Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens
Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens balance a fragrant spice brine with bright grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime, creating juicy meat and crisp, golden skin. Fresh rosemary and thyme add woodsy depth that complements the citrus. Serve for an elegant weekend dinner or a festive holiday meal when you want a centerpiece with vibrant flavor.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 50 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 20 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 26
- Heart Health
- 48
- Metabolic
- 54
- Digestive
- 25
- Inflammatory
- 59
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth, 4 1/2 cups of water, the allspice berries, black peppercorns, and kosher salt to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove the brine from the heat and let it cool. When cool, place the Cornish hens in the brine and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the game hens from the brine and pat them dry. Discard the brine.
- 3
Place the cut-up grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, rosemary, and thyme in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on High for 2 minutes. Using tongs, stuff the fruit and herbs into the cavities of the Cornish hens. Coat each hen with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Place the stuffed hens breast-side up in a roasting dish.
- 4
Roast in the preheated oven until the bone is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). For extra-crispy skin, increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Let the hens rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Calories 724.2 kcal High 36%
- Protein 55.14 g Good Source 110%
- Carbohydrate 27.64 g 10%
- Total Fat 45.18 g High 58%
- Saturated Fat 12.01 g High 60%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 346.95 mg High 116%
- Sodium 1077.05 mg High 47%
- Dietary Fiber 8.11 g Good Source 29%
- Total Sugars 14.3 g --
- Added Sugars 6.27 g Moderate 13%
- Calcium 97.96 mg Low Source 8%
- Iron 2.43 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 412.26 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin A 212.65 mcg Good Source 24%
- Vitamin C 42.16 mg Good Source 47%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
About This Recipe
Heather's Citrus and Rosemary Cornish Game Hens is made with 14 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 2 hrs 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Peppercorns, Cornish Hen, Fresh Rosemary, and Fresh Thyme. Each serving provides about 724.2 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Peppercorns, Cornish Hen, Fresh Rosemary, Fresh Thyme, Grapefruit. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens?
- About 2 hrs 10 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 50 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 724.2 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens healthy?
- Heather's Citrus-and-Rosemary Cornish Game Hens has an easyChef Pro health score of 49/100. Per serving, it provides 724.2 calories and 55.14 g of protein, or 110% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1077.05 mg (47% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 12.01 g (60% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 6.27 g (13% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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