Basic Apple And Sage Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) loaf day-old, unsliced bread, such as pullman, french, or italian
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), plus more to coat the baking dish
• 2 medium yellow onions, medium dice
• 2 medium apples, such as gala, pink lady, or golden delicious, medium dice
• 3 medium celery stalks, medium dice
• 8 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves
• 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper