Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens

Two Cornish game hens in an Air Fryer basket.

4.59 from 29 votes

Air Fryer Cornish Game Hens make a big statement on the dinner table, even though they are small birds. They have plenty of meat, especially breast meat, and cook beautifully in the air fryer with crisp skin and juicy meat. Coat them with barbecue dry rub or your favorite seasoning blend for an easy main dish that feels special without being fussy.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Air fryer game hen, Cornish game hen, dinner, main meal

Servings: servings

Author: Joshua Boquist

Equipment

Ingredients

2 Cornish game hens
1 onion small, sliced into wedges
6 cloves garlic smashed or minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp barbecue seasoning dry rub or your favorite dry rub

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
Stuff the cavities of the Cornish game hens with the onion wedges and smashed garlic.
Rub olive oil all over the birds, then sprinkle with the barbecue spice blend.
Place the birds in the air fryer and cook for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
After 30 minutes, increase the temperature to 400°F and flip the birds again. Cook for 5 more minutes to get the skin crispy.
Let the Cornish game hens rest for 10 minutes before cutting into them. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Air Fryer Size

If you have a smaller air fryer, cook one Cornish game hen at a time so the hot air can circulate around the bird.

Check For Doneness

Different air fryer brands cook at slightly different rates. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature. Cornish game hens should reach 165°F in the thickest part of the meat.

Getting Crispy Skin

The final 5 minutes at 400°F helps crisp the skin. If the skin is not as crisp as you want, add another minute or two while keeping an eye on the birds.

Rest Before Serving

Let the Cornish game hens rest for 10 minutes before cutting into them so the juices settle back into the meat.

Nutrition