Heiress's Cross-Country Pasta Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A vibrant, no-cook pasta salad inspired by the film's road-trip romance, featuring crisp vegetables and a zesty lemon-herb dressing. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs elbow pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz elbow pasta
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook 12 oz elbow pasta according to package directions until al dente, then rinse under cold water to stop cooking and drain well.
2. Step 2: Dice 1 medium cucumber into 1/2-inch cubes, finely chop 1/4 cup red onion, and halve 2 cups cherry tomatoes.
3. Step 3: Finely chop 1/4 cup fresh parsley, then zest and juice 1 lemon to yield 1 tbsp juice.
4. Step 4: Whisk together 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
5. Step 5: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, diced cucumber, chopped onion, halved tomatoes, 1/2 cup kalamata olives, and chopped parsley.
6. Step 6: Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated and glossy.
7. Step 7: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld before serving.