This recipe comes from my mother’s collection. Cooking does not get any faster or easier than this! Cornish hens are a hybrid chicken which are sold whole. Although the bird is referred to as a “hen”, it can either be male or female. They always come out juicy and delicious, even the white meat! This is one of my favorites! The number of people whom you are serving will determine the number of hens you buy. They tend be very small, so I usually consider 1/2 of a hen per person. For my family of 4, I cook 2 hens.

The rice recipe was given to me by a friend, who grew up up with it as a staple in her home country. Once you start eating freshly made white rice, you will never be able to go back to the packaged kind again! I stood next to her and carefully measured the ingredients while she threw it together…it was second nature to her! I am happy to now share her recipe with you, as it comes out perfectly every time. Of course you can substitute brown rice or your favorite grain, but I prefer the white rice, as it blends flawlessly with the sauce from the cornish hen. You should try it!

Ingredients for the Cornish Hen

1 or 2 Cornish Hens
1 jar of Gold’s Duck Sauce (Hot and Spicy or regular)
2 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp. oregano
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 350.

Sprinkle garlic powder mixture over entire hen. 

Place in baking pan breast side up. Pour Gold’s duck sauce over hen.

Cook for 1 hour. Check hen to see if it is fully cooked. Juices should run out clear when fully cooked. If you need to, set your timer for 10 minute increments and keep rechecking.

Once your hen is done put your oven on broil and leave it there for 3 minutes. Top of hen should be slightly charred and nicely caramelized.

Ingredients for the Rice

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups white rice
2 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp. Kosher salt

Rinse rice.

Put water and oil in pan on stovetop over medium high heat uncovered. Bring to a boil.

Add rice and salt. Stir to mix. Bring temperature down to medium heat. Set your timer for 7 minutes. After about 7 minutes water will cook down.

Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.

Turn off heat, and fluff rice. Cover again, and wait for about 15 minutes.

Sprinkle sauce from cornish hen over the rice.

Done!

It’s that simple!