diff --git a/cmd/cluster/clusterCreate.go b/cmd/cluster/clusterCreate.go
index 8a1d1be20..8fbd28fa9 100644
--- a/cmd/cluster/clusterCreate.go
+++ b/cmd/cluster/clusterCreate.go
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func NewCmdClusterCreate() *cobra.Command {
 				l.Log().Fatalf("error processing/sanitizing simple config: %v", err)
 			}
 
-			clusterConfig, err := config.TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(cmd.Context(), runtimes.SelectedRuntime, simpleCfg)
+			clusterConfig, err := config.TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(cmd.Context(), runtimes.SelectedRuntime, simpleCfg, configFile)
 			if err != nil {
 				l.Log().Fatalln(err)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/client/cluster.go b/pkg/client/cluster.go
index dacf5fa33..d061bf82d 100644
--- a/pkg/client/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/client/cluster.go
@@ -247,6 +247,25 @@ func ClusterPrep(ctx context.Context, runtime k3drt.Runtime, clusterConfig *conf
 		})
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Step 4: Files
+	 */
+
+	for id, node := range clusterConfig.Nodes {
+		for _, nodefile := range node.Files {
+			clusterConfig.Nodes[id].HookActions = append(clusterConfig.Nodes[id].HookActions, k3d.NodeHook{
+				Stage: k3d.LifecycleStagePreStart,
+				Action: actions.WriteFileAction{
+					Runtime:     runtime,
+					Content:     nodefile.Content,
+					Dest:        nodefile.Destination,
+					Mode:        0644,
+					Description: nodefile.Description,
+				},
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/config/config_test.go b/pkg/config/config_test.go
index 359733c1c..9f2687b34 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config_test.go
@@ -71,6 +71,34 @@ func TestReadSimpleConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				NodeFilters: []string{"all"},
 			},
 		},
+		Files: []conf.FileWithNodeFilters{
+			{
+				Source: "apiVersion: v1\n" +
+					"kind: Namespace\n" +
+					"metadata:\n" +
+					"  name: foo\n",
+				Destination: "/var/lib/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/foo.yaml",
+			},
+			{
+				Source: "apiVersion: v1\n" +
+					"kind: Namespace\n" +
+					"metadata:\n" +
+					"  name: bar\n",
+				Destination: "k3s-manifests/bar.yaml",
+				Description: "Source: Embedded content in k3d config file, Destination: Magic shortcut path, Description: Defined",
+			},
+			{
+				Source:      "baz-ns.yaml",
+				Destination: "k3s-manifests-custom/baz.yaml",
+				Description: "Source: Relative path to k3d config file, Destination: Magic shortcut path, Description: Defined",
+			},
+			{
+				Source:      "baz-ns.yaml",
+				Destination: "k3s-manifests-custom/baz-server.yaml",
+				NodeFilters: []string{"server:*"},
+				Description: "Source: Relative path to k3d config file, Destination: Magic shortcut path, Node: Defined, Description: Defined",
+			},
+		},
 		Options: conf.SimpleConfigOptions{
 			K3dOptions: conf.SimpleConfigOptionsK3d{
 				Wait:                true,
diff --git a/pkg/config/process_test.go b/pkg/config/process_test.go
index 1f6281d6a..24609bcf2 100644
--- a/pkg/config/process_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/process_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestProcessClusterConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Logf("\n========== Read Config and transform to cluster ==========\n%+v\n=================================\n", cfg)
 
-	clusterCfg, err := TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(context.Background(), runtimes.Docker, cfg.(conf.SimpleConfig))
+	clusterCfg, err := TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(context.Background(), runtimes.Docker, cfg.(conf.SimpleConfig), cfgFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/config/test_assets/baz-ns.yaml b/pkg/config/test_assets/baz-ns.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b8ff1b027
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/config/test_assets/baz-ns.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: Namespace
+metadata:
+  name: baz
diff --git a/pkg/config/test_assets/config_test_simple.yaml b/pkg/config/test_assets/config_test_simple.yaml
index af5174d35..3dd1cb884 100644
--- a/pkg/config/test_assets/config_test_simple.yaml
+++ b/pkg/config/test_assets/config_test_simple.yaml
@@ -23,6 +23,29 @@ env:
   - envVar: bar=baz
     nodeFilters:
       - all
+files:
+ - source: |
+    apiVersion: v1
+    kind: Namespace
+    metadata:
+      name: foo
+   destination: /var/lib/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/foo.yaml
+   # destination: "Source: Embedded content in k3d config file, Destination: Absolute path, Description: Not defined"
+ - source: |
+    apiVersion: v1
+    kind: Namespace
+    metadata:
+      name: bar
+   destination: k3s-manifests/bar.yaml # Resolved to /var/lib/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/bar.yaml
+   description: 'Source: Embedded content in k3d config file, Destination: Magic shortcut path, Description: Defined'
+ - source: baz-ns.yaml
+   destination: k3s-manifests-custom/baz.yaml # Resolved to /var/lib/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/custom/bar.yaml
+   description: 'Source: Relative path to k3d config file, Destination: Magic shortcut path, Description: Defined'
+ - source: baz-ns.yaml
+   destination: k3s-manifests-custom/baz-server.yaml # Resolved to /var/lib/rancher/k3s/server/manifests/custom/bar-server.yaml
+   nodeFilters:
+   - "server:*"
+   description: 'Source: Relative path to k3d config file, Destination: Magic shortcut path, Node: Defined, Description: Defined'
 
