rice for an easy elegant dinner.
Grilled Split Cornish Game Hens: The Easy Impressive Dinner
Have you ever seen rock Cornish hens in the grocery store but thought to yourself, these are way too complicated to cook? Fear not, these little delicious birds are super easy but make for one impressive dinner. Who does not love having their own little personal mini chicken on their dinner plate? Right? It makes you feel special. Whether you are making Cornish hens for just your family or hosting a small intimate gathering, our Moroccan spiced grilled hens are going to be a hit.
Grilling Season is Here!
Why does it always feel like we have 9 months of winter and only 3 months of summer? You have to enjoy the short summer while it lasts. Before you know it, it will be Memorial Day and then snow again. Get out there and fire up your grill. If you need some ideas, be sure to check out our Summer Grilling and Chilling Recipes for some inspiration.
Chicken vs Cornish Hens
We know it has been a little difficult gathering grocery and supplies during this time. That is probably one on the main reasons why we have Cornish Game Hens on the menu today. Who the heck buys Cornish hens during an epidemic? Those crazy people at Healthy World Cuisine! That’s who!
There were tons of Cornish hens at the grocery store but NO chicken! These little frozen Cornish hens are really small so fit easily in the side drawer of the freezer too. If you are looking for a few easy meals when you are low on food supplies, be sure to check out our round up for 17 Pantry Recipes for Emergency Preparedness. On the other hand, if you can get your hands on a whole chicken during the grilling season, be sure to try our Peking Style Beer Butt Chicken. This Asian fusion recipe is a tried and true family favorite.
What is a Cornish Game Hen?
The Cornish Game Hen came about because of cross breeding between a regular short-legged, plump-breasted Cornish chicken with various other chickens, including the White Plymouth Rock variety. So essentially, a Cornish Game Hen is just a mixed breed juvenile chicken. A little Cornish hens usually only weigh about 1.5 pounds or 680 grams a piece. They can fit in the palm of my hand.
What do Cornish Hens taste like?
They taste like chicken but only milder in flavor. The best part about these little guys is they take a lot less time to cook compared to regular full-sized chicken. This quicker cook time allows you to get the skin extra crispy while keeping the hen meat tender and juicy. They do not taste gamey. Cornish Hens are gentle in flavor but are harmonious with the delicious Moroccan Spiced rub. If you would prefer to cook a whole chicken, be sure to try our tried and true recipe for Savory Herb Roasted Whole Chicken for a delicious Sunday supper.
How to Prepare Your Cornish Game Hens for Grilling
We chose to “split” our little hens, but you can also spatchcock or even leave whole and cook them like our Peking Glazed Beer Butt Chicken. Spatchcock is the process for cutting one side of the Cornish hen though so that you can lay the bird flat on the grill to promote even cooking.
Splitting the Cornish game hens helps them grill evenly too. It is very easy to do. In order to split a Cornish hen, you can either use culinary scissors or a sharp knife. Make your first cut on either side of the backbone vertically along the backbone. Removing the backbone is a good idea as those have lots of little bones and your guests will not like that. Then, on the front breast side of the hen just cut straight down the center of the breast. Then you will have 2 even Cornish game hen halves. Discard the backbone.
Best Moroccan Spice Rub Marinade
Moroccan spice rub really takes these little grilled split Cornish game hens from ho hum to AMAZING! We know that many of you will want to be all proper and eat your little Cornish hens with a fork and knife. However, the best way is just to pick them up with your hands and get right in there. This is a casual dining at its best. Finger licking good!
How to Make Moroccan Spice (ras el hanout)
If you have prepared Moroccan Spice (ras el hanout), use that. If not, we make our own spice blend recipe with the dried ground spices and store them in clean dry baby food jars. This Moroccan Spice recipe makes 2 tablespoons just enough for your marinade. We know that some people may add coriander, all spice and many other ingredients to this spice mix but we wanted to keep it simple with the more basic spices you may have at home in the pantry. If you do not like it spicy, then do not add the cayenne pepper and reduce the chili powder to ¼ teaspoon.
- 1 teaspoon dried ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon dried ground garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon dried ground ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon dried ground chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried ground cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Delicious Moroccan Marinade
In addition to the Moroccan spice blend, we added parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice and olive oil for a fresh and delicious marinade. We like to marinate our little split Cornish game hens for about 30 minutes but also can be left up to overnight, if desired. Be sure to cover and refrigerate if marinating overnight.
How to Grill a Rock Cornish Hen
There are many ways to prepare a Cornish Hen but if you want yours extra crispy skinned and tender meat, embrace the grilling season.
- Preheat your grill to between 300 – 350 degrees F or 148 degrees C – 176 degrees C.
- Make sure that you clean your grill grates and oil well to prevent sticking.
- Always best to put the skin side down first so that it gets a crispy skin.
- Place you Cornish Hens slightly off to the side and not under direct heat. Grill with the lid on
- Flip after 15 minutes and cook until the skin is crispy about another 10 -15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F or 73 Degrees C. The juices should run clear.
