Even if you set your weeknight dinner plans with the best of intentions, sometimes the day gets away from you. Deadlines at work need to be met, errands need to be squeezed in, and all too often you're left exhausted by dinnertime. These five recipes are for these moments. They require, at most, eight ingredients (often fewer), and come together quickly without fuss. That's way better than a microwave meal, as far as we are concerned.

A loaf of French bread, store-bought pesto, chicken breast, shredded mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes come together to make a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal that takes no more than 20 minutes to get on the table. It's definitely going to be a dinner you'll make over and over again.

This is pasta night at its most lazy. Starting with precooked sausage means you simply have to brown it, and reaching for quick-cooking orzo means the entire dish can be made right in the skillet. Plus, it's got plenty of greens in there to make it a meal on its own.

Here's how to turn a tub of store-bought hummus into dinner and actually feel good about it: Roast a whole slew of veggies, pile them on top of said hummus, and grab plenty of pita.

A sheet pan is the secret to creating a lazy dinner that also happens to be wholesome and well-rounded since everything — protein and veggies — fits nicely on one and simply needs to be tossed in the oven.

A well-stocked freezer is key if you're looking for lazy dinner inspiration. Here, frozen meatballs and frozen mixed vegetables become an incredibly satisfying meal with the help of udon noodles and a quick teriyaki sauce.