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–+ servings
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two Grilled Beer Can Cornish Hens cooking on a grill.

Grilled Beer Can Cornish Hens Recipe

Zona House
These Grilled Beer Can Cornish Hens are so flavorful and juicy! They smell and taste incredible. Just apply a sweet and savory dry rub all over the hens, prop them up on open cans of beer, and let them grill. The hens can also be roasted in the oven
4.38 from 16 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Rest 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Chicken-Poultry
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 952 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 Cornish game hens (thawed)
  • 2 cans beer

For the rub:

  • 1 Tablespoon Adobo seasoning with cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat a grill to medium heat for indirect grilling.
  • Rinse the Cornish hens and pat dry with paper towel.
  • In a bowl, combine the Adobo seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, poultry seasoning, and brown sugar.
  • Pour half of the beer out of each can into a glass. Drink it up if you want.
  • Sprinkle a little bit of the seasoning into each of the half cans of beer.
  • Rub the remaining spice mixture all over the two hens.
  • Place the hens over the 1/2 full cans of beer.
  • Slide the beer cans into beer can holders on a baking sheet.
  • Fold the wings behind the hens to keep the tips from burning.
  • Place the baking sheet, with the hens on it, inside of the grill and close the lid.
  • Grill using indirect medium heat for about 45 minutes. The safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius). A meat or instant-read thermometer is your best bet for determining the temperature of your chicken, and if you're cooking a whole bird, it should be inserted into the thickest part of the thigh but not touching bone.
  • Let set for at least 5 minutes before carefully removing the hens from beer can with tongs and an oven mitt.

Video

Notes

  • To bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and bake for about 45 minutes or until done.
  • The beer is not included in the nutrition information.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 952kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 78gFat: 63gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 455mgSodium: 281mgPotassium: 1182mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1008IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 5mg
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