Crispy Cornish Hen in Air Fryer

Delicious and juicy Air Fryer Cornish Hen (Cornish game hens) with crispy skin served with creamy mushroom bacon gravy.

Cornish Game Hen recipe will give you the most tender meat with crispy skin in about 45 minutes. These mini rotisserie chickens are great for weeknight dinners or holiday meal.

I particularly enjoy them on nights when I don’t feel like cooking a whole chicken.

This post was developed in paid partnership with Tyson Foods, Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Thank you for being supportive of me working with brands I use and love!

Flavor packed Air Fryer Cornish Hen recipe

Don’t let the small size fool you, these little birds are packed with delicious flavor and incredibly juicy meat!

Every time I make something in the air fryer I deem it as “the easiest thing I’ve ever made”. I’ve now come to terms with the fact that everything made in an air fryer is easy. It’s literally a foolproof cooking appliance that everyone should have.

This year we’re hosting about eight people for a small Friendsgiving. I feel like it’s always the host’s responsibility to prepare the main dish so I’m planning to make four of these air fryer Cornish hens, using Tyson Premium Cornish Hens.

Although they are small birds and a whole cornish hen serves about one person, there will be lots of food here so I’m planning on each person having half.

They make such a nice presentation when you arrange them over a bed of mixed greens on a nice platter. Then they’re dressed with the best mushroom bacon gravy you’ll ever have!

Cornish Hen Recipe Air Fryer ingredients

• Cornish Hens
  • Cornish hens: These tender, small hens are perfect for individual servings and can be found at your local butcher or well-stocked grocery stores.
  • Yellow onion: Adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor to the dish.
  • Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme for a classic flavor profile that pairs perfectly with the cornish hen.
  • Paprika: Adds a slightly smoky flavor to the seasoning.
• Mushroom Bacon Gravy
  • Thick-cut bacon: Provides a rich, savory flavor and a satisfyingly crispy texture that complements the creamy mushroom gravy perfectly.
  • Cremini mushrooms: These mushrooms contribute an earthy depth and meaty texture to your gravy.
  • Dry red wine: Elevate the complexity of your dish with a deep, wine-infused flavor; select a wine you’d enjoy sipping alongside your meal.
  • Unsalted butter: Enhance the sauce’s creaminess and richness with a touch of butter. Butter also gives it a silky smooth finish.
  • Garlic: Creates an aromatic and flavorful base for your gravy.
  • Heavy cream: This essential ingredient adds a luxurious velvety richness to your sauce, creating a perfect complement to your dish.
  • Chicken bone broth: Boost the savory depth of your gravy; you can easily find this ingredient in most grocery stores. You can also use regular chicken broth if you already have that on hand.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese: for a nutty, salty dimension to your gravy.
  • Fresh herbs: Elevate your dish with the aromatic freshness of thyme and parsley.
  • Pink peppercorns: Infuse a subtle citrusy and mildly spicy note into your gravy. If you don’t have pink peppercorns, you can use rainbow peppercorns instead.
  • Cornstarch: Achieve the perfect consistency for your sauce with this essential thickening agent. You can also use arrowroot powder.

I serve the mushroom gravy on the side too because it’s so good you might just want to eat it as a side dish. It’s basically a creamy bacon mushroom soup!

The gravy is made with Wright Brand Hickory Smoked Bacon, which works perfectly in this recipe because you’ll get nice tender pieces of bacon in every bite. I got this bacon at Walmart too!

How to make Cornish Hens in Air Fryer

Air fryer Cornish hens are made in two easy steps: 

1. Preheat the air fryer to 390 F.
2. Rub the outside of the hens with Italian seasoning, paprika, and a generous amount of salt. Stuff the cavity with onions and spritz the top of the hens with olive oil.

How long to cook Air Fryer Cornish Hen

Place both game birds in the air fryer basket and cook on the air fry setting for 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Flip the birds about halfway through.

Tip: the best way to check the internal temperature is with a meat thermometer. It’s a digital thermometer that you poke into the thickest part of the meat to read the temperature.

You can also grab your favorite seasonings and some fresh herbs (rosemary is great) if you want to change things up.

That’s it! While the Cornish hens are cooking in the air fryer, I prep the mushroom bacon gravy.

Note: you can stuff the birds with other fresh herbs and vegetables like rosemary, carrots, garlic cloves, or mushrooms too.

How to make mushroom bacon gravy

This mushroom bacon gravy is so good and pretty simple to make, too. Basically, all you’re doing is cooking the bacon, dicing it, and combining everything in a shallow pan. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how to make gravy:

1. Line the outer basket with aluminum foil and pre-heat the air fryer to 390F.
2. Arrange the bacon in the basket, in a single layer. Cook the bacon for 8-9 minutes, flipping halfway through. When finished, remove the bacon strips from the air fryer and transfer to a paper towel lined plate to cool. Once cooled, dice the bacon and set aside.
3. While the bacon is in the air fryer, heat a skillet on medium heat with butter, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon of thyme, stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and butter is melted.
4. Increase the heat to medium-high, and add the mushrooms and wine. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mushrooms have softened and wine has reduced by half. Note: if the wine comes to a rapid boil, reduce the heat. It should only come to a light boil.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water, then add it to the skillet with the mushrooms. Pour in the cream, chicken broth, diced bacon, parmesan cheese, pepper, and remaining parsley and thyme. Simmer on medium-low heat until the sauce has thickened slightly. Taste, and adjust the seasoning with more herbs and pepper if needed. Salt shouldn’t be necessary.

You can use this recipe on anything you would eat with gravy, or even by itself because it’s basically a creamy mushroom soup and it’s SO good! I actually put some on my plate and ate it as a creamy mushroom side dish.

Cornish Hen Recipe Air Fryer tips

• I like to prepare the bacon in an air fryer before getting started with everything else. You can even do this ahead of time the night before and store it in the refrigerator. If you prefer another method of cooking bacon, you can do that too.
• The mushroom bacon gravy stores well in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for about four days. It reheats easily either in the microwave or stirred over low heat.
• If you are air frying multiple batches of bacon, make sure you empty the bacon drippings from the air fryer basket in between batches.
• Sometimes I’ll add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or some lemon zest on top just before serving.
• If you are making a few batches, you can place the cooked hens in a baking dish in the oven at 250 degrees F to keep them warm.

Cornish Hen Air Fryer storage

To store cooked Cornish hens, let them cool, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2-3 months, making sure to label and date the packaging.

How to serve this Air Fryer Cornish Hen recipe

I served my Cornish hens with green beans, but here are a few other options for side dishes:

• Chili Lime Roasted Carrots
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Israeli Couscous
• Crispy Air Fryer French Fries
• Cilantro Lime Farro
• Easy Broccolini Recipe
• Green Beans With Burrata

What else can I serve with the Mushroom Bacon Gravy?

Serve this Mushroom Bacon Gravy with anything you’d eat gravy with! Mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy, or over top of vegetables like green beans.

Air Fry Cornish Hen FAQs

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Shrimp And Peppers
• Crispy Buffalo Wings
• Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
• Pistachio Crusted Air Fryer Salmon
• Air Fryer Filet Mignon
• Sweet Potato Fries

More Holiday Recipes

• Golden Sweet Cornbread
• Healthy Green Bean Casserole
• Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins
• Baked Brie With Fig Jam
• Jalapeño Creamed Corn

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If you loved this recipe, you might want to try another one of my Air Fryer Chicken Recipes!

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