When you head to the farmers market or the grocery store this summer, there are plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to choose from, but sometimes it's easier to stick to tried-and-true produce for quick meals. One of the most abundant and popular veggies of the season is zucchini, which is at its peak and always manages to sneak its way into your basket.

If you're bored of just roasting, grilling or sauteing, we have some great zucchini recipes that will make you want to gorge on gourds. Check out these six ideas for using squash as your main dish, from a breakfast-for-dinner frittata to meatless meatballs.

Play with your food when you hollow out little zucchini boats (and/or red peppers) and fill them with creamy risotto. You won't miss the meat in this hearty dish.

Instead of cubing up zucchini for the grill, try making ribbons with a vegetable peeler and threading them around shrimp. They are as beautiful as they are delicious.

When you can't decide between breakfast and dinner, go for brinner with a 30-minute zucchini frittata. If you want to get really fancy, you can add some zucchini flowers in, too — that's how Extra Virgin's Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos make it at home.

Instead of calling for Indian takeout, whip up homemade garam masala and paneer cheese and then mix it with stewed tomatoes, squash and onions. The best part is that it tastes even better as next-day leftovers.

Go meatless for the night with zucchini Parmesan instead of traditional chicken Parm. The part of the recipe that takes longest is using salt to dry out the squash for an hour, but trust us — the super-crunchy, not-soggy result is totally worth it.

Another great vegetarian option is zucchini meatballs, which could also be stuffed in a hoagie roll and topped with melted cheese for one incredible sandwich.