Grilling cornish game hens involves butterflying them, seasoning with your favorite herbs and spices, and then grilling over medium heat until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Want a meal that’s impressive yet surprisingly easy? Then you should learn how to grill cornish game hens. These little birds cook quickly and are perfect for a small gathering. The smoky flavor from the grill really enhances their natural deliciousness.
We’ll walk you through each step. From prepping the hens to achieving that perfect char, you’ll become a grill master. Get ready to enjoy some truly amazing results using these simple techniques.
How to Grill Cornish Game Hens: A Step-by-Step Guide
Grilling Cornish game hens is a fantastic way to enjoy a flavorful and impressive meal. These small birds cook up beautifully on the grill, offering a perfect balance of crispy skin and juicy meat. Whether you’re a grilling novice or a seasoned pro, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make delicious grilled Cornish game hens every time. We’ll cover all the important steps, from prep work to the final sear, ensuring your game hens are cooked to perfection.
Preparing Your Cornish Game Hens
Before you even think about firing up the grill, you need to get your Cornish game hens ready. This involves a few key steps that will make a big difference in the final result.
Thawing and Rinsing
If your hens are frozen, make sure they are completely thawed before you start. You can do this in the refrigerator overnight, or if you’re short on time, you can use the cold water method (placing the sealed hens in a bowl of cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes). Once thawed, remove the hens from their packaging and give them a good rinse under cold water. Pat them completely dry with paper towels. This is important because moisture will hinder the browning process and you want crispy skin.
Trussing Your Hens
Trussing might seem fancy, but it’s actually a very helpful technique for cooking poultry. It helps the bird cook more evenly and makes it easier to handle on the grill. Here’s how to truss your Cornish game hens:
- Fold the wings back: Tuck the wing tips behind the back of the bird. This prevents them from burning on the grill.
- Tie the legs: Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together. You can simply tie them tightly or follow a more formal trussing method (such as creating a figure eight around the legs) if you prefer. The goal is to keep them tucked and compact.
If you don’t have kitchen twine you can skip this step and just tuck the wings and make sure the legs are fairly close to the body, it won’t have a huge impact on taste. But trussing does help.
Brining or Marinating (Optional, but Recommended)
While not absolutely necessary, brining or marinating your Cornish game hens can take their flavor and moisture levels to the next level. It is highly recommended, especially if you’re new to grilling. Brining involves soaking the hens in a salt-water solution, which helps them retain moisture during cooking. Marinating, on the other hand, adds flavor. You can choose either method or even combine them. Here’s a look at both:
Brining
- Simple Brine: Use 1/2 cup of salt per 1 gallon of cold water. Submerge the hens in the brine in a large pot or container in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 4 hours.
- Flavor Brine: You can add additional herbs and spices to the brine for added flavor. Try adding peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic cloves, or citrus peels.
Marinating
- Basic Marinade: A simple marinade could consist of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, herbs, and salt and pepper.
- Other Marinade Options: Consider using flavors like soy sauce, honey, paprika, or your favorite BBQ sauce as the base for a marinade.
Regardless of which method you choose, always marinate or brine in the refrigerator. Make sure that you are using a food-safe container. Marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 4 hours. If brining, then 2-4 hours is ideal.
Preparing Your Grill
Now it’s time to get your grill ready for cooking. Whether you’re using a charcoal grill or a gas grill, proper preparation is essential for success.
Charcoal Grill Setup
For a charcoal grill, you’ll want to set up a two-zone fire. This means having one side of the grill with hot coals for direct heat and another side with no coals for indirect heat. This way, you can control the cooking process and avoid burning the hens.
- Start with a Chimney Starter: A chimney starter is the easiest way to light your charcoal. Fill it with charcoal, place it over some fire starters or crumpled newspaper, and let it burn until the coals are covered in gray ash.
- Arrange the Coals: Once the coals are ready, pour them into one side of your grill. Leave the other side empty.
- Grill Grates: Place your grill grates over the coals and let them get nice and hot.
Gas Grill Setup
For a gas grill, the two-zone setup is just as important. Light one or two burners on one side of the grill and leave the other burners off. This creates the same direct and indirect heat zones. Make sure to let your grill preheat for at least 10-15 minutes before you start cooking.
- Preheat the Grill: Preheat the burners you’ve chosen to medium heat for about 10-15 minutes with the lid closed.
