Classic Golden-Brown Bread Stuffing

1. Preheat Oven and Toast Bread

First, preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Spread the bread pieces evenly on a baking sheet and bake them for 25 minutes. Stir the bread, then return it to the oven for another 25 to 30 minutes, until it is golden and crisp. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely before transferring it to a large bowl. If you wish, you can store the toasted bread in a zipper-lock bag for up to 2 days. When ready to proceed, increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees.

2. Brown the Butter

Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat, allowing it to cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Watch for it to turn a dark golden brown and develop a nutty aroma — that’s when it’s perfectly browned. Transfer 3 tablespoons of this browned butter to a small bowl and set it aside.

3. Cook Vegetables

Add the chopped onions and celery to the skillet with the remaining butter and increase the heat to medium. Cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and golden, which should take about 10 to 13 minutes. Stir in the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper, cooking for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.

4. Combine Ingredients

Add this vegetable mixture to the bowl with the bread. Pour the chicken broth over the bread and vegetable mixture. Gently fold everything together, then let it sit for 10 minutes to allow the bread to soak up the broth. Fold the mixture again to ensure the broth is fully absorbed.

5. Bake the Stuffing

Transfer the stuffing mixture to a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, drizzling the reserved browned butter evenly over the top. Bake the stuffing for 30 to 35 minutes until it has a golden-brown crust. Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.

6. To Make Ahead

Follow the recipe up to the point of drizzling butter over the stuffing. Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate it, along with the reserved butter, for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, melt the butter in the microwave. Remove the foil, drizzle the melted butter over the stuffing, re-cover the dish, and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for an additional 30 to 35 minutes until the stuffing is golden and heated through.