Roasted Herbed Baby Chickens Recipe

Delight your family with this incredibly simple yet flavorful Roasted Herbed Baby Chicken recipe! Perfect for busy weeknights, these tender baby chickens (or Cornish hens) roast to juicy perfection in under an hour. Each succulent bird is generously seasoned with herbs and butter, creating a truly unforgettable meal. Serve with your favorite sides like wild rice pilaf, roasted Parisian potatoes, steamed green beans, or snow peas. Pair with a chilled Chardonnay for a complete culinary experience. This recipe comes from our Classic Essential Roasts cookbook series, available in Sydney, London, Vancouver, and New York. Impress your dinner guests – they'll think you spent hours in the kitchen!

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 65 mins
Calories 1453.5 kcal
Protein 128g
Rating 5.0 (1 Reviews)
Roasted Herbed Baby Chickens 19

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Roasted Herbed Baby Chickens

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 spring onions, green and white parts, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon rind, grated
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 (1 1/2-2 lb.) baby chickens

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Roasted Herbed Baby Chickens? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Roasted Herbed Baby Chickens

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, herbs, spring onion, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  3. Using poultry shears, cut down either side of the backbone of each chicken.
  4. Discard the backbones and gently flatten the chickens.
  5. Carefully loosen the skin from the breastbone and legs of each chicken.
  6. Gently spread half of the herb butter mixture under the skin of each chicken, ensuring it gets evenly distributed.
  7. Tuck the wings and neck skin inward.
  8. Place the chickens on a rack in a shallow baking dish.
  9. Brush the remaining herb butter mixture over the top of each chicken.
  10. Roast for 30-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the juices run clear. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
  11. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

24 g

Sugar

1g

Fat

189g

Carbs

0g