The flavor of the beer as well as the onions, garlic and seasoning really comes through in these cornish hens due to the brining process. Great for when you have guests or a family dinner.
Course Entree
Cuisine Hot Smoking
Prep Time 4 hourshours25 minutesminutes
Cook Time 2 hourshours
Total Time 6 hourshours25 minutesminutes
Servings 4
Author Jeff Phillips
Ingredients
4cornish hensor one per person
Spicy brown mustard
Jeff's original rub
Jeff's barbecue sauce
Beer Brine
1Onionyellow, chopped
6clovesGarlic
36ouncesBeer3 (12 ounce) bottles
½cupCoarse kosher salt
6cupsIce cubes1.5 quarts
Beer Barbecue Sauce
½cupJeff's barbecue sauce
½cupBeer
Instructions
Make the Beer Brine
Put all ingredients except ice in a large pot and bring to a boil stirring occasionally.
Cover and let sit for about 10 minutes
Add ice cubes and stir to cool down. Finish cooling in fridge if necessary.
Brining the Cornish Hens
Place the chickens in a zip top bag or other brining container
Pour cold brine over birds to cover.
Place brining container/bag in the fridge for 4 hours
After 4 hours, rinse cornish hens under cold water
Seasoning the Outside
Apply some spicy brown mustard to the outside of the hens
Sprinkle Jeff's original rub generously onto hens
Smoking the Birds
Place meat breast side up directly on smoker grate
Smoke cook at 250°F for about 2 hrs or until they reach 165°F in the thickest part of the breast or thigh
Brush on beer barbecue sauce (recipe below) about 30 minutes before chickens are done cooking. (reserve some for dipping later)
Finishing Up
Serve immediately giving each person their own cornish hen.
Beer Barbecue Sauce Instructions
Add all of the beer barbecue sauce ingredients into a small saucepan.
Stir to combine and simmer over very low heat until ready to use.