• Preheat oven to 375℉.
• In a small bowl, mix together softened butter (not melted), minced garlic, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Cut or tear bread into ½" cubes and mix well with garlic butter. Spread evenly on a large baking pan.
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Remove from oven and add to a large bowl.
• While the bread cooks, melt 12 tablespoons butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and mushrooms. It will look like a lot of butter, but it will coat the bread cubes later. Cook until tender, about 6-7 minutes.
• Once the bread cubes are done in the oven, remove them, and decrease the oven temperature to 350℉. Lightly grease a 13"x9" or 3.5-4 quart baking dish.
• Add cooked bread cubes to a large bowl. Stir the vegetables and all seasonings into the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and 1 cup of chicken broth together and stir into the bread cubes. There should be enough liquid for the bread to evenly absorb it, but not have a pool of liquid at the bottom of the bowl. Slowly add more chicken broth as needed. You may not need the full 2 cups.
• Pour stuffing into the prepared baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until it is crispy and golden brown on top.

Garlic Bread Stuffing with Chicken

• Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes over the stove until no longer pink, season with salt & pepper. Add to baking dish with stuffing. Bake at same temperature and time.

Garlic Bread Stuffing with Sausage

• Cook the sausage in a large pan over the stove for 7-8 minutes until they are browned. Add them to the baking dish and stir into the stuffing. Bake for the same time and temperature.