Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Preheat the over to 375 degrees. Rinse the hen and pat dry with a paper towel.
2

Combine the salt, lemon-pepper, basil and poultry seasoning in a small bowl.
3

Mix the onions, celery and peppers together. Open the cavity of the hen just enough for a spoon to fit and stuff the hen with the vegetables. The cavity should be full, but not packed tightly. You do not need to close the cavity.
4

Rub the olive oil all over the skin of the hen and massage the mixture of spices onto it. Try to evenly coat the hen with spices.
5

Line a baking sheet with foil to catch the drippings and any of the stuffing that falls out. Put the hen on the sheet in the oven until it reaches 165 degrees. Check the temperature by poking a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh. Additionally, poke the meat thermometer into the stuffing inside the hen to be sure that it has also reached 165 degrees as it has been cooking in the juices and for safety it must be thoroughly cooked. A small hen will take around 45 minutes to cook, though ovens vary widely, so check on the hen after 30 minutes. The juices will be clear and the skin crisp when it is ready.
6

Remove the hen from the oven and put a "tent" around it by loosely draping aluminum foil over it, but not covering it closely. Let the hen sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.