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, I tuck the potatoes in the empty spaces around the chicken. (no need to pierce the potaotes with a fork)
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, for every slow cooker cooks slightly different.
Video
Notes
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.Do I have to thaw the game hens?It is important to thaw the game hens before cooking. The chicken needs to be thawed to ensure they cook properly and get done at the same time as the potatoes. Be sure to plan ahead.Can I add foil around my potatoes?This recipe will work with or without foil. Since it works without and the potatoes don't get soggy, I skip that step.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 game hens along with the original recipe.
Barbecue - brush barbecue sauce over the done cooking game hens for a completely different meal.