Cornish hens are typically seen as a smaller breed of chicken. In many ways, people aren’t wrong. Cornish hens are simply a specific breed of chicken sometimes known by the name Cornish game hens.
This breed of chicken is much smaller than most breeds of chicken we usually eat. They are lean, tender, and juicy, making them a great choice of meat for a family dinner or party. However, thinking of something to serve with a Cornish hen can be quite tricky.
This bird is so versatile that we have an overwhelming number of side dishes we can serve with it. This can make it much harder for you to decide on the best.
No need to worry though, we’re here to help. In this post, we’re going to show you 15 tasty sides you can make.
If you’re looking for an awesome side dish, stick around!
1. Mac And Cheese
Let’s start with a side dish that everyone loves. Perfect for serving large groups of people, you simply can’t go wrong with mac and cheese. Rich, creamy, crispy, and super cheesy, mac and cheese is wonderful.
The creamy flavors of the mac and cheese go brilliantly with the meaty flavor of the Cornish hen. Mac and cheese is a hearty dish too so your guests won’t leave hungry.
2. Mushroom Risotto
Mushroom risotto can be made in just 45 minutes with 9 basic pantry ingredients. These ingredients include chicken broth, arborio rice, mushrooms, white wine, butter, and parmesan cheese.
It might require some culinary skill to get it perfect, but mushroom risotto is a great complement to meat dishes. It’s also a very comforting dish that you can enjoy all year round.
Don’t be surprised to see your guests coming back for more.
3. Dinner Rolls
Dinner rolls might seem like a strange side dish to serve with a Cornish hen, however, when you find out why you should, everything makes sense.
Cornish hens are renowned for being juicy. This meaty juice isn’t something that should be missed out on. By making fresh dinner rolls, you can soak up all those meaty juices, making sure every last drop is eaten.
The rolls are crisp on the outside and hot and fluffy inside. This fluffy interior is perfect for soaking all the juices up.
4. Roast Potatoes
Another side dish you can’t go wrong with is roast potatoes. Super simple to make, roast potatoes are flavorful, crispy, and fluffy.
Many people would consider them the ultimate side dish to serve with chicken. We find it hard to disagree. This recipe gets you to season the roast potatoes with salt. The only other ingredients you need are oil or goose fat, and flour.
The flour is used to give the potatoes a crispier exterior.
5. Mushroom Rice
The next recipe on our list isn’t too different from risotto. The main difference between the two is that mushroom rice is easier to make. Mushroom rice isn’t as rich and creamy either.
Cornish hens are incredibly savory. Therefore, you want a starchy side dish to balance things out. Mushroom rice does this perfectly.
This dish is earthy, hearty, smooth, and delicious. For extra flavor, the mushrooms are sauteed with green onions and garlic. The dish is then cooked in a broth with parsley, salt, and pepper.
6. Glazed Carrots
If you need a super simple side dish in a pinch, look no further than glazed carrots. Glazed carrots offer a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors. Irresistibly good, glazed carrots consist of fresh carrots sauteed in brown sugar and lemon juice.
Made in a matter of minutes, the end product is a batch of crunchy sweet carrots that complements the tenderness of the chicken perfectly.
7. Herb And Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Standard mashed potatoes are pretty great, but this herb and garlic mashed potatoes recipe take things to the next level.
Beautifully seasoned with roasted garlic and herbs, this mashed potato dish is ridiculously creamy, smooth, rich, and delicious. The best thing about this recipe is that anyone can do it.
All you have to do is make your mashed potatoes and mix them with the right herbs and spices. That’s it!
8. Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Broccoli
Roast potatoes and broccoli are a great side dish you can make if you’re in a hurry. Simply toss the veggies in oil, herbs, and spices, and throw them in your oven to roast.
After roasting, you’ll be left with soft, tender veggies full of flavor. Roasting vegetables is one of the best things you can do with them. This is because flavors are enhanced during the roasting process.
Don’t be afraid to throw any veggies you like into this recipe.
9. Brussel Sprouts And Bacon
The next recipe on our list is a gorgeous Brussels sprout and bacon side dish. To be more precise, the name of this dish is ‘crispy pan-fried Brussel sprouts with balsamic and bacon’.
