diff --git a/.changeset/slow-items-pull.md b/.changeset/slow-items-pull.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..50f4897fa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/slow-items-pull.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+'@backstage/create-app': patch
+---
+
+Replace `package.json` deprecated `workspaces.packages` by `workspaces`
+
+This change is **not** required, but you can edit your main `package.json`, to fit the more modern & more common pattern:
+
+```diff
+-  "workspaces": {
+-    "packages": [
+   "workspaces": [
+     "packages/*",
+     "plugins/*"
+-     ]
+-   },
+  ],
+```
diff --git a/docs/contribute/project-structure.md b/docs/contribute/project-structure.md
index f58afedee8..372fb79844 100644
--- a/docs/contribute/project-structure.md
+++ b/docs/contribute/project-structure.md
@@ -55,12 +55,10 @@ defined in
 [`package.json`](https://github.com/backstage/backstage/blob/master/package.json):
 
 ```json
- "workspaces": {
-    "packages": [
-      "packages/*",
-      "plugins/*"
-    ]
-  },
+  "workspaces": [
+    "packages/*",
+    "plugins/*"
+  ],
 ```
 
 Let's look at them individually.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a0a530adb8..5a63fbc2db 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -16,12 +16,10 @@
     "type": "git",
     "url": "https://github.com/backstage/backstage"
   },
-  "workspaces": {
-    "packages": [
-      "packages/*",
-      "plugins/*"
-    ]
-  },
+  "workspaces": [
+    "packages/*",
+    "plugins/*"
+  ],
   "scripts": {
     "build-storybook": "storybook build --output-dir dist-storybook",
     "build-storybook:chromatic": "STORYBOOK_STORY_SET=chromatic storybook build --stats-json --output-dir dist-storybook",
diff --git a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
index 4e723ea078..229ed5ffa0 100644
--- a/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
+++ b/packages/create-app/templates/default-app/package.json.hbs
@@ -22,12 +22,10 @@
     "prettier:check": "prettier --check .",
     "new": "backstage-cli new"
   },
-  "workspaces": {
-    "packages": [
-      "packages/*",
-      "plugins/*"
-    ]
-  },
+  "workspaces": [
+    "packages/*",
+    "plugins/*"
+  ],
   "devDependencies": {
     "@backstage/cli": "^{{version '@backstage/cli'}}",
     "@backstage/e2e-test-utils": "^{{version '@backstage/e2e-test-utils'}}",
diff --git a/packages/create-app/templates/next-app/package.json.hbs b/packages/create-app/templates/next-app/package.json.hbs
index 80ff4a9a06..27d5880c11 100644
--- a/packages/create-app/templates/next-app/package.json.hbs
+++ b/packages/create-app/templates/next-app/package.json.hbs
@@ -44,12 +44,10 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "workspaces": {
-    "packages": [
-      "packages/*",
-      "plugins/*"
-    ]
-  },
+  "workspaces": [
+    "packages/*",
+    "plugins/*"
+  ],
   "devDependencies": {
     "@backstage/cli": "^{{version '@backstage/cli'}}",
     "@backstage/e2e-test-utils": "^{{version '@backstage/e2e-test-utils'}}",