Crockpot Cornish Game Hens Recipe
A complete meal in the slow cooker! Cook three Cornish game hens along with three russet potaotes for a wonderful hearty meal.
Servings: 3
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.
Video
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
Calories: 1157kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 82g | Fat: 73g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 35g | Cholesterol: 455mg | Sodium: 1061mg | Potassium: 1981mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 576IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 6mg
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