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August 2, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens Recipe

Chicken, Smoker Recipes
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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. Plus these little birds make the perfect single serving!

Sweet and Spicy Cornish Game Hen Served on a plate

(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.

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 from their site->here or off of Amazon-> here.  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.  

Global Flavors Variety Pack – 6 Mini Rub JarsGlobal Flavors Variety Pack – 6 Mini Rub JarsGlobal Flavors Variety Pack – 6 Mini Rub JarsKorean BBQ BlendKorean BBQ BlendKorean BBQ BlendSasquatch BBQ | PNWSasquatch BBQ | PNWSasquatch BBQ | PNW

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens Ingredients:

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

What is a Cornish Game Hen?

A cornish game hen is a particular variety of boiler chicken, it is served young and immature. Typically they are less than 2 pounds in weight but they are not game birds. They are like miniature chickens, perfect for a single serving. They are most often found in the frozen section of the grocery store.

how to cook cornish hens on a pit boss pellet grill:

We always get 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. Be sure to thaw them following food safe guidelines.

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 of 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.

 
I prefer to smoke to temperature, 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 the Pit Boss website.  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. 

Money and time-saving tips from the old lady. If you order pellets online from Walmart and spend $35, they will drop them off at your door for free!! Their everyday price on pit boss pellets is amazing, plus the expert grill brand has a great price. (see them ->here)

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 active heat.  

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hen Smoking on a pit boss pellet grill

When you are close to wanting to eat 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 165 degrees.  (I love this one ->here on Amazon)

Remove and serve!!! 

How to Store leftover Smoked 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 remaining meat within 30 days after freezing.

What To Serve With Smoked Cornish Game Hens:

The sky is the limit on What to serve with Cornish game hens, starches and vegetables are my go-to! See my list of ideas -> here.

Side Dish: Caesar Salad, Rice, Smoked Baked Potatoes, Smoked Deviled Eggs, Grilled Twice Baked Potatoes, Smoked Potato Salad, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad

Desserts: Pumpkin Bundt Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bakes, Pink Fluff, Oreo Fluff, 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge, Cake Mix Cookies, Ice Cream Floats, Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake

Sweet and Spicy Cornish Game Hen Served on a plate

Other Smoked Cornish Game Hen Recipes

  • Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens 
  • Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens
  • Cold Smoked Cornish Game Hens
  • Coca-Cola Brined Smoked Cornish Game Hens
  • Smoked Cornish Game Hens Brine
Sweet and Spicy Cornish Game Hen Served on a plate

Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens

Guy Who Grills
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!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 4 hours hrs
Marniate 16 hours hrs
Total Time 20 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Course BBQ, Entree
Cuisine American, BBQ, smoking
Servings 1 Servings
Calories 904 kcal

Equipment

  • Pellet Grill
  • Meat thermometer
  • rubbermaid container

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Cornish Game Hens
  • Smoky Honey Habanero Seasoning
  • 1/2 Tablespooon 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 eat 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 165 degrees. 
  • Remove and serve!!!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 904kcalProtein: 77gFat: 64gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 455mgSodium: 275mgPotassium: 1062mgVitamin A: 486IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 4mg
Keyword cornish game hens, Pit Boss Grills, smoked cornish game hens, Smoked Meat
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
This Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe is the perfect way to smoke hens! The flavor is amazing from the rub and cold smoking on a pellet grill!
Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens Recipe
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