Applewood Smoked Cornish Hens. Most people might traditionally smoke Cornish hens as part of their Christmas or Thanksgiving BBQ meal, but I like to smoke these year-round. These hens are prepared with a good brine to help lock in a more robust flavor, before being smoked for hours low and slow to really help it reach that delicious tender and juicy flavor we always aim for. Make the brine: Mix kosher salt and water, let dissolve completely..
Today Tami is making Applewood Smoked Chicken in the Masterbuilt Electric Smoker. We will make a homemade chicken injection, season and smoke the chicken, and then finish it with Chick Dip BBQ Sauce. Preparing poultry in a Masterbuilt Smoker is a fairly easy process. You can cook Applewood Smoked Cornish Hens using 6 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you achieve it.
Ingredients of Applewood Smoked Cornish Hens
- Prepare 6 of Cornish Game Hens.
- Prepare 8 TBS of McCormick Bruschetta Sweet Basil & Oregano Seasoning.
- You need 6 TBS of Olive oil.
- You need 1 gallon of Bottled Water.
- Prepare 1 cup of Kosher Salt.
- It's of Apple wood for smoking.
It is possible to smoke a whole turkey or to smoke smaller portions, such as chicken wings or drumsticks. Place the cornish hens on the grate perpendicular to the bars of the grate. When the hens are almost cooked, turn up the heat for extra crispy skin. In a medium size bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.
Applewood Smoked Cornish Hens instructions
- Make the brine: Mix kosher salt and water, let dissolve completely. It could take an hour or more. You can also add in some seasoning if you want to, anything you put in the brine will adhere to the meat..
- Place game hens and brine in brine bag and place in fridge for 2 to 3 hours..
- Remove hens from brine and rinse thoroughly..
- Spatchcock the hens, remove the back bone and butterfly. (You can google how to do this).
- Cover each hen with 1 TBS of olive oil..
- Use at least 1 TBS of seasoning on each hen (this depends on your flavor palate and how much seasoning you like).
- Place hens breast up on your grill/smoker and smoke until internal temp reaches 165 degrees. I use an igrill so I do not have to open the lid until they are complete..
Rub the seasoning over the both halves of the chicken. Rock Cornish Game Hens Brined in Apple Juice and Smoked on a Grill with Apple Slices. Pick up some Rock Cornish game hens and thaw them. These are usually found in the freezer section and go for about five bucks apiece, although I've seen them for twice that price. I am not a huge fan of stuffing poultry.