Traeger Smoked Cornish Hen 

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This Traeger smoked cornish hen is the perfect recipe for a dinner party, cookout or weeknight dinner. This recipe ensures you end with juicy and tender cornish hen, this is a great recipe if you want to really impress at a dinner party or want to whip up a quick dinner, all you need is your favorite rub and ready to go.

Why You’ll Love This Smoked Cornish Hen Recipe

This recipe is perfect if you want to impress and cook fast. Cornish hens are the perfect size to be a single portion for each person.

The smaller size of the hens also makes it much faster to cook then a big turkey or chicken.

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What You’ll Need to Cook Smoked Cornish Hen

  • Cornish Hen
  • Olive Oil
  • BBQ Rub or use the ingredients below to make your own rub
  • Black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  • Chilli Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Smoked Paprika
  • Garlic powder
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How to Make Smoked Cornish Hen

Step 1: Preheat and Season the Hens

Preheat the grill to 225°F, Mix the dry rub ingredients, then apply the binder of oil then coat the hens with the dry rub. 

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Step 3: Smoke the Hen

Place the hens with their breast side down on the preheated grill grates and close the lid. Smoke for about 2 hours until the internal temperature of the breast reaches 145°F.

Turn up the heat to 360°F and cook until the internal temp is 165°F. Use a trusty meat thermometer to check the temperature.

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Step 4: Serve 

Remove the hens from the grill and cover with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary if you’d like. Serve individually and enjoy!

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Variations for Smoked Cornish Hen

Instead of making your rub, you could use a premade rub. This will make your job a bit easier! Experiment with the spices in the rub, find which one you like best!

What Temperature to Smoke Cornish Hen at

Smoke the hens at 225°F. When the chicken is almost ready, crank up the heat to 360°F.The low temperature will allow the flavor of the wood chips to permeate the meat. The high temperature at the end will help to crisp it up a bit.

What Internal Temperature You Need to Reach for Cornish Hen

Cornish hen needs to reach an internal temp of 165°F. Check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the hens.

Don’t let the probe touch any bones because that can alter the reading. An instant-read meat thermometer will ensure quick results.

How Long to Smoke Cornish Hen

You should expect to smoke the hen for about 2.5 hours. The size of the hens will determine the cooking time. However, most Cornish hens are roughly the same size.

If you were to use a larger bird, you would need a longer cook time.

How to Store Leftover Smoked Cornish Hen

Store leftover hen in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Freeze it in a freezer-proof container if you want to save it for longer. Simply thaw out the chicken and warm it up by your preferred method.

My Favorite Wood Chips for Smoked Cornish Hen

Pecan, apple, and cherry are good mild options for smoked Cornish hen. Mesquite and hickory are a good choice of wood if you want a rich hardwood flavor.

This recipe has basic spices so any type of wood chips will enhance the natural flavor.

What to Serve With Smoked Cornish Hen

Cornish hen goes well with a variety of classic side dishes. Try some of the following:

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Traeger Smoked Cornish Hen

Charlie
Traeger Smoked Cornish hen the perfect recipe for a dinner party, cookout or weeknight dinner. It is a simple and fast dinner, all you need is your favorite rub and ready to go.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Dinner, lunch, main, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American, Barbecue, bbq, dinner, grill, lunch
Servings 4 servings
Calories 236 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 whole Cornish Hen 1.25 lbs -1.5lbs each
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 3 tbsp BBQ Rub or use the ingredients below to make a rub
  • 1 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tbsp Kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 2 tsp Garlic powder
  • 2 tsp Chilli Powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the grill to 225°F
  • Mix the dry rub ingredients, then apply the binder of oil then coat the hens with the dry rub.
  • Place the hens with their breast side down on the preheated grill grates and close the lid.
  • Smoke for about 2 hours until the internal temperature of the breast reaches 145°F.
  • Turn up the heat to 360°F and cook until the internal temp is 165°F. Use a trusty meat thermometer to check the temperature.
  • Remove the hens from the grill and cover with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Garnish with a sprig of rosemary if you’d like. Serve individually and enjoy!
Keyword Traeger Smoked Cornish Hen

Smoke On!

Charlie

Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).

I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.

You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!

You can read more about me on our About Us page.

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