- Clean the Grates: Clean your grill grates with a wire brush.
- Oil the Grates: Lightly oil the grates with a high-heat cooking oil. This helps prevent sticking.
Grilling Your Cornish Game Hens
Now for the fun part – grilling your Cornish game hens! This process involves a combination of direct and indirect heat for optimal cooking and browning.
Initial Sear
Place the hens skin-side down over the direct heat zone. You want to sear the skin and create a nice crust. Let them cook there for about 3-5 minutes, without moving them, until they become nicely browned.
- Don’t move them too early: If you try to move the hens too soon, you may notice that the skin will stick to the grates and tear.
- Use tongs or a spatula: Gently move the hens, so that you can flip them over.
Indirect Heat Cooking
After the initial sear, move the hens to the indirect heat zone. This allows them to cook through without burning or drying out. Place them skin-side up. Close the lid of the grill and continue to cook.
- Temperature Check: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh. You want the temperature to reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure the hens are safely cooked.
- Time Estimation: The cooking time will vary depending on the heat of your grill, but expect it to take approximately 45-60 minutes for the hens to reach the proper temperature.
Basting (Optional)
If you like, baste the hens with a sauce or a bit of the marinade during the last 15 minutes of cooking. This will help to keep them moist and add another layer of flavor. Be careful not to baste too much too early, as it can cause the skin to burn. If your marinade has sugars in it, then be very careful because they will burn quickly.
- Use a brush or baster: Make sure to use a clean brush or baster and apply the sauce or marinade evenly over the hens.
- Don’t overdo it: Baste lightly. Too much will prevent the skin from crisping up.
Final Sear
For extra crispy skin, you can move the hens back over the direct heat for the last few minutes of cooking. Don’t do it for too long and only do this step if the hens are fully cooked and just need a final sear. Watch them closely to avoid any burning. Flip them as needed to ensure even crispness.
Resting and Serving
Once the hens are cooked through and beautifully browned, remove them from the grill and let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bird.
- Loosely tent with foil: This helps the hens stay warm while they rest.
- Do not cut too early: If you cut into the hens before resting, the juices will run out and they’ll be drier.
After resting, you can serve your delicious grilled Cornish game hens whole, or cut them into halves or quarters. Pair them with your favorite side dishes, such as grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, or a fresh salad.
Tips for Grilling Perfect Cornish Game Hens
- Use a meat thermometer: This is the only way to be 100% sure that the hens are cooked to a safe temperature.
- Don’t overcrowd the grill: If you’re cooking multiple hens, make sure to leave space around each one to allow the heat to circulate properly.
- Watch the heat: Keep an eye on your grill’s temperature. If you’re using a charcoal grill, adjust the vents as needed to maintain the desired heat level.
- Be patient: Grilling takes time. Don’t rush the process. Allow your hens to cook through fully, and they will be juicy and delicious.
- Experiment with flavors: Try different brines, marinades, rubs, and sauces to find your favorite flavor combinations.
Troubleshooting
Even with the best plans, things can sometimes go wrong on the grill. Here are a few common issues and how to fix them:
- Hens are burning: If your hens are burning, it means the heat is too high or the hens are too close to the heat source. Move them to the indirect heat zone immediately.
- Hens are not cooking through: If your hens aren’t cooking through, you likely need to increase your cooking time. Close the lid of the grill, and check the temperature again after another 15 minutes.
- Skin is not crispy: If the skin is not as crispy as you would like, move the hens over the direct heat for a few minutes during the final stage of cooking.
Grilling Cornish game hens is a great way to have a impressive meal. With the proper preparation and technique, you will soon have a delicious dinner.
By following these steps, you will be well on your way to making perfectly grilled Cornish game hens. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t flawless. Keep experimenting and learning, and you’ll soon be a grilling master!
Grilled Cornish Hens: A Delicious Recipe You Need To Try!
Final Thoughts
Grilling Cornish game hens requires moderate heat and indirect cooking. This method ensures even cooking without charring. Baste the hens frequently with your favorite marinade.
Flip them halfway through the grilling process. Monitor internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The birds are done when the thickest part reaches 165°F.
The key to successful ‘how to grill cornish game hens’ lies in patience and temperature control. Use these steps for delicious, perfectly grilled results every time.
