Air Fryer Cornish Hen | Diethood

This juicy air fryer cornish hen is so scrumptious and performed in simply 40 minutes. The air fryer makes the superbly seasoned chook irresistibly crispy on the surface and splendidly tender on the within!

Straightforward Air Fryer Cornish Hen Recipe

I’m so excited to share this scrumptious air fryer Cornish sport hen recipe with you. This little poultry is seasoned with a superbly easy mix that includes thyme and oregano earlier than it’s handed over to the air fryer. It solely takes half-hour for the machine to work its magic on the chook, giving it an ideal, crispy-skinned exterior and a phenomenally tender inside. There’s nothing fairly just like the crunch you’re feeling as you sink your tooth into the completed product, adopted by a mouthful of succulent meat.

You’ll be pleasantly shocked at how fast and straightforward it’s to end up this elegant, scrumptious dinner for 2. So, tie in your apron and preheat that air fryer – you’ll be glad you probably did. 

Why You’ll Love This Cornish Hen Recipe

Succulent, crispy-skinned, completely portioned poultry in simply 40 minutes? What’s to not love? Listed below are a few of my favourite issues about this splendidly easy recipe.

• Fast and straightforward. Not solely is that this recipe tremendous easy – simply season your hen and toss it within the air fryer – nevertheless it’s additionally fast. In contrast to roasting an entire hen, which might take hours, Cornish hens are smaller and cook dinner a lot sooner.
• Good portion measurement. This Cornish sport hen is ideal for 1 very hungry individual however 2 can share.
• Crispy on the surface, tender on the within. The great thing about cooking sport hen within the air fryer is that the machine creates that impossible to resist crispy pores and skin with out the necessity for extreme oil or deep frying.
• Extremely customizable. This recipe supplies an amazing baseline for experimentation. I encourage you to play with totally different seasonings, brines, and sauces to customise the style in line with your preferences.

What Is A Cornish Hen?

Regardless of the title, Cornish sport hens will not be really sport birds. The phrase “sport” sort of simply acquired thrown into the title in some unspecified time in the future, however we aren’t actually certain why (maybe to extend gross sales). These scrumptious birds are a crossbreed between Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chickens. They’re harvested at a younger age, whereas they’re nonetheless small and whereas their meat remains to be very tender and their taste delicate.

Recipe Components

Right here’s an inventory of what you’ll must make Cornish hen within the air fryer. Scroll to the recipe card beneath for precise measurements.

• Cornish sport hen – I used a 1 1/2-pound chook. You may choose a smaller or bigger Cornish sport hen. Simply be aware that you could be want to regulate your cooking time.
• Olive oil
• Salt & Pepper
• Garlic powder
• Dried Thyme
• Dried Oregano

How To Prepare dinner Cornish Hen In Air Fryer

• Prep the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for five minutes after which grease the basket.
• Prep the hen. Rinse the Cornish sport hen and pat it dry with a paper towel.

• Season the hen. Whisk collectively the salt, garlic powder, black pepper, thyme, and oregano. Rub the chook with olive oil and sprinkle it with the seasoning mix.

• Air fry. Air fry the chook, breast aspect down, for 20 minutes. Flip and cook dinner for 10 extra minutes or till the inner temperature of the chook reaches 165°F.
• Relaxation. Take away the chook from the air fryer and let it relaxation for a couple of minutes earlier than slicing and serving.

Ideas for Cooking Cornish Hen

• Thaw correctly. These little birds usually come frozen. Ensure that to thaw them fully (ideally in a single day within the fridge) earlier than cooking.
• Pat it dry. Remember to pat the hen dry on the surface and the cavity. This step ensures that the pores and skin crisps up properly throughout cooking.
• Preheat the air fryer. It may be tempting simply to pop the seasoned chook within the air fryer, however this is not going to solely have an effect on the cooking time, however you’ll additionally find yourself with a lot much less crispy pores and skin. So preheat your air fryer earlier than including the hen.
• Don’t crowd the air fryer. In case you determine to double this recipe, make sure you give the hens loads of house within the air fryer. If they’re too shut collectively, they are going to seemingly cook dinner erratically and also you gained’t get that good, crispy pores and skin.
• Use a meat thermometer. I counsel investing in an excellent meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest a part of the meat on the finish of the cooking time. It wants to achieve an inner temperature of 165°F. If it’s not fairly there but, air fry the chook for a number of extra minutes and verify the temperature once more. Repeat if essential.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Cornish Hen

That juicy, mouthwateringly scrumptious Cornish sport hen will want some firm. Listed below are a few of my favourite issues to serve it with.

How To Retailer & Reheat Leftovers

• Fridge. Place any leftovers in an hermetic container and retailer them within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
• Freezer. If you wish to freeze the leftovers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and seal them in a freezer-safe container. Retailer them within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
• To reheat. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and cook dinner for about 5 to 7 minutes or till heated by way of. Alternatively, place the leftover on a microwave-safe dish, cowl with a humid towel, and microwave in 30-second intervals till heated by way of.

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