Beer Can Cornish Hen
Ingredients
For the Cornish Hen and Dry Rub
- 2 Cornish Hens
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp ancho chile powder
- 1 tbsp hot smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 8 oz or 12 oz beer of your choice, I used a Texas Pilsner
For the Sauce
- The remainder of the beer after cooking the hens
- 1/2 stick butter at room temperature
- 1 tsp ancho chile powder
- 1 tbsp minced cilantro
- 2 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir with a wire whisk to evenly combine. Coat each game hen evenly with the dry rub inside and out, making sure to push rub into any crevices and openings in the hens. Allow the game hens to brine in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking.Pop the top of each beer can, pour out about half of the beer and place the game hens aboard. Cook in a 350 degree oven for 40 - 50 minutes, until the hens reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- You can make the sauce two ways. If you are using a mild beer you can add the butter and lime juice through the beer can opening shaking a little to combine, then pour over the hens and serve topped with cilantro. I used a pretty strong pilsner and it was a little bitter to my liking for a sauce, so I poured the remaining beer content into a skillet, reduced it by about half to get rid of the bitterness, added the butter and lime juice then poured that over each hen before serving.