Fennel Sausage Stuffing – Cool Smoke

Ingredients

• 12 tablespoons salted butter, divided, plus more to butter the casserole
• 1 cup medium-dice yellow onion
• 1 cup medium-dice celery
• 1 cup medium-dice fennel
• 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
• 10 cups stale French bread, cut into one-inch cubes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
• 3 cups chicken stock