I used Jiffy Mix for the cornbread in this recipe, but you can certainly make your own or get a different mix that is gluten-free if that is what you need.

Stuffed Cornish Hens shown with Corn Maque Choux as a side dish.

For a full dinner menu featuring these Cornish Hens, consider the following:

• Potato Stackers
• Savory Acorn Squash Soup
• Corn Maque Choux
• Green Salad
• Lemon Meringue Pie

Cornbread-Stuffed Cornish Hens

These hens are easy to make and don't take too long in the oven. They always look impressive but aren’t that difficult to make. You can serve them with Corn Maque Choux, like we did in the photo, and a hearty grain dish. They're juicy, tender, and full of flavor.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 613 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1 cup onion chopped
• ½ cup celery chopped
• 1 ½ cup golden delicious or granny smith apples diced
• 2 tsp fresh sage chopped
• 2 ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 ½ tsp pepper
• 4 cups cornbread about 11 oz
• 1 large egg beaten
• ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese coarsely grated, about 2 oz
• 6 Tbsp apple juice or cider
• 4 Cornish game hens
• 1 Tbsp fresh sage chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ cup white wine

Instructions

 

Stuffing

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; sauté until beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add apples; sauté until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Mix in sage, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; transfer to large bowl. Let stand until almost cool, about 10 minutes.
• Mix cornbread into vegetables. Add egg and toss to blend. Mix in cheese, then enough apple cider by tablespoonfuls to form stuffing that is moist but not wet.

Hens

• Sprinkle cavity of each hen with salt and pepper. Pack 1 cup stuffing into each (place any leftover stuffing into buttered ramekins and cover with foil). Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together to hold shape. Mix sage, coarse salt, and pepper in small bowl; sprinkle over hens.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place hens in baking or roasting pan. Drizzle with a healthy amount of olive oil. Bake until the oil on the bottom starts to burn, add the wine and continue cooking until done, about 45-50 minutes total.

Notes

Although the picture shows two boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix, one should be enough for the stuffing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 613kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 31gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 178mgSodium: 1024mgPotassium: 485mgFiber: 4gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 3mg

Keyword main dish, poultry

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