Our Thanksgiving celebration is going to be smaller than usual this year but I assure you, we will still make the same number of dishes and in the same quantities as every other year. This means we will end up with more leftovers than normal, not that I am complaining. That next-day turkey sandwich is the best!

How to label Thanksgiving leftovers

To make packaging leftovers a bit more organized and a little more fun, we created some cute Thanksgiving leftovers printable labels that are available in our Etsy shop, perfect for dressing up your containers.

This digital collection has lots of files to choose from, all ready to print onto paper or label stock.

The round and rectangle label templates each come in two versions — with and without outlines — so that you have options for printing.

If you're using Avery label stock (5294 for the round labels and 5163 for the rectangles) print the version with no outline, and then just peel the stickers off.  If you want to print onto full-sheet sticker paper instead, print the version with outlines, so you know exactly where to cut them out.

Printable labels you can write on for leftovers

Some of the labels feature an area for you to write on, so your guests know what is inside the container.

Packaging ideas for giving leftovers to guests

We bought some white bakery boxes to hold desserts, breads, and other goodies.

Chinese take-out boxes work great for turkey, vegetables, and more or even making an individual whole meal to take to work for lunch the next day.

We love these lidded bowls for holdings soups, gravy, and stuffing. The round labels fit perfectly on the lids.

Printable pie slice boxes

To amp up the cute factor, send home slices of pumpkin pie in our custom pie boxes. Print the box template onto card stock, then cut it out and fold it up to create the perfect to-go box.

Personalized paper bags for carrying leftovers

To help your guests take everything home, grab some handled bags that you can also label with the guests' names. Make sure that you buy bags with sides deep enough to accommodate your largest container lying flat to help prevent spills. (Our bags were 7" deep.)

I just know my guests are going to love this new way of taking home leftovers. With disposable containers and our snarky Thanksgiving leftovers printable labels, we can say goodbye to the usual hectic scrounge to find enough old margarine tubs and mismatched Tupperware for everyone.