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One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper

One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper roasts tender game hens over a bed of potatoes, onions, and carrots that soak up rich, herby juices. A quick pan-dripping gravy ties everything together with buttery depth and a hint of lemon. It’s a cozy holiday-worthy meal perfect for a small gathering or an elegant Sunday dinner.

  • Prep25 mins
  • Cook40 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyMedium
One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

47 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
56 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
4 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
90 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 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.

22
Heart Health
71
Metabolic
37
Digestive
21
Inflammatory
37
Performance
46
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Coat a large sheet pan with cooking spray.

  2. 2

    Lay the potatoes, carrots, and onion on the sheet pan in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning over them.

  3. 3

    Stir together the butter and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning until evenly combined.

  4. 4

    Rinse the hens thoroughly, inside and out, under cool running water. Remove the bag from inside the cavity. Pat the hens dry with paper towels. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Gently create a pocket between the skin and the meat with your fingers, taking care not to tear the skin.

  5. 5

    Divide the butter mixture between the hens and tuck it between the breast meat and the skin. Set the hens on top of the potato and onion mixture. Season the outsides with salt, pepper, and the remaining Italian seasoning. Place the lemon inside the cavity of the hen. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the sheet pan.

  6. 6

    Roast in the preheated oven until the hens are nicely browned, 35 to 45 minutes. Tent the hens with foil during the last few minutes of cooking if needed to prevent overbrowning. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should register 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and let rest in a warm spot for 10 minutes before slicing.

  7. 7

    Meanwhile, drain about 1/2 cup of the pan drippings from beneath the vegetables into a small saucepan to start the gravy. Bring to a boil. Mix the flour and cold water together, then add to the pan drippings, whisking until the desired consistency is reached. Serve the gravy alongside the Cornish hens.

About This Recipe

One Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper is made with 13 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 1 hr 5 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Butter, Chicken Broth, and Cooking Spray. Each serving provides about 983.87 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper made of?
The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Butter, Chicken Broth, Cooking Spray, Cornish Hen. The full list of 13 is above.
How long does it take to make One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper?
About 1 hr 5 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 983.87 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 13 ingredients and 7 steps.
Is One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper healthy?
One-Pan Cornish Hen Thanksgiving Supper has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 983.87 calories and 42.08 g of protein, or 84% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 858.27 mg (37% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 14.86 g (74% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Onions, 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.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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