These Grilled Cornish Game Hens are a simple yet elegant way to serve a special dinner without complicated prep. Split Cornish hens are seasoned, brushed with a sweet-savory mustard glaze, and grilled until perfectly golden with juicy, tender meat. They remind me of honey mustard grilled chicken, but they feel a bit more fancy. Whether you’re hosting guests or planning a cozy weekend dinner at home, this recipe delivers a beautiful, restaurant-quality main dish with very little effort.
Cornish game hens cook quickly, look impressive on the plate, and offer built-in portion control—each half-hen makes the perfect serving. The glaze blends whole-grain mustard, white wine, honey, and warming spices like cloves and cinnamon, giving the hens irresistible flavor and gorgeous caramelization on the grill.
If you’re looking for something a little different for the holidays, or you simply want to change up your usual chicken dinner, these grilled hens are a fantastic choice. You can also try my orange glazed cornish hens, cranberry glazed cornish hens or roasted apricot ginger glazed game hens.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s elegant but easy to make. It looks special, but the steps are simple and straightforward.
- It’s perfect for entertaining because individual portions make for beautiful plating.
- There is a delicious mustard glaze. It’s sweet, tangy, and lightly spiced.
- It has a fast cooking time. Hens cook quicker than a whole chicken.
- This recipe is grill or broiler friendly, so it works indoors or outdoors!
Ingredients Needed:
- Cornish game hens: Removed skin helps the glaze penetrate and reduces fat.
- Whole grain mustard: Adds texture and tang to the glaze.
- Dry white wine: Balances the mustard and helps the glaze caramelize.
- Honey: For sweetness and glossy browning.
- Warm spices: Cloves and cinnamon add subtle depth.
How to Make Grilled Cornish Game Hens
- Prep the Hens: Remove giblets, rinse, pat dry, and remove the skin. Split each hen lengthwise into halves. Season with salt and pepper.
- Make the Mustard Glaze: Mix whole grain mustard, white wine, honey, additional pepper, and cinnamon or cloves. This is your basting mixture.
- Grill the Hens: Place hens meaty side up on a preheated grill or under the broiler. Cook 15 minutes per side, basting occasionally with the mustard glaze. The hens are done when juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Serve: Transfer to a platter, spoon over any leftover glaze, and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Tips for Making Perfect Cornish Game Hens:
- Remove the skin: This lets the sauce soak into the meat and avoids flare-ups on the grill.
- Split hens cook evenly: Halves help ensure quick and consistent grilling.
- Monitor grilling temperature: Medium-high heat is ideal for browning without burning.
- Use a thermometer: Check for 165°F in the thickest part of the breast.
- Let them rest: A 5-minute rest keeps them juicy.
What to Serve with Grilled Cornish Game Hens
Pair these flavorful hens with fresh, bright side dishes such as:
- Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
- Classic Rice Pilaf
- Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Citrus Roasted Asparagus
- Couscous with Parsley and Shallots
For a special occasion meal, add a light dessert like strawberry panna cotta, lemon bars, or fresh berries with whipped cream.
Make-Ahead and Storage
To make ahead, mix the glaze up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate. Store leftover cooked hens in a sealed container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Freeze cooked hen halves for up to 2 months; thaw and warm gently.
Note from RecipeGirl:
“Cornish game hens are one of my favorite “secret weapons” for entertaining. They cook quickly, look beautiful on the plate, and the honey-mustard glaze gives them so much flavor without any fuss. Serve these with simple sides and you’ve got a restaurant-quality meal made at home—perfect for holidays, date nights, or any time you want something a little extra special.” – RecipeGirl
Grilled Cornish Game Hens
Equipment
- Kitchen Scissors (for cutting the hens in half)
- Broiler Pan with Rack (if cooking in the oven)
Ingredients
GAME HENS:
- Three 1½-pound Cornish Game Hens
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
MUSTARD SAUCE:
- ¼ cup whole grain mustard
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
PREPARE THE HENS:
- Remove and discard giblets and necks from the Cornish hens. Rinse the hens under cold water; pat dry. Remove the skin; trim the excess fat and discard. Split the hens in half lengthwise. Sprinkle salt and pepper over hen halves; set aside.
PREPARE THE SAUCE AND COOK:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients.
- Pre-heat your grill or your oven broiler. Place hen halves, meaty sides up, on a grill rack or rack of a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; cook 15 minutes on each side or until juices run clear, basting occasionally with mustard mixture.
Notes
- If you are preparing this recipe as gluten-free, just be sure to use a brand of mustard that is known to be GF.
- I recommend removing the skin. This lets the sauce soak into the meat and avoids flare-ups on the grill.
- Monitor the grilling temperature- medium-high heat is ideal for browning without burning.
- Let them rest after grilling– a 5-minute rest keeps them juicy
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
