Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens Recipe

Now the Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens are one of my favorite ways to make Cornish game hens.  While the rest of the family does not like a spice kick I am a spicy food kinda guy.  (I have included affiliate links to products I love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

When I was given a 12 Piece Set of Spiecology spices for Christmas the Smoky Honey Habanero was one I knew would be amazing on chicken. Now love that Spiceology is a small business out of Spokane, WA, meaning are PNW as well!! You can also grab their spices off of Amazon (See them -> here) or their own website.  We found Mother Plucker at a coastal town and I plan to order a couple more out of the Sasquatch Line of Spiceology, so good on smoked chicken.  

Ultimate Rub Collection – Spiceology Set of 12 Gourmet BBQ Spice RubsSasquatch BBQ Rubs8-Pack BBQ Rubs – Spiceology Barbecue Grilling Spice Rubs and Seasoning Gift Set

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens Ingredients:

• Cornish Game Hen
• Smoky Honey Habanero
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper 

Smoky Honey Habanero – Sweet and Spicy BBQ Rub – All-Purpose Seasoning – 5.7 ouncesAmazon Brand – Happy Belly Pure Olive Oil, Mediterranean Blend, 51 Fl OzTrader Joe’s Pink Salt and Black Pepper Grinder Set – Black Peppercorns and Pink Himalayan Salt Crystals

How To Make Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens:

We are always getting the Cornish Game Hens for 2 for $5 at Safeway.  These make for a great frugal dinner.  However, it does not taste like it is a cheap dinner. 

Pull your Cornish game hens to thaw out, I leave mine in the fridge for a day or on the counter.  

Once the hens are thawed rub them down with olive oil and place your oiled hen in a container.

Season to taste with Spiceology Smoky Honey Habanero, salt, and pepper.

For best flavor allow the Cornish Game Hens to set for at least a couple hours. I tend to season them the night before smoking. Be sure to keep the Cornish game hens in the fridge if you aren’t smoking right away.

An hour before you are ready to smoke the hens remove them from the fridge. This allows them to reach room temperature before putting on the smoker.

 
The way I prefer to smoke is to smoke to temp not by a set time. Now I have fallen in love with my Pit Boss Pro 1100 from Lowes, if you don’t have Lowes Walmart and Amazon carry other Pit Boss options or Pit Boss website themselves.  I love that I can set it at 225 with smoke and run inside and take a shower or prep sides and it just cooks my meat with an amazing smoke flavor! 

Start your smoker up and get it rolling smoke.   I used Pit Boss Grills Mesquite pellets but you can use any flavor of pellets to smoke your chicken. 

Once I get my Pellet Grill rolling smoke I left it on the smoke setting with a P Setting at P7.   

Set your Cornish Game Hens in your smoker and allow them to smoke.  They will slowly start to increase in temperature by default but this is also cold smoking because there isn’t an active heat.  

When you are close to wanting to heat turn the smoker up to 225 degrees.  

As the Cornish Game Hens cook be sure to rotate the hens and flip them as needed.

 
Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has cooked to 160 degrees.  (I love this one ->here on Amazon)
 

Remove and serve!!! 

What To Serve With Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens:

• • • White Rice
    • Smoked Baked Potato Salad
    • Green Salad
    • Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes 
    • Smoked Baked Potatoes

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens are the perfect way to enjoy Cornish game hens with a bit of a kick to them. Use a pellet grill to add smoke flavor!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 4 hrs

Marniate 16 hrs

Total Time 20 hrs 5 mins

Course BBQ, Entree

Cuisine American, BBQ, smoking

Servings 2 Servings

Ingredients

  

• Cornish Game Hens
• Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions

 

• Pull your Cornish game hens to thaw out if frozen, I leave mine in the fridge for a day or on the counter.
• Once the hens are thawed rub them down with olive oil and place your oiled hen in a container.
• Season to taste with Spiceology Smoky Honey Habanero, salt, and pepper to taste.
• For best flavor allow the Cornish Game Hens to set for at least a couple hours. I tend to season them the night before smoking. be sure to keep the Cornish game hens in the fridge if you aren't smoking in a short time frame.
• An hour before you are ready to smoke the hens remove them from the fridge, this allows them to reach room temperature before putting on the smoker.
• Start your smoker up and get it rolling smoke.   I used Pit Boss Grills Mesquite pellets but you can use any flavor of pellets to smoke your chicken.
• Once I get my Pellet Grill rolling smoke I left it on the smoke setting with a P Setting at P7.
• Set your Cornish Game Hens in your smoker and allow them to smoke.  They will slowly start to increase in temperature by default but this is also cold smoking because there isn't an active heat.
• When you are close to wanting to heat turn the smoker up to 225 degrees.
• As the Cornish Game Hens cook be sure to rotate the hens and flip them as needed.
• Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has cooked to 160 degrees. 
• Remove and serve!!!

Video

Notes

What To Serve With Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens:

 

• • White Rice
  • Smoked Baked Potato Salad
  • Green Salad
  • Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes 
  • Smoked Baked Potatoes

Keyword cornish game hens, Pit Boss Grills, smoked cornish game hens, Smoked Meat