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)

Instant Pot Cornish Hen Recipe

Yield: 2 Cornish Hens

Prep Time: 12 hours

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 12 hours 30 minutes

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

Print

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

Instructions

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

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 1551mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 3g

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

The post Easy Instant Pot Cornish Game Hen Recipe first appeared on What's in the Pot.

The post Easy Instant Pot Cornish Game Hen Recipe appeared first on What's in the Pot.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, this is it! This recipe is perfect because it combines all the flavors of Hamburger Helper with pasta in just one pot – and it’s a lot better for you since it’s homemade. You can’t go wrong with that. It’s easy to put together, cooks quickly, and tastes delicious. Who could ask for more?

There are just those meals that you look back on with fondness from childhood – and Hamburger Helper is one of them.

However, if you aren’t as pleased with the idea when you look at the ingredients on the box, you might feel a little disappointed…until you realize you can make something that tastes even better at home and you can feel a little bit better about feeding your family.

This pressure cooker Hamburger Helper is absolutely delicious. It has tons of flavor, it’s so easy to throw together quickly, tastes amazing, it’s a recipe the whole family will love. This one definitely has a place in my permanent Instant Pot recipes cookbook!

The cooking time for this recipe in under 30 minutes, and it’s something your entire family will be asking you to make over and over again (picky eaters included).

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 oz dry elbow macaroni
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Turn instant pot to the saute setting and heat olive oil.
2. Add ground beef and brown until no longer pink and drain excess fat.
3. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pot with a little bit of beef broth.
5. Add ketchup, mustard, seasonings, macaroni, and brothe to the pot and stir well.
6. Place lid on top and set to manual high pressure for four minutes.
7. When the time goes off, quick release all the pressure.
8. When pressure is released, take the lid off and mix in the cheese. Serve immediately

Can I use different kinds of pasta?

You can use different kinds of pasta in this recipe, just make sure they are the same size so they cook evenly.

How can I make this recipe healthier?

There are a few swaps you can do to make this recipe a little bit better-for-you

• Use a healthier ground meat, such as ground turkey or ground chicken
• Choose an extra lean ground beef
• Use black beans instead of ground beef
• Choose a low fat sour cream
• Use low fat cheddar cheese
• Use whole wheat macaroni noodles

Why is this better than boxed Hamburger Helper?

This is better than the boxed version because you know exactly what’s in it and it’s made fresh. The homemade version has lots of the flavors and texture that we all know and love from the boxed stuff – it’s just better for you!.

What are some variations for this recipe?

Some variations for this recipe include:

• Using different kinds of cheese
• Adding in vegetables, such as onions or green peppers
• Using a different type of pasta.
• Add Worcestershire sauce.
• Use tomato paste instead of ketchup.
• Add in some taco seasoning
• Use fresh herbs

Can I use chicken broth instead of beef broth?

This should be fine. It may change the flavor ever-so-slightly, but it shouldn’t be very noticeable!

Are the noodles mushy?

The noodles should be cooked al dente, but not mushy. The best way to prevent them from getting mushy is to make sure you do the quick pressure release as quickly as possible when the timer goes off.

How can I store the leftovers?

You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze the leftovers?

You can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Yield: 7 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Check out one of our favorite easy Instant Pot dinner recipes - homemade hamburger helper. This easy meal is perfect for busy weeknights - it features a cheesy beef and pasta mixture that comes together in a snap!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 oz dry elbow macaroni
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Turn instant pot to the saute setting and heat olive oil.
2. Add ground beef and brown until no longer pink and drain excess fat.
3. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pot with a little bit of beef broth.
5. Add ketchup, mustard, seasonings, macaroni, and brothe to the pot and stir well.
6. Place lid on top and set to manual high pressure for four minutes.
7. When the time goes off, quick release all the pressure.
8. When pressure is released, take the lid off and mix in the cheese. Serve immediately

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 7 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 424Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 977mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 29g

What does it mean to deglaze the bottom?

Deglazing the pot is essential for making sure your food doesn’t burn. When you use the saute feature to brown the ground beef, pieces of the meat get stuck to the bottom of the pot.

So before you add the rest of the ingredients in, you need to deglaze! You can do this very simply by following these instructions:

• Add a small amount of water or broth to the bottom of the bottom
• Using a wooden spoon, crape the bottom of the pot until it looks like there are no more bits and pieces of meat stuck to it.

Why did I get a burn notice?

There are two main reasons you will get a burn notice:

• You did not put in enough liquid
• You did not deglaze the bottom of the pot.

Can I make this recipe dairy free?

We have not made this recipe dairy-free, but you could try using your favorite dairy-free cheddar shreds and a dairy-free sour cream.

What should I serve with this recipe?

You can make this a complete meal with some delicious sides dishes including steamed vegetables, a simple salad, or garlic bread.

More Weeknight Dinner Recipes:

• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
• Easy Instant Pot Tomato Soup Recipe
• Instant Pot Ham Potato and Cheddar Soup

This Instant Pot homemade hamburger helper is quick, easy and delicious – perfect for busy weeknights. It’s also healthier than boxed Hamburger Helper, since it’s homemade. You can customize it with your favorite ingredients or variations.

Plus, the leftovers are freezer-friendly, so you can make ahead and have a quick meal ready to go. Who knew making a delicious meal like this could be so easy? We love this cheesy pasta dish, and we know that it will be one of your family favorites for years to come.

The post Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper first appeared on What's in the Pot.

The post Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper appeared first on What's in the Pot.