Easy Instant Pot Cornish Game Hen Recipe

Need a last-minute fancy meal or Thanksgiving dish for just a couple of people? Instant Pot Cornish game hens are the answer!

Today I’m sharing an easy Instant Pot Cornish game hen recipe that is perfect for a quick and delicious meal. These little birds are so moist and flavorful, you’ll be surprised how much they taste like a full-sized chicken. Plus, the Instant Pot makes them super tender in hardly any time at all. Give this recipe a try for your next family dinner!

With the popularity of our original Cornish hen recipe, I thought it would be helpful to create other ways to make them rather than just in the oven.

The other day I shared a slow cooker Cornish hen recipe, and today is all about the Instant Pot.

You definitely don’t want to skip the brining of the cornish game hen.

Ingredients

BRINE

• 9 cups water
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• lemon juice

Other Ingredients

• Olive oil or avocado oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Onion powder
• Ground mustard
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions:

1. At least 12 hours before you cook your Cornish hens, combine all the brine ingredients together in a big pot or bowl. Place Cornish hens in it and place in the refrigerator.
2. When ready to cook, turn Instant Pot to saute and add oil.
3. Place Cornish hens in the pot and saute for about five minutes per side.
4. Remove and deglaze the pot with a little bit of water or chicken broth.
5. Sprinkle onion powder, ground mustard, and more salt and pepper onto both sides of the Cornish hens.
6. Place trivet in the pot of your IP and put Cornish hens on top.
7. Put lid on and set IP to manual high pressure for 18 minutes.
8. When the timer is over, let the pressure release naturally for ten minutes.
9. Crisp up the tops with the Mealthy CrispLid or pop-under the broiler in the oven.

Most of these are the same questions you’ll find in this slow cooker cornish game hen recipe.

How long do Cornish game hens take to defrost? 

I usually place them in the refrigerator for 24 hours before I want to cook them.

How many can I fit in my Instant Pot?

I have a six-quart, and I was able to fit two. You *might* be able to fit one more with an eight-quart.

Are Cornish Hens baby chickens? 

According to Wikipedia, “Cornish Game Hen is the USDA-approved name for a variety of broiler chicken, produced from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds, that is served young and immature, weighing no more than two pounds (900 g) ready to cook”

Do I have to brine these?

Yes! This is an essential step you shouldn’t skip.

How did you make these crispy?

I used my Mealthy CrispLid attachment (use code Clarkscondensed for $10 off a purchase of $59.95 or more). If you don’t have this, you can broil them in the oven!

Are Cornish Hens Keto? 

Yep! Without any seasonings or toppings, cornish game hens are Keto. Unless you add some kind of bread with bread crumbs, they will likely be a good Keto option.

Can I cook these frozen? 

Yes! The beautiful thing about the Instant Pot is that you can cook frozen meat. If they are completely frozen, you will want to cook them for about double the time.

How many Cornish hens per person?

Generally, one game hen is perfect for an adult or teenager. When we cook them for our children, one is good for two of them.

How to eat Cornish hens? 

We just put them on everyone’s plate and you can easily eat it with a knife and fork.

What oven temperature for a Cornish hen? 

You will want to cook your game hens until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at their thickest spot.

Where to buy Cornish hen?

I am normally able to find them at most grocery stores. Costco will occasionally carry them in packs of six, I believe, and it’s the best price. However, they aren’t always in stock. I have purchased them from King Soopers (Kroger) and Target.

Are Cornish hens organic? 

The Tyson ones that I buy aren’t organic; however, I have seen Simple Truth organic cornish game hens recently (this is a Kroger brand)

I hope you enjoyed this easy Instant Pot Cornish game hen recipe! If you try it, let me know how it turns out in the comments below. And if you’re looking for more quick and easy dinner ideas, be sure to check out my other recipes.

More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes:

• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Hamburger Helper