Instant Pot Cornish Hens

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Instant Pot Cornish Hens take just 20 minutes to pressure cook and get browned and crispy with a quick broil in the oven! They’re tender and juicy, and with a flavorful yogurt sauce served on the side, they make an elegant meal!

These Cornish game hens are so easy to prepare in the Instant Pot! Their individual serving size makes them perfect to serve at dinner parties, or you can split them and serve a crowd at your next holiday meal! 

We usually serve them with a lemony Greek yogurt sauce (recipe included below) and a side of crispy roasted potatoes and sous vide carrots. It makes a delicious weeknight or holiday dinner!

If you love Cornish hens like we do, you’ll also love this stuffed Cornish hen recipe, these sous vide Cornish hens or these grilled Cornish game hens!

Check out the Instant Pot cornish game hen story!

What are Cornish game hens?

Cornish game hens are a type of hybrid chicken. They’re not a game bird, nor a hen by definition (can be male or female).

They’re smaller than chickens, averaging between 1-2 pounds, and mature quickly, growing large breasts in fewer than 5 weeks. 

Their small size means they're easy to prepare and cook quickly!

Why this recipe works

1. The Instant Pot yields the same tender and juicy results as the oven, but in less time. That makes this recipe perfect for busy weeknights or large gatherings.
2. While you need to broil the Cornish hens for a few minutes before serving, for the most part, your oven is free to cook or bake other recipes. 
3. Cornish hens are small in size, so they cook much quicker than a standard chicken. Their individual serving size also makes them perfect for entertaining. 
4. Love crispy skin? No problem! While the Instant Pot cooks the Cornish hens to tender and juicy perfection, they’re broiled for 3-5 minutes before serving to get the skin browned and crispy!

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

You’ll need 2 Cornish game hens for this recipe. The ones I used were 1 pound each, but you can get them as large as 2 pounds.

They'll will be marinated overnight with a flavorful rub consisting of salt, black pepper, garam masala, garlic, ginger, honey and olive oil. 

For the garam masala, while you can buy this warm spice blend, I always use my homemade garam masala recipe.

I recommend finely grated ginger, but ginger paste also works. Please avoid using ground ginger. It’s just not the same fresh flavor.

For the cooking liquid, you’ll need a ½ cup of chicken broth. You can use store-bought or homemade like this crockpot chicken broth. You can also substitute vegetable broth or even water if you prefer.

The Cornish hens are served with a simple yogurt sauce made with yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, honey, salt and turmeric. 

For a thick and creamy yogurt sauce, make sure you use Greek yogurt. And for the best lemon flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice as opposed to the bottled juice.

The turmeric is optional, but enhances the flavor of the sauce and adds color.

Step by step instructions

Combine the salt, pepper, garam masala, garlic, ginger, honey and olive oil in a bowl and mix to make a paste.

Rub the mixture all over both of the Cornish hens.

Let them sit in the fridge, uncovered, overnight.

Heat an Instant Pot using the saute setting and a non-stick insert (if using the stainless steel insert, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil).

Place the Cornish hens in and brown on both sides (about 2-3 minutes per side). If they both won't fit comfortably, brown one at a time.

Add the chicken broth, lemon halves (lightly squeeze them before adding them) and onion to the Instant Pot, along with the browned Cornish hens.

Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook for 20 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then use the quick release to release the remaining pressure.

Place on an oven safe sheet and broil for 3-5 minutes, until the top has browned and the skin has crisped.

Serve whole with the yogurt dipping sauce (see below).

How to make the yogurt sauce

Mix the yogurt with the lemon juice, honey, turmeric (optional), garlic and salt. Adjust the honey, salt and lemon juice to taste, if desired. 

Expert tips

1. I don’t recommend skipping the step of letting the Cornish hens marinate with the rub overnight. This provides enough time for the birds to absorb the flavors of the rub and helps them get tender and juicy. 
2. When cooking these Cornish hens in the Instant Pot, I normally use a non-stick insert. If you’re using the stainless steel insert, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of cooking oil so the birds don’t stick when they’re browning.
3. You may need to brown the Cornish hens one at a time if both won’t fit in the Instant Pot at the same time.
4. Cornish hens should be cooked to 165F degrees. I suggest using a digital thermometer to test for doneness.
5. Let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes before doing a quick release. The Cornish hens will continue cooking as the pressure releases.
6. While the cook time is 20 minutes in the Instant Pot, you’ll need to factor in time to brown and broil the birds and for pressure to build and release in the Instant Pot.

Common questions

Storage and freezing instructions

You can store leftover Cornish hens in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, just warm the leftovers in the oven or in the microwave. 

You can also freeze the cooked Cornish hens. Just let them cool, then remove the meat from the bones and place in an airtight container or freezer safe bag. It should last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Other Instant Pot recipes

• Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
• Instant Pot Shrimp
• Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs
• Instant Pot Coq au Vin
• Instant Pot Pork Ribs

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!