A recipe for Roasted Lemon Almond Cornish Hens – Cornish hens are cooked in the slow cooker with lemon, thyme, and almonds for a tender, fall off the bone slow cooker meal.
I don’t participate in blogging events very much. It’s not because I don’t want to, because I would love to participate in every single one of them – but I swear time passes me by too quickly, and even though I have every intention to participate, it just doesn’t always happen.
But then I saw that Lis was hosting this round of Weekend Cookbook Challenge and the theme is pressure cookers, dutch ovens and crock pots. Well, we all know how I love my crock pot, so I knew that I would be wanting to participate in this even this month. It seemed as though time had gotten the best of me again as I realized that the deadline is tomorrow, and I still hadn’t made anything. But lucky me – as I was going through some photos on my computer last night, I found this recipe for Roasted Lemon Almond Cornish Hens that I made in the crock pot way back in December. It looks like I am getting to participate after all!!
This recipe came to me at the perfect time. I was at the grocery store one day just before Christmas, and I saw some Cornish hens on sale. I had never made a Cornish hen, and I don’t think I had actually ever eaten one either. I did what I hardly ever do – I bought 2 of them, even though I didn’t have a recipe in mind. (I am a total planner – I work out my grocery list based on what is on the menu, and I rarely just pick up something because I want to try it out without a plan in mind!)
So on Christmas morning, we are opening presents, and I get my new, beautiful, bigger-than-my-old-one crock pot. I pull it out of the box, and find the instruction booklet, that also has some recipes to use in your crock pot. Lo and behold – there is a recipe for Cornish hens!! And I had everything on hand that I needed to make the recipe!!
I made these the day after Christmas, and since I was home all day, I was able to baste the hens with the juices throughout the day. By the time we were ready to eat, these hens were falling apart they were so tender. I actually had to piece this one together to even take a picture, because they fell right apart when I took them out of the crock pot!! It was such a delicious meal, and easy to boot. If you are looking for a good crock pot recipe, this definitely fits the bill!
Slow Cooker Roasted Lemon Almond Cornish Hens
Ingredients
- 3 lemons
- 2 Cornish hens thawed
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 4 cloves garlic minces and divided
- 4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds toasted and divided
Instructions
- Slice one lemon; place 2 to 3 slices in the cavity of each hen. Place one teaspoon minced thyme and 1 clove of mince garlic in each cavity. Place hens in slow cooker.
- Juice 1 lemon; mix lemon juice, butter, remaining garlic and thyme, salt and pepper and drizzle over hens. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup almonds.
- Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours (4 to 6 on high). If desired, baste hens with juices throughout the time.
- Arrange cooked hens on a serving platter. Serve with remaining lemon slices and garnish with remaining almonds.
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
Lemon and almond are a great pairing! Your hen looks beautiful! Something to do with my crockpot! 🙂
Lynnylu says
Your food is always beautiful. I just bought a slow cooker and will definitely make this recipe. Thanks.
Patricia Scarpin says
Deb, next time you cook this dish make sure there’s an extra place on the table – for me! 🙂
Beth G. says
That looks delish!!
jasmine says
I hear you about not enough time to do all the events…like how I didn’t have time to do this one.
This dish looks lovely…
j
Cookie baker Lynn says
What fortuitous hens. On sale, just as you receive a new crockpot, and you found the pictures just in time to enter them. Good job!
Kevin says
I have never had a cornish hen. It looks good with the almonds and the lemon.
Lis says
Heavenly.. it’s all I can say about those birds!
I love cornish hens and have never even thought to make in my crockpot (I also got a much bigger one for Xmas too.. squeeeee!) and now I have what sounds like an amazing recipe for them! Yay!
Thank you so much for participating sweetie!
xoxo
Peabody says
Very nice. You just don’t see cornish game hens all that much anymore.
Catherine Wilkinson says
I love it that you found the recipe on the Rival little booklet. Sometimes, those recipes go by the wayside, but cooking companies spend big bucks finding or creating really good recipes to go with their products!
These little chicks look terrific. I’m a crockpot lover too, so I’m putting this on cooking speed dial!
chou says
I find myself with two Cornish hens today thanks to a loving mom-in-law. Thanks for inspiring me!
Cakespy says
Ooh, this sounds fantastic. The first time I ever tried Cornish hen was several years ago, and I immediately could see what the fuss was about. This looks like a delicious way to serve it!
Steph says
This sounds yummy! I too have never tried cornish hens, I think I might have to give it try once and for all! Great recipe!
Jenny says
Sounds Great Deborah! I wouldn’t have thought to cook it in the crock pot. Great idea.
Veron says
lemon..garlic…almonds! I love everything in this dish and it looks delicious!
glamah16 says
Yummm. I love cornish hens. Cooking them this way makes it really tender. I can taste the lemon and garlickey goodness.