This is a fried dish that offers plenty of flavors and a festive spirit. As a result, you might want to serve this side dish around Christmas. Frying the sprouts with bacon makes them super crispy. The bacon grease also helps char the edges of the sprouts, giving them a smoky flavor.
Of course, the bacon tastes awesome too.
10. Scalloped Potatoes
As far as we’re concerned, the best side dishes consist of some form of potato. Whilst mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, and fries are pretty great, we find scalloped potatoes hard to beat.
Scalloped potatoes are rich, creamy, tender, and totally irresistible. The way the topping goes crispy, whilst the creamy filling bubbles away is simply divine.
You’ll be pleased to hear that this side dish is very easy to make too.
11. Fresh Salad
If you really want to keep things quick, easy, and simple make a fresh salad to serve with your Cornish hen.
Aside from being very simple, this side dish is light and healthy. This makes it perfect for anyone following a diet. What we love about salad is how versatile it is. You can easily throw any leafy greens and veggies in before topping them with croutons or nuts.
Always remember to make a refreshing salad dressing too.
12. Corn On The Cob
Corn on the cob is another versatile side dish that can be made quickly and easily. All you have to do to make a tasty corn on the cob side dish is bake your corn on the cob in foil with butter and herbs.
This recipe helps you do that easily. The sweetness of corn on the cob goes really well with the meaty flavor of the Cornish Hen. If you prefer things spicy, you could always add chili flakes or paprika to your corn.
13. Roasted Green Beans
Roasted green beans is a very underrated side dish. Despite what many people think, green beans have a lot to offer. They have a natural sweetness and a great crunch. There also super easy to work with.
For this recipe, you only need 3 basic ingredients. Those are green beans, olive oil, and sea salt. All you need to do is mix the ingredients together and roast the green beans.
14. Onion Rings
If you’re anything like us, you’ll love anything beer battered. Beer battered foods are always super crunchy and addictive. Add onion to the equation and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
Surprisingly easy to make, onion rings are sweet, crunchy, tender, and golden brown in color. They can be seasoned however you like and served with a wide range of dips.
What’s not to like?
15. Corn Pudding
The final recipe on our list is a delicious corn pudding side dish. Corn pudding is a great choice if you want to bring some Southern flair to an English classic.
This side dish is a flavorful and sweet custard that works wonders when balancing savory flavors.
To give the dish flavor, simple herbs and spices like thyme are added. Sweet onions are also thrown in.
What Are Some Tasty Side Dishes That Pair Well With Philly Cheesesteaks?
Looking for tasty side dishes for philly cheesesteaks? Consider options like crispy French fries, onion rings, or a refreshing Caesar salad. If you prefer something heartier, cheesy loaded nachos or fried mac and cheese bites make excellent companions. Whether you crave a classic or a twist, these side dishes perfectly complement the deliciousness of a Philly cheesesteak.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the best results, you should cook your Cornish hen breast side up in a shallow roasting pan and on a rack.
Use an internal thermometer to identify when the chicken is cooked.
Generally speaking, Cornish hens weigh anywhere from 1 lb to 2 lbs. As a result, it isn’t uncommon for people to serve a whole Cornish hen to their guests.
The serving would be generous but one Cornish chicken isn’t big enough for more than 2 people at the most.
No, there is absolutely no need to rinse a Cornish hen before cooking it.
Final Thoughts
There you go, 15 tasty sides you can serve with Cornish hens. Cornish hens are lean, savory, tender, and juicy. Therefore, we need a wide range of delicious sides to go with them.
Thankfully, we have an endless supply of awesome side dishes to choose from. In this post, we’ve shown you the very best. We’ve looked at everything from salads and roasted vegetables to mashed potatoes and onion rings.
Now it’s time for you to pick the side dishes you want to make first.
15 Tasty Sides You Can Serve With Cornish Hens
Are you preparing a Cornish hen for your family but don’t know what to serve with it? Check out our list of tasty Cornish hen side dishes for inspiration.
Ingredients
Directions
- Pick a recipe from the list above
- Click the recipe name and visit the website
- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
- Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review
Recipe Video
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