 options:
   k3d:
diff --git a/pkg/config/transform.go b/pkg/config/transform.go
index e9aa2c203..969f9075a 100644
--- a/pkg/config/transform.go
+++ b/pkg/config/transform.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // TransformSimpleToClusterConfig transforms a simple configuration to a full-fledged cluster configuration
-func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtime, simpleConfig conf.SimpleConfig) (*conf.ClusterConfig, error) {
+func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtime, simpleConfig conf.SimpleConfig, configFileName string) (*conf.ClusterConfig, error) {
 	// set default cluster name
 	if simpleConfig.Name == "" {
 		simpleConfig.Name = k3d.DefaultClusterName
@@ -383,6 +383,35 @@ func TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(ctx context.Context, runtime runtimes.Runtim
 		clusterCreateOpts.Registries.Config = k3sRegistry
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Files
+	 */
+
+	for _, fileWithNodeFilters := range simpleConfig.Files {
+		nodes, err := util.FilterNodes(nodeList, fileWithNodeFilters.NodeFilters)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to filter nodes for file copying '%s': %w", fileWithNodeFilters, err)
+		}
+
+		content, err := util.ReadFileSource(configFileName, fileWithNodeFilters.Source)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read source content: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		destination, err := util.ResolveFileDestination(fileWithNodeFilters.Destination)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("destination path is not correct: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		for _, node := range nodes {
+			node.Files = append(node.Files, k3d.File{
+				Content:     content,
+				Destination: destination,
+				Description: fileWithNodeFilters.Description,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
 	/**********************
 	 * Kubeconfig Options *
 	 **********************/
diff --git a/pkg/config/transform_test.go b/pkg/config/transform_test.go
index 266b84e73..45b57729f 100644
--- a/pkg/config/transform_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/transform_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestTransformSimpleConfigToClusterConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Logf("\n========== Read Config ==========\n%+v\n=================================\n", cfg)
 
-	clusterCfg, err := TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(context.Background(), runtimes.Docker, cfg.(conf.SimpleConfig))
+	clusterCfg, err := TransformSimpleToClusterConfig(context.Background(), runtimes.Docker, cfg.(conf.SimpleConfig), cfgFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/config/v1alpha5/schema.json b/pkg/config/v1alpha5/schema.json
index 9c79a2365..7d53a1f5f 100644
--- a/pkg/config/v1alpha5/schema.json
+++ b/pkg/config/v1alpha5/schema.json
@@ -114,6 +114,28 @@
         "additionalProperties": false
       }
     },
+    "files": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object",
+        "required": ["source", "destination"],
+        "properties": {
+          "source": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "destination": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "description": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "nodeFilters": {
+            "$ref": "#/definitions/nodeFilters"
+          }
+        },
+        "additionalProperties": false
+      }
+    },
     "options": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
diff --git a/pkg/config/v1alpha5/types.go b/pkg/config/v1alpha5/types.go
index b0296a1a6..a9ea26bd9 100644
--- a/pkg/config/v1alpha5/types.go
+++ b/pkg/config/v1alpha5/types.go
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@ type K3sArgWithNodeFilters struct {
 	NodeFilters []string `mapstructure:"nodeFilters" json:"nodeFilters,omitempty"`
 }
 
