Ingredients
1 Tyson Cornish Hen
3 Honey Crisp apples, sliced
1 red onion, cut in to 1" thick slices
1 (12-oz) bottle hard apple cider
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1 c. apple cider
3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. thyme leaves
1 tsp. chopped rosemary, plus 1 sprig for stuffing chicken
Preparation
Step 1In a zip top bag marinate the bird for 4-6 hours in the hard cider and olive oil. Step 2Preheat the oven to 400º.Step 3In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the glaze ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and reduce liquid for 5 to 7 minutes, until thickened slightly.Step 4Remove the bird from marinade and pat the skin dry. Prep the bird by removing anything from the cavity, rub the skin with melted butter, and season with salt and pper. Stuff cavity with a couple slices of apple and fresh rosemary. Brush on some of the glaze and roast in the oven for 15 minutes, then baste with more glaze. Continue to baste every 15 minutes with the cider glaze and the pan juices. If the skin is cooking too fast, tent it loosely with foil. Continue cooking for about 50-60 more minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the bird reads 165º. Step 5To serve with roasted apples and red onions: toss remaining apples and red onions in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add to baking sheet with chicken when 40 minutes of cook time remain, and roast until tender. Serve chicken with roasted apples and onions.
Making a glaze couldn’t be easier. Simply combine all your ingredients in a small sauce pan and simmer until thickened slightly. Here, we’re using apple cider, but any fruit juice works! We add a little brown sugar to help caramelize the chicken skin, plus thyme and rosemary for some earthy complexity. Keep basting the bird as frequently as you can for a glossy, crisp bird that is sure to wow your guests. Made it? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
