Orange Glazed Cornish Hen

Marinate the hens for at least an hour. While they’re marinating in the refrigerator, start making the sauce.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 orange, zested and juiced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 Cornish game hens

Steps

1. Mix olive oil, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, orange zest and juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper together in a large resealable bag. Add hens, seal bag, and coat hens with marinade. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, flipping the bag 1 or 2 times to redistribute marinade.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
3. Mix orange juice, soy sauce, honey, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, onion, ginger, and black pepper together in a bowl.
4. Remove hens from marinade and transfer to a roasting pan, discarding leftover marinade.
5. Roast hens in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Brush hens with orange glaze and roast for 5 more minutes. Flip hens, brush with more glaze, and roast until meat is no longer pink in the center, about 5 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).