diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py b/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
index 240b407819..336d928f71 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_BIRTH_MESSAGE,
     CONF_BROKER,
     CONF_CERTIFICATE_AUTHORITY,
+    CONF_CLEAN_SESSION,
     CONF_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE,
     CONF_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_KEY,
     CONF_CLIENT_ID,
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(CONF_PORT, default=1883): cv.port,
             cv.Optional(CONF_USERNAME, default=""): cv.string,
             cv.Optional(CONF_PASSWORD, default=""): cv.string,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_CLEAN_SESSION, default=False): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_CLIENT_ID): cv.string,
             cv.SplitDefault(CONF_IDF_SEND_ASYNC, esp32_idf=False): cv.All(
                 cv.boolean, cv.only_with_esp_idf
@@ -325,6 +327,7 @@ async def to_code(config):
     cg.add(var.set_broker_port(config[CONF_PORT]))
     cg.add(var.set_username(config[CONF_USERNAME]))
     cg.add(var.set_password(config[CONF_PASSWORD]))
+    cg.add(var.set_clean_session(config[CONF_CLEAN_SESSION]))
     if CONF_CLIENT_ID in config:
         cg.add(var.set_client_id(config[CONF_CLIENT_ID]))
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp
index c19b24c0cf..b5ac285026 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.cpp
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ void MQTTClientComponent::dump_config() {
                 this->ip_.str().c_str());
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Username: " LOG_SECRET("'%s'"), this->credentials_.username.c_str());
   ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Client ID: " LOG_SECRET("'%s'"), this->credentials_.client_id.c_str());
+  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Clean Session: %s", YESNO(this->credentials_.clean_session));
   if (this->is_discovery_ip_enabled()) {
     ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "  Discovery IP enabled");
   }
@@ -246,6 +247,7 @@ void MQTTClientComponent::start_connect_() {
   this->mqtt_backend_.disconnect();
 
   this->mqtt_backend_.set_client_id(this->credentials_.client_id.c_str());
+  this->mqtt_backend_.set_clean_session(this->credentials_.clean_session);
   const char *username = nullptr;
   if (!this->credentials_.username.empty())
     username = this->credentials_.username.c_str();
diff --git a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.h b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.h
index b0d3bbe66d..887800f201 100644
--- a/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.h
+++ b/esphome/components/mqtt/mqtt_client.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ struct MQTTCredentials {
   std::string username;
   std::string password;
   std::string client_id;  ///< The client ID. Will automatically be truncated to 23 characters.
+  bool clean_session;     ///< Whether the session will be cleaned or remembered between connects.
 };
 
 /// Simple data struct for Home Assistant component availability.
@@ -254,6 +255,7 @@ class MQTTClientComponent : public Component {
   void set_username(const std::string &username) { this->credentials_.username = username; }
   void set_password(const std::string &password) { this->credentials_.password = password; }
   void set_client_id(const std::string &client_id) { this->credentials_.client_id = client_id; }
+  void set_clean_session(const bool &clean_session) { this->credentials_.clean_session = clean_session; }
   void set_on_connect(mqtt_on_connect_callback_t &&callback);
   void set_on_disconnect(mqtt_on_disconnect_callback_t &&callback);
 
diff --git a/esphome/const.py b/esphome/const.py
index 6e7bbdec98..40b7a1c419 100644
--- a/esphome/const.py
+++ b/esphome/const.py
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ CONF_CHANNELS = "channels"
 CONF_CHARACTERISTIC_UUID = "characteristic_uuid"
 CONF_CHECK = "check"
 CONF_CHIPSET = "chipset"
+CONF_CLEAN_SESSION = "clean_session"
 CONF_CLEAR_IMPEDANCE = "clear_impedance"
 CONF_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE = "client_certificate"
 CONF_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_KEY = "client_certificate_key"
diff --git a/tests/components/mqtt/common.yaml b/tests/components/mqtt/common.yaml
index b7d1655ec9..f7a727ab2f 100644
--- a/tests/components/mqtt/common.yaml
+++ b/tests/components/mqtt/common.yaml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ mqtt:
   port: 1883
   username: debug
   password: debug
+  clean_session: True
   client_id: someclient
   use_abbreviations: false
   discovery: true