Grilled Cornish Hens with Orange Glaze

This post was created in partnership with Collective Bias, Inc. and the brands mentioned. All opinions are my own.

Hi everyone! Lately our dinners had fallen into a predictable rotation — chicken, beef, pork — rinse and repeat. To shake things up I picked up some Cornish hens and decided to grill them instead of roasting. The result was these Grilled Orange Glazed Cornish Hens, and they quickly became a family favorite.

I hadn’t cooked Cornish hens since shortly after my husband and I got married. Back then I was still learning the basics in the kitchen, and that dinner was memorable for reasons other than my cooking skills. This time I wanted something simple but special for a weeknight meal, so the tiny birds were a perfect choice.

I found Tyson® Cornish Hens at Walmart in the frozen meat section. They come in two-packs, with no additives, preservatives, or added hormones, and the giblets were already removed — a small convenience that made prep easier.

For the bright, citrus-forward flavor I used Kikkoman® Orange Sauce both as part of the marinade and later as a glaze. It gives a familiar orange-chicken profile that our family loves, without a lot of fuss.

I paired the hens with grilled zucchini and roasted baby potatoes. The zucchini grills quickly and develops a lovely char, while the potatoes were cut and roasted so they wouldn’t end up as a lump of undercooked starch.

Because we prefer a quick cook time and even grilling, I butterflied the hens by removing the backbone so they lay flat. I marinated them in a citrus-olive oil mixture for several hours to keep the meat juicy, then grilled them skin-side up. I left the center burner off to avoid over-charring and rotated the birds so they cooked evenly.

To make a glossy, tangy glaze I whisked together Kikkoman Orange Sauce with orange marmalade and a touch of Dijon mustard for balance. Once the hens started to brown on the grill I basted them several times with the glaze until the skin was crisp and lacquered.

The hens finished in roughly 15–20 minutes — quick enough for a weeknight but plenty flavorful. I served each person a portion along with the roasted potatoes and grilled zucchini. The skin was crisp, the meat tender and juicy, and the sweet-tangy glaze tied everything together.

If you’re looking to break out of a dinner rut, these grilled Cornish hens are an easy way to serve something elegant without a lot of effort. The orange glaze gives familiar, comforting flavors while the grill adds a pleasant smokiness.

Ingredients for Grilled Orange Glazed Cornish Hens