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overhead shot of cooked Cornish hens, potatoes, and green beans on a white platter

Slow Cooker Cornish Hens

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5 from 1 review

Slow cooker Cornish hens is the perfect one-pot meal for feeding a small crowd. Cornish hens, potatoes, and your favorite green vegetables cook together in the same Crock-Pot. Instructions to make this easy poultry recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

  • Total Time: 4 hours 4 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 Cornish hens (approximately 34 pounds total)
  • 1 1/2 pounds potatoes
  • 1 pound green beans, trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 cup water or broth (for Instant Pot only)

Seasoning

  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or more)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

Prepare the Cornish hens:

  1. Rinse & pat dry Cornish hens. Remove giblets & trim any excess fat.
  2. Drizzle the Cornish hens all over with the 1 tablespoon of oil.
  3. Season both hens evenly & all over with the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Slow Cooker

  1.  Add potatoes to the slow cooker. Add the prepared Cornish hens on top of the potatoes.
  2. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.
  3. Remove the Cornish hens & potatoes. The last 30 minutes of cooking time, add the green vegetables on top of the Cornish hens.

Instant Pot

  1. Pour 1 cup of water or broth into the pressure cooker. Add the trivet to the pot.
  2. Add the Cornish hens on top of the trivet.
  3. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure for 20 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.  Remove the Cornish hens. Add the green vegetables and potatoes.  Cook high pressure for 3 minutes. When cook time is complete, quick release the pressure.
  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 4 mins
  • Cook Time: 4 hours