No matter which cooking method you use, there is one important step you should always take. Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before cooking them. When each piece of chicken is a different size, they will cook at an uneven rate. ... Pounding also tenderizes the meat, making the cooked result more tender.

How do you pound a chicken without making a mess?

Instead of using plastic wrap to cover your work surface and the chicken breast, place a single breast in a plastic zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible and sealing before pounding. You can use almost any heavy, flat object to pound the breast — a skillet, a meat mallet, even an empty wine bottle.

Should you tenderize chicken?

According to Tasting Table, tenderizing chicken breasts is an easy way to make sure they cook evenly, especially if you're cooking multiple pieces of chicken at once. If the breasts are uneven in spots, or if some are thicker than others, they won't cook in the same amount of time.