+type FileWithNodeFilters struct {
+	Source      string   `mapstructure:"source" json:"source,omitempty"`
+	Destination string   `mapstructure:"destination" json:"destination,omitempty"`
+	Description string   `mapstructure:"description" json:"description,omitempty"`
+	NodeFilters []string `mapstructure:"nodeFilters" json:"nodeFilters,omitempty"`
+}
+
 type SimpleConfigRegistryCreateConfig struct {
 	Name     string            `mapstructure:"name" json:"name,omitempty"`
 	Host     string            `mapstructure:"host" json:"host,omitempty"`
@@ -162,6 +169,7 @@ type SimpleConfig struct {
 	Env               []EnvVarWithNodeFilters `mapstructure:"env" json:"env,omitempty"`
 	Registries        SimpleConfigRegistries  `mapstructure:"registries" json:"registries,omitempty"`
 	HostAliases       []k3d.HostAlias         `mapstructure:"hostAliases" json:"hostAliases,omitempty"`
+	Files             []FileWithNodeFilters   `mapstructure:"files" json:"files,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // SimpleExposureOpts provides a simplified syntax compared to the original k3d.ExposureOpts
diff --git a/pkg/types/files.go b/pkg/types/files.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..32301cbdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/types/files.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+Copyright © 2020-2024 The k3d Author(s)
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+THE SOFTWARE.
+*/
+package types
+
+type File struct {
+	Content     []byte `mapstructure:"content" json:"content,omitempty"`
+	Destination string `mapstructure:"destination" json:"destination,omitempty"`
+	Description string `mapstructure:"description" json:"description,omitempty"`
+}
diff --git a/pkg/types/types.go b/pkg/types/types.go
index 0eebc73b8..4c1cf6c8c 100644
--- a/pkg/types/types.go
+++ b/pkg/types/types.go
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ type Node struct {
 	Env            []string              `json:"env,omitempty"`
 	Cmd            []string              // filled automatically based on role
 	Args           []string              `json:"extraArgs,omitempty"`
+	Files          []File                `json:"files,omitempty"`
 	Ports          nat.PortMap           `json:"portMappings,omitempty"`
 	Restart        bool                  `json:"restart,omitempty"`
 	Created        string                `json:"created,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/util/files.go b/pkg/util/files.go
index b5a1449fa..e363685d4 100644
--- a/pkg/util/files.go
+++ b/pkg/util/files.go
@@ -25,10 +25,15 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 
 	homedir "github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir"
 
+	l "github.com/k3d-io/k3d/v5/pkg/logger"
 	"github.com/k3d-io/k3d/v5/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/k3d-io/k3d/v5/pkg/types/k3s"
+	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 // GetConfigDirOrCreate will return the base path of the k3d config directory or create it if it doesn't exist yet
@@ -60,3 +65,49 @@ func createDirIfNotExists(path string) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// ReadFileSource reads the file source which is either embedded in the k3d config file or relative to it.
+func ReadFileSource(configFile, source string) ([]byte, error) {
+	sourceContent := &yaml.Node{}
+	sourceContent.SetString(source)
+
+	// If the source input is embedded in the config file, use it as it is.
+	if sourceContent.Style == yaml.LiteralStyle || sourceContent.Style == yaml.FoldedStyle {
+		l.Log().Debugf("read source from embedded file with content '%s'", sourceContent.Value)
+		return []byte(sourceContent.Value), nil
+	}
+
+	// If the source input is referenced as an external file, read its content.
+	sourceFilePath := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(configFile), sourceContent.Value)
+	fileInfo, err := os.Stat(sourceFilePath)
+	if err == nil && !fileInfo.IsDir() {
+		fileContent, err := os.ReadFile(sourceFilePath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot read file: %s", sourceFilePath)
+		}
+		l.Log().Debugf("read source from external file '%s'", sourceFilePath)
+		return fileContent, nil
+	}
+
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("could resolve source file path: %s", sourceFilePath)
+}
+
+// ResolveFileDestination determines the file destination and resolves it if it has a magic shortcut.
+func ResolveFileDestination(destPath string) (string, error) {
+	// If the destination path is absolute, then use it as it is.
+	if filepath.IsAbs(destPath) {
+		l.Log().Debugf("resolved destination with absolute path '%s'", destPath)
+		return destPath, nil
+	}
+
+	// If the destination path has a magic shortcut, then resolve it and use it in the path.
+	destPathTree := strings.Split(destPath, string(os.PathSeparator))
+	if shortcutPath, found := k3s.K3sPathShortcuts[destPathTree[0]]; found {
+		destPathTree[0] = shortcutPath
+		destPathResolved := filepath.Join(destPathTree...)
+		l.Log().Debugf("resolved destination with magic shortcut path: '%s'", destPathResolved)
+		return filepath.Join(destPathResolved), nil
+	}
+
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("destination can be only absolute path or starts with predefined shortcut path. Could not resolve destination file path: %s", destPath)
+}