diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py b/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
index 5429121d56..55066006d3 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/__init__.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ from esphome.cpp_generator import MockObjClass
 from esphome.cpp_helpers import setup_entity
 
 CODEOWNERS = ["@rfdarter", "@jesserockz"]
-DEPENDENCIES = ["time"]
 
 IS_PLATFORM_COMPONENT = True
 
@@ -62,20 +61,28 @@ DATETIME_MODES = [
 ]
 
 
-_DATETIME_SCHEMA = (
-    cv.ENTITY_BASE_SCHEMA.extend(web_server.WEBSERVER_SORTING_SCHEMA)
-    .extend(cv.MQTT_COMMAND_COMPONENT_SCHEMA)
-    .extend(
+def _validate_time_present(config):
+    config = config.copy()
+    if CONF_ON_TIME in config and CONF_TIME_ID not in config:
+        time_id = cv.use_id(time.RealTimeClock)(None)
+        config[CONF_TIME_ID] = time_id
+    return config
+
+
+_DATETIME_SCHEMA = cv.ENTITY_BASE_SCHEMA.extend(
+    web_server.WEBSERVER_SORTING_SCHEMA,
+    cv.MQTT_COMMAND_COMPONENT_SCHEMA,
+    cv.Schema(
         {
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_VALUE): automation.validate_automation(
                 {
                     cv.GenerateID(CONF_TRIGGER_ID): cv.declare_id(DateTimeStateTrigger),
                 }
             ),
-            cv.GenerateID(CONF_TIME_ID): cv.use_id(time.RealTimeClock),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_TIME_ID): cv.use_id(time.RealTimeClock),
         }
-    )
-)
+    ),
+).add_extra(_validate_time_present)
 
 
 def date_schema(class_: MockObjClass) -> cv.Schema:
@@ -138,8 +145,9 @@ async def setup_datetime_core_(var, config):
         trigger = cg.new_Pvariable(conf[CONF_TRIGGER_ID], var)
         await automation.build_automation(trigger, [(cg.ESPTime, "x")], conf)
 
-    rtc = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_TIME_ID])
-    cg.add(var.set_rtc(rtc))
+    if CONF_TIME_ID in config:
+        rtc = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_TIME_ID])
+        cg.add(var.set_rtc(rtc))
 
     for conf in config.get(CONF_ON_TIME, []):
         trigger = cg.new_Pvariable(conf[CONF_TRIGGER_ID])
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h
index c8240390e3..dea34e6110 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_base.h
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
 #include "esphome/core/entity_base.h"
 #include "esphome/core/time.h"
-
+#ifdef USE_TIME
 #include "esphome/components/time/real_time_clock.h"
+#endif
 
 namespace esphome {
 namespace datetime {
@@ -19,23 +20,29 @@ class DateTimeBase : public EntityBase {
 
   void add_on_state_callback(std::function<void()> &&callback) { this->state_callback_.add(std::move(callback)); }
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
   void set_rtc(time::RealTimeClock *rtc) { this->rtc_ = rtc; }
   time::RealTimeClock *get_rtc() const { return this->rtc_; }
+#endif
 
  protected:
   CallbackManager<void()> state_callback_;
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
   time::RealTimeClock *rtc_;
+#endif
 
   bool has_state_{false};
 };
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
 class DateTimeStateTrigger : public Trigger<ESPTime> {
  public:
   explicit DateTimeStateTrigger(DateTimeBase *parent) {
     parent->add_on_state_callback([this, parent]() { this->trigger(parent->state_as_esptime()); });
   }
 };
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace datetime
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp
index 9a61d341e4..f215b7acb5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.cpp
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ void DateTimeEntityRestoreState::apply(DateTimeEntity *time) {
   time->publish_state();
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
 static const int MAX_TIMESTAMP_DRIFT = 900;  // how far can the clock drift before we consider
                                              // there has been a drastic time synchronization
 
@@ -245,6 +246,7 @@ bool OnDateTimeTrigger::matches_(const ESPTime &time) const {
          time.day_of_month == this->parent_->day && time.hour == this->parent_->hour &&
          time.minute == this->parent_->minute && time.second == this->parent_->second;
 }
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace datetime
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h
index d541fa96b1..27db84cf7e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/datetime_entity.h
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class DateTimeSetAction : public Action<Ts...>, public
   }
 };
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
 class OnDateTimeTrigger : public Trigger<>, public Component, public Parented<DateTimeEntity> {
  public:
   void loop() override;
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@ class OnDateTimeTrigger : public Trigger<>, public Component, public Parented<Da
 
   optional<ESPTime> last_check_;
 };
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace datetime
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp
index ea5e6684d0..db0094ae01 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.cpp
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ void TimeEntityRestoreState::apply(TimeEntity *time) {
   time->publish_state();
 }
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
 static const int MAX_TIMESTAMP_DRIFT = 900;  // how far can the clock drift before we consider
                                              // there has been a drastic time synchronization
 
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ bool OnTimeTrigger::matches_(const ESPTime &time) const {
   return time.is_valid() && time.hour == this->parent_->hour && time.minute == this->parent_->minute &&
          time.second == this->parent_->second;
 }
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace datetime
 }  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h
index 62e593d28a..f7e0a7ddd9 100644
--- a/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h
+++ b/esphome/components/datetime/time_entity.h
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ template<typename... Ts> class TimeSetAction : public Action<Ts...>, public Pare
   }
 };
 
+#ifdef USE_TIME
 class OnTimeTrigger : public Trigger<>, public Component, public Parented<TimeEntity> {
  public:
   void loop() override;
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ class OnTimeTrigger : public Trigger<>, public Component, public Parented<TimeEn
 
   optional<ESPTime> last_check_;
 };
+#endif
 
 }  // namespace datetime
 }  // namespace esphome