Slow Cooker Sausage and Apple Stuffing

1 . Stage

Tear bread into small pieces and spread out on a baking sheet. Let dry at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.

2 . Stage

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove sausage to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Drain and discard grease from the skillet.

3 . Stage

Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat; stir in onion and celery. Cook and stir until very tender, about 10 minutes. Add sausage, apple, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, then remove from heat.

4 . Stage

Put dried bread pieces into a large bowl. Pour sausage mixture over bread and mix.

5 . Stage

Combine chicken broth, applesauce, and egg in a bowl. Pour over bread mixture and mix well. Add more broth, as needed, to moisten all the bread. Don't add too much now; more can always be added later if needed.

6 . Stage

Spray the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Pour stuffing mixture into the slow cooker; cover and cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and cook for 4 hours; stir the stuffing halfway through cooking, scraping the sides and adding more broth if it seems dry.