Instant Pot Cornish Hens The Soul Food Way
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If you love the rich, seasoned flavor of roasted Cornish hens but don’t want to wait an hour for dinner, this Instant Pot version is your shortcut to soul food perfection! These juicy, tender hens are pressure-cooked to lock in flavor, with that deep, savory seasoning soulful cooking is known for.
It’s Southern comfort food made quicker. Perfect for Sunday dinner, holidays, or any day you’re craving something special with all the soulful goodness of a home-cooked feast!
Is a Cornish hen just a small chicken?
Yes, a Cornish hen is essentially a small chicken. It’s a young bird, typically less than two pounds, bred from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds. Despite the name “game hen,” it’s not wild but rather a tender, domestic chicken known for its delicate flavor, juicy texture, and elegant presentation.
What is the spice rub for Cornish hens?
The ingredients for this recipe are simple: Cornish hens and chicken broth.
But the real star is the soulful seasoning blend. A mix of flavorful herbs and spices transforms these little hens into a tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned Southern favorite, using my shortcut blend of Famous Dave’s Chicken Rub and Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb Seasoning to create a signature soul food rub. It’s an easy way to get deep, down-home flavor without having to measure and mix a dozen different spices yourself, and with minimal prep.
How to make Cornish hens in the Instant Pot
All the rich, roasted flavor of soul food hens, ready in almost half the time of the classic oven-roasted Cornish hens recipe, with an easy drop in the pot, and walk!
- Season: Rub the hens with a mixture of Famous Dave’s seasoning and Weber seasoning blends.
- Add broth: Place the trivet rack in the Instant Pot and pour in the chicken broth for pressure cooking.
- Seal and cook: Close the Instant Pot lid to seal it, then pressure-cook the hens. After cooking, allow the hens to rest before slicing and serving.
Do you need to brown the Cornish hens before pressure cooking them?
No browning needed! The beauty of the Instant Pot lies in its ability to do all the work for you, locking in moisture and flavor without the extra step of searing. You’ll still get tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned hens with that deep, soulful flavor, no pre- or post-cooking required!
How do you keep Cornish hens from drying out?
To keep Cornish hens from drying out, add chicken broth to the Instant Pot before cooking. The steam and pressure from the broth keep the meat moist, tender, and full of flavor every time.
Storage and reheating
Store leftover Cornish hens in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the oven or air fryer to keep the skin crisp and the meat juicy.
Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Instant Pot trivet rack (comes with the Instant Pot)
Ingredients
- 1-1 ½ pound Cornish hens up to 3 hens
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons seasoning salt Famous Dave’s Chicken Rub (or similar)
- 2 tablespoons garlic salt Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb (or similar)
- 5-6 sprigs thyme optional, fresh sprigs of thyme to garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the Famous Dave’s Rub with the roasted garlic & herb spice to create a Southern spice rub.
- Combine the seasonings and thoroughly rub the mixture onto the Cornish hens to coat them evenly.
- Open the Instant Pot lid, and pour the chicken broth into the stainless steel inner pot.
- Place the seasoned hens on the Instant Pot trivet rack and carefully lower them into the inner pot.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up, in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 25 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is complete, allow for a natural pressure release for at least 15 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to the venting position and manually release any remaining pressure if necessary.
- Baste the hens by using a large spoon to scoop the pan juices from the inner pot and pour them over the top of each hen.
- Use the trivet rack’s handles to carefully remove the hens from the inner pot.
- Place the cooked hens on a cutting board for carving and slide out the trivet rack.
- Optionally, reserve the remaining chicken broth in the inner pot to pour over the Cornish hens when serving. (It’s also delicious poured over rice!) Garnish with fresh sprigs of thyme, then serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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This recipe is giving all the flavor of oven-roasted but faster in an Instant Pot!