16 game hen recipes

Cornish game hens rubbed with Chinese five spice and a hoisin-plum-sherry marinade overnight, then roasted to a lacquered mahogany finish glazed with soy and maple syrup.

Roasted Cornish hens stuffed with lemon, garlic, and rosemary, basted with honey-lemon glaze and finished with a white wine pan sauce. Elegant individual portions for special occasions.

Roasted Cornish hens stuffed with cherry tomatoes, fennel, fresh basil, and garlic, served with butter-soft French roasted garlic bulbs.

Fruit Cornish hens: classic Chicken Marbella scaled up for small birds. Cornish hens marinated with garlic, oregano, prunes, apricots, green olives, and capers, then roasted until golden with brown sugar glaze.

Asian-style Cornish hen wraps split hen breasts around asparagus spears and steams them in a bamboo steamer over rice with bok choy, broccoli, and peppers. Elegant pan-Asian dinner.

Try this crockpot recipe that makes a delicious dish that is perfect for when you have guests over.

Grilled Cornish hens roast halved in the oven, then get glazed with plum barbecue sauce during the final 45 minutes until tender and sticky. Elegant personal-sized dinner from just 2 ingredients.

Mandarin Cornish hens: small game hens roasted and basted in a bright orange juice glaze for tender, citrus-kissed meat and burnished skin. An elegant, simple main with one bird per person or to share.

Cornish hen braised in burgundy wine with fresh raspberries, rosemary, thyme, and garlic, then finished under the broiler for crispy edges. An elegant dinner for one or a romantic meal for two.

Instead of using the oven, use your crockpot to prepare this succulent dish for dinner.

Roasted Cornish game hens basted with a sticky apple juice and cinnamon glaze with lemon. Just 5 ingredients for a gorgeous, golden bird with sweet-tart lacquered skin.

Broiled Cornish game hens in a teriyaki-lemon-garlic marinade, showered with fresh cilantro. A simple Thai-inspired main that looks like a restaurant plate.

Caribbean-inspired grilled Cornish hens marinated in dark rum, lime juice, honey, and garlic, crusted with crushed coriander and peppercorns. Bold tropical flavors from the grill.

Glazed Cornish hens roasted with an apple jelly and cinnamon glaze, served with wild rice tossed with red grapes, celery, and cashews. An elegant dinner that's easier than it looks.

Skinless Cornish hen halves basted with brandy, apple juice, and paprika, served over a cinnamon-scented wild rice pilaf with brandy-soaked raisins. Light, elegant, and feeds eight.

I used Cornish Game Hens, but you could also use a cut up chicken. If you can't get winter melon, watermelon will work. Winter melon is white, very mild tasting and a tad denser than watermelon. I think you could get away using something like Honeydew too.