How to Design a Cornish Hen Menu
Start by preparing your Cornish game hen recipe. (If you’re really in a hurry, try butterflying your tiny bird before cooking. With more surface area exposed near the heat, it will roast even quicker.) After roasting, slice each bird in half and allocate one half per person to feed a family of four. Then round out your Cornish hen menu with a few (or all, if you’re feeling ambitious!) of these best sides.
What to Serve with Cornish Hens
Pick and choose your favorites (or the dishes you know your family will eat) from our list of sides for Cornish hens, or make them all for a mega feast. If you’re choosing just a couple, we suggest one starchy side and one veggie-driven side dish.
Escarole Bistro Salad with Bacon
To start your menu to go with Cornish hens, dig into this crisp and refreshing salad recipe. We like to serve it as an appetizer course as the main course rests (prior to slicing to allow the juices to redistribute) to tame our appetites before the feast ahead. A slice of bacon per person will win over the meat and potatoes crowd, while the vitamin-rich escarole and light homemade dijon vinaigrette will please the clean eaters.
Overnight Refrigerator Rolls
We’re never mad about a make-ahead recipe. Pair the salad course with the Parmesan Herb Rosette variation of this homemade bread recipe. That way, you can snag some of the Parmesan cheese called for in the risotto to top each fluffy roll. This makes a whopping 32 rolls, so pop the extras in the freezer to thaw and enjoy later.
Mushroom Risotto
Yes, you can make creamy risotto from scratch. With its luxurious texture and tender grains, risotto is one of the best sides for Cornish hens, especially when you add umami-rich cremini mushrooms. While this 45-minute side dish for Cornish hens says it serves six, we love it so much that it generally feeds four in our families (with no regrets).
Cabbage and Apple Farro Toss
Incredible any time of year but off-the-charts perfect come fall, this side for Cornish hens sneaks four food groups into one 25-minute package. Sweet apples, slightly bitter cabbage, and nutty farro are crowned by salty, crispy bacon for a hearty side that’s well-balanced in flavor and nutrition. The original recipe serves six, so to modify for four, simply use a half cup less of the whole grain.
Pressure Cooker Mac and Four Cheeses
Wondering what to serve with Cornish hens when you’re in the mood to splurge but don’t have all day to fuss in the kitchen? This four-cheese mac is your solution. Since the cheesy pasta is made in the Instant Pot, it can join the hen spread after just three minutes (yes, really!) of cook time. The classic comfort food recipe serves four generously but can stretch to serve six if you want to save some leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