What side dishes go best with grilled Moroccan Cornish Hens?
Grilled Split Cornish Game Hens are super delicious served on a bed of our Vegan Chickpea Lemon Rice.
If you have the grill already hot, you might as well add a few Feta Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms for a hot appetizer and our Best Grilled Asparagus for a side dish.
Don’t forget about dessert! We highly suggest our make ahead easy Lemon Rose Cardamom Cheesecake Mousse or our refreshing Honey Cardamom Cantaloupe Sorbet .
Wine Pairing for Cornish Hen Recipe
There are many different options for delicious wines to serve with grilled split Cornish game hens. However, we like the light and bright ones, if we are dining alfresco. Maybe a delicious light Bandol or a fruity Cotes du Rhone rose will delight your senses. You might want to try a California Chardonnay, if you like your wines a little drier. If you like reds, you may want to try a sparkling Shiraz from Australia. Drink what you enjoy is our motto!
Paleo Cornish Game Hen Recipe
Our grilled split Cornish Game Hens are paleo, low carb, diabetic friendly, gluten-free, egg free, dairy-free and super delicious. So, if you are hosting guests, you pretty much are covered from a dietary perspective.
More Delicious Grilled Poultry Recipes
Thai Grilled Chicken Tenderloins and Zesty Dipping Sauce
Grilled Moroccan Chicken and Pine Nut Quinoa
Peking Glazed Beer Butt Chicken
Did You Like Our Recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. Your feedback is always appreciated! Follow us for more delicious recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for our email list for more free recipes.
Grilled Split Cornish Game Hens
Equipment
- Grill or Grill pan
Ingredients
- 2 whole Cornish Game Hens about 1.5 pounds each or 680 grams
Moroccan Spice Blend (or can use store bought blend - 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon cumin dried ground
- 1 teaspoon turmeric dried ground
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder dried ground
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon dried ground
- ½ teaspoon ginger dried ground
- ½ teaspoon chili powder dried ground
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper dried ground (hold if like it mild)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Marinade
- 2 tablespoon Moroccan Spice Blend see above for recipe
- 2 tablespoon parsley dried or ⅓ cup fresh chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Garnishes
- parsley fresh (optional)
- lemon slices (optional)
Instructions
Moroccan Spice Blend Marinade
- If you already have prepared Moroccan spice, skip to nextstep. To make homemade Moroccan Spice (ras el hanout), mix together the following ground dried spices… 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground chili pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (hold if you do not like spicy), ½ teaspoon black pepper and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix together in a bowl.
- Add either fresh or dried parsley, fresh garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice to the 2 tablespoons of prepared Moroccan Spice mixture (ras el hanout) and stir well. Set aside.
Prepare your Cornish Hens for Grilling
- Wash and dry your Cornish Hens well. Splitting the Cornish game hens helps them grill evenly too. It is very easy to do. In order to split a Cornish hen, you can either use culinary scissors or a sharp knife. Lay your bird back side up and with the breast side down. Make your first cut on either side of the backbone vertically along the bone. Removing the backbone is a good idea as they have lots of little bones. Then, on the front breast side of the hen just cut straight down the center of the breast. Then, you will have 4 even Cornish game hen halves. Discard the backbone.
- Place your split Cornish hens in a sealed plastic bag or large bowl. Pour the Moroccan marinade over the split Cornish hens and rub them all over. Seal the bag or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave them marinate at least 30 minutes. You can also put them in the refrigerator to allow them to marinate up to overnight.
- Prep the Grill. Clean the grill grates well. Preheat your grill to 300 to 300 – 350 degrees F or 148 degrees C – 176 degrees C.
- Once the grill is preheated, put the Cornish hen skin side down first so that it gets a crispy skin. Place you Cornish Hens slightly off to the side and not under direct heat. Grill with the lid on.
- Flip after 15 minutes and cook until the skin is crispy about another 10 -15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees For 73 Degrees C. The juices should run clear. The cooking time will be around25 to 30 minutes depending on how your grill is. Our birds were cooked at 25minutes. Checking the temperature with the meat thermometer is your best measure.
- Serve your Grilled Split Cornish Game Hens over our Vegan Chickpea Lemon Rice. Garnish with parsley if desired and enjoy!
