Crockpot Cornish Game Hens
11 Comments Aug 13, 2021
Updated Aug 11, 2025
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Make a complete meal with this Crockpot Cornish Game Hens recipe, featuring tender hens and fluffy baked potatoes cooked together in the slow cooker. Just add your favorite toppings when you’re ready to serve!
This idea is from a sweet lady I met at one of my book signings (many moons ago). She mentioned that she often made Cornish game hens and large russet potatoes together in the slow cooker. All she had to do when she got home was serve and enjoy! Thank you to the mystery woman I met for this WONDERFUL recipe idea.
What is a cornish game hen?
- Cornish game hens are, in fact, a type of chicken. However, they are a specific breed and are butchered earlier than standard chickens.
- They contain less fat and calories than standard chicken.
- These are not wild birds and don’t have a gamey flavor. Cornish hens taste just like chicken.
Key Ingredients
- Cornish game hens – You will need three of these hens, find them in the freezer section of the store.
- Russet potatoes – Choose medium-sized potatoes so they will cook evenly, making sure they are scrubbed and dried. You can use baby potatoes if that’s all you have on hand.
- Lemon – You will need the juice of half of a fresh lemon.
- Spices – Paprika, basil, ground pepper, sea salt. Try smoked paprika for a smokey flavor.
- Olive oil – This is drizzled over the potatoes to keep them moist and help salt and pepper stick to them while cooking.
How to Make Cornish Game Hens in the Crockpot
- Place hens in the crockpot and season generously.
- Tuck whole potatoes around the hens and drizzle with oil.
- Cover and slow cook until the meat is tender and potatoes are soft.
Tips & Variations:
- Cajun – You can add cayenne pepper, onion and garlic powder to make this dish Cajun. Or use a cajun spice blend such as Tony Chachures Creole Blend (omit the salt from the recipe, this blend can be VERY salty).
- Garlic herb – Add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic over the cornish hens along with the original recipe.
- Barbecue – brush barbecue sauce over the done cooking slow cooker cornish hen for a completely different meal.
- Sweet Potato Swap – If baked potatoes aren’t on your list of favorites, you can use sweet potatoes instead.
- Foil the Potatoes – This recipe will work with or without foil. Since it works without and the potatoes don’t get soggy, I skip that step.
Does the Slow Cooker Make Crispy Skin on Chicken?
No, it does not. Sprinkling the chicken with paprika will give the chicken some color. You can brown the skin after cooking under the broiler in the oven if desired. (Be sure that your slow cooker insert is oven safe before doing this).
Crockpot Cornish Game Hens Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 3 Cornish game hens, THAWED – this takes about 36 hours in the fridge
- 3 medium-sized russet potatoes, washed and dried
- 1/2 lemon, (Do not use bottled lemon juice, as it can give a chemical taste.)
- 1 tsp. sea salt, (plus more for potatoes)
- 1/4 tsp. ground pepper, (plus more for potatoes)
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. basil
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
Suggesting serving items:
- toppings for baked potatoes such as butter, sour cream, chives and bacon bits.
Instructions
- NOTE – THE GAME HENS NEED TO BE THAWED COMPLETELY. This takes about 36 hours in the fridge.
- Remove the game hens from their packaging. Rinse them under cold water to remove any debris from their insides and any stuck pieces of ice.
- Pat the game hens dry with paper towels.
- Add the game hens breast up to the slow cooker.
- Squeeze the lemon over the game hens.
- Sprinkle them with the 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, paprika and basil. Be sure to sprinkle the paprika over evenly, this will keep the hens from looking pale after cooking.
- Add the russet potatoes on top (no need to pierce the potatoes), tuck the potatoes in the empty spaces around the chicken.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes. Sprinkle the potatoes with a touch of salt and pepper.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook for 7 hours on low. DO NOT OPEN THE LID DURING THE COOKING TIME. Check to see if the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender before serving. Cook for an additional hour if your potatoes aren't tender, since every slow cooker cooks slightly differently.
- Serve each person a game hen with a baked potato. Split the potato open and top with your favorite baked potato toppings.
Sarah’s Notes
- Do not add water or chicken broth to this recipe. The game hens will produce their own liquid to keep the recipe moist.
- Cornish game hens should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also tell if your hens are done if your meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear. The slow cooker usually cooks things past the point of doneness and makes for very tender chicken.
- Ideally, this recipe can serve 3 people (very large servings, with possible leftovers). If you have kids to feed, there is plenty of food to share, though you will need to split the chicken and potaotes.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More complete meals for the slow cooker
Thanksgiving Casserole, Christmas Casserole, and Ham Dinner make hearty, comforting meals for special occasions.
Complete Meatloaf Dinner is a satisfying all-in-one dish, while Chicken, Potatoes, and Green Beans is a simple family favorite.
Complete Chicken Dinner brings everything together for a wholesome, ready-to-serve meal.
Such a shame yall do nt answer those folks that take the time n love of food , To Answer Their posts like some cooks and others do. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m trying this recipe for the first time for our Epiphany dinner. Only thing is is that after about 48+ hours thawing in the fridge it seemed like the hens were still a little bit partially frozen so I’m putting the recipe on high for a couple hours then will take it down to low for the rest of the time
This Cornish game hen receipe with potatoes was delish!! I had not made Cornish Game hens for a long time but this receipe will make me try it again sooner than later…
I really enjoy cooking in my crockpot..The magical slow cooker makes it so easy too..
It was just my husband & I and we got 3 meals from this!!!
Instead of Lemon, I use freshly squeezed orange juice, ginger, two cloves of garlic riced, soy sauce, a little Worstershire…and Gran Marnier. I’ll sometimes drop the orange rinds in with it.
Can’t wait to try.
Made this today. Used some minced garlic and spread it on the tops of the hens with the other ingredients.
4 to 4 and a half hours on high was fine to cook potatoes and hens till juices ran clear.
My verdict on this was just meh. Taste was fine although not stellar. And there is just not enough meat on those little ole bitty hens to make it worthwhile. lol
I doubt I will bother with it again to be honest.
Can this be cooked on high for 4 hours in a time crunch?
Yes, just make sure the chicken is cooked through.
4 to 4 and a half hours on high was fine to cook potatoes and hens till juices ran clear.
I made today and the 4 hour on high mark is fine.
Meat fell off the bones and potatoes were easily cut like smooth butter.
Hello Sarah! I love Cornish hen and I am very lucky that El Corte Ingles (super big store) has them fresh, I consume them a lot. We’re close to Morocco so sometimes I give it a twist and stuff it with soy vermicelli noodles, Moroccan pickled lemon, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and lots of coriander – it’s a really wonderful Arabic twist. give it a try if you feel like it. Thanks for sharing and take care of yourself. Greetings from Spain
This looks great! It’s a keeper.