Smoked Cornish Hens

Smoker Recipes always create the best flavorful meat and side dishes. This easy step by step Cornish Hen recipe is perfect for the holidays or any day of the week.

If you love smoking Cornish game hens, then check out this Smoked Turkey Recipe or Smoked Ham Recipe. You will love the taste and how simple these recipes are to make.

What are Cornish Hens?

Cornish Hens are the perfect size to serve as a holiday meat. They are cooked tender and juicy and taste similar to regular chicken. This is an impressive meal to serve to guest with your favorite side dishes.

Usually one Cornish Hens will serve one person for a crowd pleasing meal idea.

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and recipe, scroll to the bottom for the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Seasoning – Feel free to substitute the dried seasoning with fresh herbs to create a delicious dry rub.
• Marinade – Make a delicious marinade with BBQ Sauce, garlic powder, brown sugar, and orange juice.

Step by Step Instructions

• Step 1 – Preheat your smoker to 225°F and prepare the grates for direct smoking. 

• Step 2 – Choose your wood for smoking. Fruitwoods like apple or cherry work well with Cornish hens. 

• Step 3 – In a bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, dried thyme, and dried rosemary to create the rub. 

• Step 4 – Pat the Cornish hens dry with paper towels. 

• Step 5 – Apply the rub mixture all over the hens, including the cavity. 

• Step 6 – Insert half a lemon and a sprig of fresh rosemary into the cavity of each hen, if using. 

• Step 7 – Place the prepared hens directly on the smoker grates, breast side up. 

• Step 8 – Close the lid and smoke for about 2 to 2.5 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F. 

• Step 9 – Remove the hens from the smoker and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy! 

Expert Tips

• Crispy Skin – If you like crispier skin, you can increase the smoker temperature to 350°F for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Be sure to keep an eye on it to avoid burning. 
• Rotate Cornish Hens – If your smoker has hot spots, consider rotating the hens halfway through to ensure even cooking. 
• Cooking Time – The Cornish hens are small, so they’ll cook relatively quickly compared to larger poultry. Make sure to monitor the internal temperature of the hens for doneness. Cooking times may vary depending on the size of the hens and the smoker. 
• Meat Thermometer – We recommend to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the Cornish hens.
• Rest Cornish Hens – After removing the fully cooked Cornish hens from the smoker, allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Cornish Hens can be served with many different side dishes. We love making our side dishes in the smoker for a complete meal idea. Some of our favorites include Smoked Asparagus, Smoked Potatoes, and Smoked Green Beans.