#AD Grilled Cornish Hen Recipe with a Orange Sauce Glaze

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #JuicyGrilledCornish #CollectiveBias

When you think of summertime grilling, usually you picture burgers and hot dogs.  But, if you're like me, occasionally you like to put a little black dress on your barbecue and do something special. That's how I came up with my Grilled Cornish Hen Recipe with an Orange Sauce Glaze.  A clever take on a beloved take- out dish.  It is Out of this world and you may never look at orange chicken the same way again.

The first thing I did was head on over to my local Walmart to purchase some Tyson® All Natural Cornish Hens and a Bottle of Kikkoman® Orange Sauce.  I chose these two products because Tyson Cornish Hens are All Natural with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, and Kikkoman's full line of sauces and marinades are perfect for easy grilling.  After grabbing a couple more items for sides, it was home to get grilling!  

Grilled Cornish Hen:

*Prep Time: 30 min.  *Cook Time: 45 min - 1 hr.  *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 Twin Pack of Tyson® All Natural Cornish Hens
• 1 Bottle of Kikkoman® Orange Sauce
• 1 Bottle of Kikkoman® Soy Sauce

The Cornish hens are frozen when you purchase them so you will need to let them thaw completely.

Place them into a large mixing bowl, or resealable bag, and pour the entire bottle of soy sauce over the hens.
Kikkoman soy sauce makes a great brine to ensure a "juicy bird", and there is no need to add any extra seasoning.  

Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 min.

After the Cornish hens have had time to marinade you will need to remove them from the marinade and spatchcock them.  What is that you ask?  It is simply how you remove the backbone.  To do this you will take your kitchen shears and cut along either side of the backbone.

It will look like this when you are finished.
The hen should lay open like a book.
Oh!  And whatever you do, don't throw those backbones away!  They make great stock.

Place the spatchcocked hens back into the marinade and head on out to the grill.

To prep the grill you will turn the heat onto high for 15 minutes prior to cooking.
When the grill is hot, dip and old dish towel into a bowl of oil, and using tongs, wipe the grates down.  I have a three burner gas grill.  I turned the burned to the right of where I was going to cook the chicken to medium/high, and the burner directly under where I would be cooking to low.

Place the chicken skin-side-down on the grates and cook for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, flip the chicken over.
Oh look at those pretty grill marks.  This is EXACTLY what you are looking for.
Now you will turn the burner directly under your bird off.

Grab your basting brush and pour about a cup of the orange sauce into a measuring cup or bowl.

Now you will LIBERALLY brush the orange sauce all over the bird.
Don't be shy about this.  You will want to get under those wings, in between the legs, into every crack and crevice.

Close the lid and let the chicken cook for another 45 minutes.
Be sure to baste every 10 minutes or so.

After 45 minutes place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh.  You will want the chicken to read 165 degrees.

Once it is at the proper temperature you can remove it from the grill and place it on a plate.
Cover it with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Oh. My. Goodness!  Look at the bird!  Golden brown, perfectly charred, and that beautiful sticky glaze.  I don't know about you, but I am drooling!  I can't wait to dive in.  

The orange sauce is sweet, spicy, and sticky.  Just as it should be. And the soy sauce perfectly seasoned the bird.  This is truly a piece of heaven on a plate.  I served this Grilled Cornish Hen with a side of sticky rice and some grilled vegetables.  Delectable.  I know you are going to want to try this TONIGHT!  And be sure to check out more delicious ways to grill up the Tyson® Cornish Hens using Kikkoman® Sauces on the hub. I'd love to hear your favorite!

And as always...

Happy Reading, Happy Eating, Happy Living, 
~The Kitchen Wife~

Grilled Cornish Hen:

*Prep Time: 30 min.  *Cook Time: 45 min - 1 hr.  *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings: 4

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 1 Twin Pack of Tyson® All Natural Cornish Hens
• 1 Bottle of Kikkoman® Orange Sauce
• 1 Bottle of Kikkoman® Soy Sauce

Directions:

1. The Cornish hens are frozen when you purchase them so you will need to let them thaw completely.
2. Place them into a large mixing bowl, or resealable bag, and pour the entire bottle of soy sauce over the hens.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 min.
4. Remove the hens from the marinade and, using your kitchen sheers, cut along either side of the backbone and remove it.  
5. Return the hens to the bowl of marinade. 
6. To prep the grill you will turn the heat onto high for 15 minutes prior to cooking.
   When the grill is hot, dip and old dish towel into a bowl of oil, and using tongs, wipe the grates down.  I have a three burner gas grill.  I turned the burned to the right of where I was going to cook the chicken to medium/high, and the burner directly under where I would be cooking to low.
7. Place the chicken skin-side-down on the grates and cook for 5 minutes.
8. After 5 minutes, flip the chicken over.
9. Now you will LIBERALLY brush the orange sauce all over the bird.
10. Close the lid and let the chicken cook for another 45 minutes.
    Be sure to baste every 10 minutes or so.
11. After 45 minutes place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh.  You will want the chicken to read 165 degrees.
12. Once it is at the proper temperature you can remove it from the grill and place it on a plate.
    Cover it with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes.
13. Serve and Enjoy!