diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts
index 5e6882a4a0..8f75728544 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/create-plugin/createPlugin.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ export async function movePlugin(
   });
 }
 
-export default async () => {
+export default async ({ backend }: { backend: boolean }) => {
   const codeownersPath = await getCodeownersFilePath(paths.targetRoot);
 
   const questions: Question[] = [
@@ -223,7 +223,9 @@ export default async () => {
   const answers: Answers = await inquirer.prompt(questions);
 
   const appPackage = paths.resolveTargetRoot('packages/app');
-  const templateDir = paths.resolveOwn('templates/default-plugin');
+  const templateDir = paths.resolveOwn(
+    backend ? 'templates/default-backend-plugin' : 'templates/default-plugin',
+  );
   const tempDir = resolvePath(os.tmpdir(), answers.id);
   const pluginDir = paths.resolveTargetRoot('plugins', answers.id);
   const ownerIds = parseOwnerIds(answers.owner);
@@ -240,6 +242,7 @@ export default async () => {
     await createTemporaryPluginFolder(tempDir);
 
     Task.section('Preparing files');
+
     await templatingTask(templateDir, tempDir, {
       ...answers,
       version,
@@ -252,7 +255,7 @@ export default async () => {
     Task.section('Building the plugin');
     await buildPlugin(pluginDir);
 
-    if (await fs.pathExists(appPackage)) {
+    if ((await fs.pathExists(appPackage)) && !backend) {
       Task.section('Adding plugin as dependency in app');
       await addPluginDependencyToApp(paths.targetRoot, answers.id, version);
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
index 4e031cdbc1..a0b898db75 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/index.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ export function registerCommands(program: CommanderStatic) {
 
   program
     .command('create-plugin')
+    .option(
+      '--backend',
+      'Create plugin with the backend dependencies as default',
+    )
     .description('Creates a new plugin in the current repository')
     .action(
       lazy(() => import('./create-plugin/createPlugin').then(m => m.default)),
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/package.json.hbs b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/package.json.hbs
index 1cf9ab1c5b..8a1d5a9522 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/package.json.hbs
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/package.json.hbs
@@ -17,16 +17,16 @@
     "test": "backstage-cli test",
     "prepack": "backstage-cli prepack",
     "postpack": "backstage-cli postpack",
-    "clean": "backstage-cli clean",
-    "mock-data": "./scripts/mock-data.sh"
+    "clean": "backstage-cli clean"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "^{{version}}",
+    "@backstage/config": "^{{version}}",
     "@types/express": "^4.17.6",
     "express": "^4.17.1",
     "express-promise-router": "^3.0.3",
-    "whatwg-fetch": "^2.0.0",
     "winston": "^3.2.1",
+    "node-fetch": "^2.6.0",
     "yn": "^4.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/scripts/mock-data.sh b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/scripts/mock-data.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index ff30921715..0000000000
--- a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/scripts/mock-data.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-echo "use this script to load your service with some mock data if needed!"
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/index.ts
index 7332f92d68..7612c392a2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/index.ts
@@ -14,5 +14,4 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-require('whatwg-fetch');
 export * from './service/router';
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/setupTests.ts b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/setupTests.ts
index ac41ef995a..ba33cf996b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/setupTests.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/default-backend-plugin/src/setupTests.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,5 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-require('whatwg-fetch');
 
 export {};