Cornish Hens with Apple-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

 Cornish Hens with Apple-Cranberry Rice Stuffing 🍎🍗🌿

Ingredients 🛒

For the Cornish hens:

4 Cornish hens, cleaned and patted dry

4 tbsp olive oil or melted butter

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp paprika

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs (optional, for garnish)

For the stuffing:

1 cup cooked wild rice or brown rice

1/2 cup diced apples

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

2 tbsp butter

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 cup celery, diced

1/2 tsp dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 👩‍🍳

1️⃣ Prepare the stuffing:

In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté onion and celery until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in apples, dried cranberries, and nuts (if using). Cook for 2 minutes.

Add cooked rice, thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside to cool slightly.

2️⃣ Stuff the hens:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Rub the Cornish hens with olive oil or melted butter, and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Fill the cavity of each hen with the prepared stuffing. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to secure.

3️⃣ Roast the hens:

Place the hens on a roasting pan or baking dish. Roast in the preheated oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden and crispy.

4️⃣ Serve:

Let the hens rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary, and serve with your favorite side dishes.

⏰ Prep Time: 20 minutes

⏰ Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

⏰ Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

🍴 Servings: 4

🔥 Calories: ~600 kcal per serving

#CornishHens #HolidayRecipes #StuffedPoultry #ComfortFood #AppleCranberryStuffing #ElegantDinners #RecipeOfTheDay