Description

These Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Honey Teriyaki Glaze hit all the right notes — crispy skin, tender meat, and a glossy sauce that balances sweet, salty, and citrusy flavors in perfect harmony. A drizzle of honey and a touch of heat from hot honey turn this classic into a show-stopping encore. Simple enough for a weeknight, elegant enough for date night — these little birds prove that “fancy” doesn’t have to mean fussy.

Ingredients

Scale

2 Cornish game hens (20-24 oz each), defrosted

1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons seasoned salt, divided

1/4 cup honey (for coating hens)

4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons hot honey

4 1/2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1/2 cup orange juice

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
Pat game hens dry and sprinkle with seasoned salt, using about ½ teaspoon per hen on the outside and lightly seasoning the cavity with the remaining amount. Let sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before cooking.
Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Place the hens in the prepared pan.
Warm the ¼ cup of honey slightly, then use a basting brush to evenly coat the hens. This ensures a smooth layer that caramelizes beautifully while baking.
Roast for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together melted butter, hot honey, teriyaki sauce, and orange juice. Reserve about ½ cup of the sauce to warm and serve alongside the hens.
After 15 minutes, baste hens with the sauce and continue roasting for another 15 minutes.
Baste every 15 minutes for the remaining 30 minutes of roasting, or until the skin is golden and the meat is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F), for a total of 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.
Serve whole or halved, spooning any extra sauce from the pan over top.

Notes

You can buy Cornish game hens at the grocery store in packages of two or at Costco in packages of six in the freezer section.

For the best results, don’t skip the basting! It ensures the hens stay juicy while developing that irresistible golden-brown skin. And for even browning, rotate the pan halfway through baking.

Tent loosely with foil if the glaze starts to darken too quickly.

Ensure the meat is cooked through by cutting into the thickest part. The juices should run clear, and there should be no pink inside. Roast time may vary slightly depending on the size of your hens.

Game hens are perfect for smaller gatherings or even date nights. You can easily cut them in half for serving, or present them whole for a more dramatic and elegant look.

Feel free to adjust the amount of honey and orange juice based on your taste preferences—more honey for sweetness or more orange juice for acidity. Also, if you'd like to spice things up, try using hot honey for an extra kick!

These hens go wonderfully with roasted or Creamy Mashed Potatoes, a green vegetable like asparagus or green beans, or even a side of roasted root vegetables to complement the sweetness of the sauce.

To store leftover game hens, allow them to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to enjoy, reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.

If you want to freeze them, wrap the hens tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat in the oven.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American