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September 28, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Smoked Cornish Game Hens With Brine Recipe

Chicken, Smoker Recipes
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These Smoked Cornish Game Hens are a family favorite! I smoke year-round, but Cornish Game Hens is one of my $5 Friday deals at Safeway; I can get 2/$5!  So I smoked them even though not in the best weather.  I tend to make extra so that I can make soup the next day. 

(I have included affiliate links to products I love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) In addition, this post contains affiliate links that will make me a small commission when used to order online.

My favorite part of these cornish game hens is that they are easy to make and seem to make a fancy dinner with little work.  Plus, you can drop the leftovers and the bones to make leftover soup, similar to my Smoked Turkey Noodle Soup.  Plus, who doesn’t love smoked meat? 

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Smoked Cornish Game Hens Ingredients:

  • Cornish Game Hens– You can use any chicken with this brine. Either bone in or boneless will work.
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Garlic Salt
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Black Pepper
  • Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • Ice-This is for adding to the brine the next day or if you store outside the fridge.
 

How To Make Cornish Game Hen Brine:

Measure out your dry ingredients in to a large bin or container with a lid.

Next, add in some water and use a whisk to mix the ingredients. The seasonings won’t dissolve all the way.

Next, add in your cornish game hens and ensure they are fully submerged in the brine.

Either store in the fridge or add ice to the container. It is important to maintain the brine and hens cold. Brine for at least 24 hours. 

Smoke Hollow Smoker With Cornish Game Hens In It

How To Smoke Cornish Game Hens:

Prep your smoker; I always start by turning it on and placing it in my chips. (I love to use apple pucks) and get good smoke going. I add my water tray after I get the smoke from my pucks and then open up my smoke pipe.

Vertical SmokersVertical SmokersVertical SmokersBradley PucksBradley PucksBradley PucksMeat ThermometerMeat ThermometerMeat Thermometer

 

While waiting for the smoke to start rolling, spray your racks with non-stick spray or rub them with olive oil.  This will stop the hens from sticking to the racks while cooking.

Remove your cornish game hens from your brine and place them onto your smoker racks. 

Cornish Game Hens In Start Of Smoke

Once you have smoke rolling for your smoker, place your chickens in your smoker.

I kept my smoker at 200-225 (way easier in colder weather); I like to cook meat low and slow for flavor. There will be some fluctuation as the smoker will do its own thing regulating its own temperature.

Keep an eye on your smoker; smoke the chickens for a couple of hours.

Use a meat thermometer to verify they are 165 degrees; cook for temperature, not for time.

Smoked Cornish Game Hens In Smoke Hollow Smoker

They will have nice crisp skin and color to them! Plus the smell will have your neighbors drooling.

Smoked Cornish Game Hens On A Platter

I served ours with Easy Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad, baby bok choy, and some Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes.  

What To Serve With Smoked Cornish Game Hens:

  • Caesar Salad
  • Smoked Baked Potatoes
  • Smoked Deviled Eggs
  • Grilled Twice Baked Potatoes 
  • Smoked Potato Salad
  • Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
Served Cornish Game Hens Served

How to store leftover Cornish game hens

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. The remainder meat will be good for two to four days if stored properly. You can also debone the cornish game hens and freeze the meat. I would use the meat within 30 days after freezing.

Smoked Cornish Game Hen Recipes:

These are some of my favorites to smoke. The flavor is always excellent, and they are easy to change up each time you make them.

  • Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens 
  • Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens
  • Cold Smoked Cornish Game Hens
  • Smoked Cornish Game Hens With Brine And Dry Rub
  • Coca-Cola Smoked Cornish Game Hens
  • Smoked Cornish Game Hens With Brine

Smoked Cornish Game Hens

Guy Who Grills
Smoked Cornish Game Hens are perfect to smoke for a dinner!! Use a homemade brine to add flavor and the leftovers make amazing soup too!
1 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 3 hrs
Brine 1 d
Course Entree
Cuisine BBQ
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 463 kcal

Equipment

  • Vertical Smoker
  • Bradley Pucks
  • Meat thermometer
  • 2.5 Gallon Rubbermaid

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Cornish Game Hens
  • 1 gallon Water
  • 1 Cup Salt
  • ¼ Cup Garlic Salt
  • ¼ Cup Worcestershire Sauce
  • 4 Tablespoon Black Pepper
  • ¼ Cup Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • Ice

Instructions
 

  • Measure out your dry ingredients in to a large bin or container with a lid.
  • Next, add in some water and use a whisk to mix the ingredients. The seasonings won't dissolve all the way.
  • Next, add in your cornish game hens and ensure they are fully submerged in the brine.
  • Either store in the fridge or add ice to the container.
  • Prep your smoker; I always start by turning it on and placing it in my chips.
  • While waiting for the smoke to start rolling, spray your racks with non-stick spray or rub them with olive oil.
  • Remove your cornish game hens from your brine and place them onto your smoker racks.
  • Once you have smoke rolling for your smoker, place your chickens in your smoker.
  • I kept my smoker at 200-225 (way easier in colder weather); I like to cook meat low and slow for flavor. 
  • Keep an eye on your smoker; smoke the chickens for a couple of hours.
  • Use a meat thermometer to verify they are 165 degrees; cook for temperature, not for time.
  • Remove and serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 8gCalories: 463kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 39gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 227mgSodium: 21445mgPotassium: 619mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 307IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 3mg
Keyword game hen brine, smoked cornish game hens
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Smoked Cornish Game Hens With Brine Recipe
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