SUPER EASY SUPER MOIST OVEN ROASTED HEN

Super Easy Super Moist Oven Roasted Hen image

Provided by Diane Atherton

Categories Roasts

Time 1h35m

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 6 to 8 lb roasting hen (smaller if you prefer)
salt and pepper
1 c butter, softened
1 celery stalk, quartered
1/2 medium onion, cut into chunks
1 small tart apple, remove seeds and stem, quartered
poultry seasoning
6 to 8 bacon strips, i used hickory smoked

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Rinse hen with cold tap water; drain and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Generously sprinkle seasonings inside of hen. Place 3 to 4 Tablespoons cubed butter inside cavity of hen. Stuff celery, onion, and apple inside cavity as well. Generously rub outside of hen with soft butter; cover with strips of bacon. Secure bacon with toothpicks. Generously salt and pepper outside and dust lightly with poultry seasoning.
4. Bake 25 minutes per pound or until internal meat reaches 180 degrees F internal heat (using meat thermometer). NOTE: if you purchase hen with a thermometer, don't remove from oven until it pops out. Once the hen is baked, remove from oven and cover with a tent of aluminum foil; allow it to rest 30 minutes before slicing and serving.