Beer-Brined Smoked Cornish Game Hens

Name: Beer-Brined Smoked Cornish Game Hens
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 bottles (12 oz each) amber or wheat beer; 4 cups cold water; 1/4 cup kosher salt; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns; 4 sprigs fresh thyme; 2 bay leaves; 4 Cornish game hens (about 1.5 lb each); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp butter, melted

120 min 4 servings medium

All Recipes

Beer-Brined Smoked Cornish Game Hens

Petite Cornish hens brined in beer for tenderness and smoked until golden — an elegant individual serving of smoky poultry.

Prep

20 min

Cook

90 min

Total

120 min

Servings

Difficulty

medium

Cornish game hens are the perfect single-serving bird for the smoker. A beer brine ensures the meat stays juicy and adds a subtle malty depth, while the small size means they cook faster and absorb more smoke per ounce than a full chicken. The result is an impressively elegant individual entrée.

Ingredients

Servings

Beer Brine

Hens

Instructions

Make the brine

Combine beer, water, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, thyme, and bay leaves in a large pot. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Refrigerate until cold.

Brine the hens

Submerge the game hens in the cold brine. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours. Do not over-brine or the meat will become mushy.

Prep for smoking

Remove hens from brine and pat very dry with paper towels. Rub with olive oil and season with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Tie the legs together with butcher twine for even cooking.

Pro tip: Dry skin is critical for a crispy finish — pat them dry multiple times and let them air-dry in the fridge for 30 minutes if possible.

Smoke

Set smoker to 275°F with apple or cherry wood. Place hens breast side up directly on the grate. Smoke for 75-90 minutes until skin is golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.