mjskitchen says
Now I have a craving for cornish hens! These look awesome and I love the moroccan rub. Lots of wonderful flavors.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you MJ. Even a regular day feels special with a Moroccan spiced rub split Cornish hen on your plate. Wishing you a super week ahead. Take Care
LetsCurry says
The Moroccan spice rub makes all the difference and grilling them after marinating makes a perfect summer party dish. Your pictures and explanation is so good and an amateur baker can get the hang of doing things confidently. Thanks
HWC Magazine says
Thank you very much! This Moroccan Spice rub makes these little Cornish hens finger licking good. Glad our little step by steps are helpful. Wishing you a super week ahead. Take Care
John / Kitchen Riffs says
I haven't had Rock Cornish game hens for ages! Always thought they were SO exotic when I was young. Was kinda disappointed when I found out we're basically talking small chickens, but I got over it. Who can resist these when they're plated, after all? Anyway, nice spicing on this. Good stuff -- thanks.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you John. Yes, basically Cornish hens are basically "teenager chickens". We made ours just as sassy as a teenager with our Moroccan spice rub. Hope your week is going well. Take Care
Priya says
This recipe is a real treat for chicken lovers 🙂
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Priya. These little Cornish hens were a very special treat. Sometimes, we have a difficult time obtaining chicken at the market but they had a whole case of these little hens, so why not, right? Take care
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
You truly do have grilling down, your little Cornish hens look oh so good. While I don't have any little hens in my freezer, what I do have is some duck breasts that I too bought when no chicken was available. I think they would be great cooked using your recipe. The good news is that I do have a jar of ras el hanout in my spice cabinet. Thanks for the inspiration.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Karen. Duck would be amazing with our Moroccan Spice rub. Happy Grilling and take care
Katerina says
What an impressive recipe! I am honestly drooling over the photos - I would love to turn up for a dinner party and have this served. And what a great idea to use cornish hens too - quicker cooking time is always better, especially when the result looks this good (who wants to wait around for too long, right?). Thanks for sharing this one, what a stunner!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Katerina! We are loving the grilling and chilling season and want to make the most of it while it lasts. Cornish game hens is a great idea when you want to get the cooking process on a roll. More time to spend with friends and less time on the grill. Hope you weekend is fabulous.
Juliana says
Great recipe Bobbi...somehow I have never cooked cornish hen...indeed easier to handle than the regular chicken since they are smaller...thanks for sharing the recipe...looks super tasty.
Have a wonderful weekend!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Juliana. Cornish hens are so much easier to cook than a full size chicken. I bet you could also cook yours in your air fryer as well because they are so small. Stay well and take care.
Liz says
Yum! I haven't made game hens since my French Fridays with Dorie days! This would be a great weekend dinner when the boys stop by for dinner---we grill rain or shine! Have a great weekend, Bobbi! Stay cool!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Liz! We also grill rain or shine and have been known to even shovel a path of snow out to the grill. (smiling) Your boys would love this. Wishing you a super weekend ahead. Take Care
Balvinder says
Those Moroccan spices sounds awesome, Bobby! . Such a comfort food to enjoy on patio. I wish i could taste one:)
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Balvinder. Come on over! They are going fast. Take care and wishing you a super weekend.,
Hannah says
Your formula for ras el hanout is pure gold! I'm mixing up a double batch and stocking my spice rack.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Hannah. We love using ras el hanout in some many recipes. We make a large batch and store in baby food jars. I bet you do too. Take Care
Eha says
Bobbi - I use a lot of ras el hanout nut since some superb spice mixes are available at both my favourite Sydney and Melbourne spice merchants . . . well, I have usually been lazy ! Very much like the sound of your homemade one and since all the ingredients are forever in the pantry it will be tried soonest. Shall have to use chicken pieces tho' - Cornish game hens seem to be another item not available here . . . had heard the name naturally and checked three of the main supermarket chains all of which asked 'what are those; ?! According to Mr Google we can buy stock on line to raise 🙂 !! What one learns . . . best
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Eha, Stores here have been very sporadic stocking many items. I think part of it may be distribution issues. No worries, if you can't find cornish hens, this Moroccan spice rub with Ras el hanout is fabulous on chicken, rice, couscous and so many other dishes. We love it. Also consulting Google as we speak... Do you think Cornish game hens are referred to as Indian Game in Australia? I guess not only are we growing our own vegetables this year but maybe we will need to start a chicken farm as well. LOL Stay well and take care.
Eha says
"Indian Game'- yes, I saw that also - for the first time ever . . . no, we simply do not know or eat the birds tho' i well remember their being on the menu on my many visits to the States. Ras el hanout I have used some 40 years as I quite like making Moroccan tagines. Here in Australia everything has been available for months now . . . and life largely back to normal except for matters like overseas travel until the horrible Second Wave began in the southern state of Victoria - all due to carelessness by returning travellers and other folk 'stuck' overseas and their breaking of quarantine laws . . . one person, for instance, has so far infected over 300 we know ! So, back to lockdowns, different in each state, huge fines and jail terms and the wonderful, wonderful police and thousands from the Armed Forces. But there will be some deaths we could have avoided . . . and in some places toilet paper is short again 🙂 !
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Eha, you might not have Indian Game or Cornish Hens but Australia has delicious TIM TAM's, Grilling and all kinds of delicious treats. One day, when things are settled, Australia is on our bucket list to visit. Everything is kind of the same way here. Stay safe dear friend.
Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef says
I love Cornish game hens but haven’t had them for ages. This is a wonderful recipe and I have to try it. Thank you.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Gerlinde. They were gorgeous. Crispy skin with tender meat and the spices made for one flavorful dinner. Hope you are doing well. Take Care