diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider.go
index 125143a26586..b25c9e764415 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider.go
@@ -74,25 +74,6 @@ type LaunchTemplate struct {
 	// BlockDeviceMappings to be applied to provisioned nodes.
 	// +optionals
 	BlockDeviceMappings []*BlockDeviceMapping `json:"blockDeviceMappings,omitempty"`
-	// UserData to be applied to the provisioned nodes.
-	// It must be in the appropriate format based on the specified AMIFamily. Karpenter will merge certain fields into
-	// this UserData to ensure nodes are being provisioned with the correct configuration.
-	// +optional
-	UserData *UserData `json:"userData,omitempty"`
-}
-
-type UserData struct {
-	// ConfigMap defines the configuration map to retrieve the UserData from.
-	ConfigMap *ConfigMapUserDataSource `json:"configMap,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// ConfigMapSource defines the configMap where you can retrieve the UserData content.
-// Only a single key is expected in the entire map. BinaryData is not supported.
-type ConfigMapUserDataSource struct {
-	// Name of the ConfigMap.
-	Name *string `json:"name,omitempty"`
-	// Namespace of the ConfigMap.
-	Namespace *string `json:"namespace,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // MetadataOptions contains parameters for specifying the exposure of the
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider_validation.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider_validation.go
index 42699f81c5dc..00a9f72f4927 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider_validation.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/provider_validation.go
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ const (
 	metadataOptionsPath         = "metadataOptions"
 	instanceProfilePath         = "instanceProfile"
 	blockDeviceMappingsPath     = "blockDeviceMappings"
-	userDataPath                = "userData"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ func (a *AWS) validate() (errs *apis.FieldError) {
 		a.validateMetadataOptions(),
 		a.validateAMIFamily(),
 		a.validateBlockDeviceMappings(),
-		a.validateUserData(),
 	)
 }
 
@@ -77,9 +75,6 @@ func (a *AWS) validateLaunchTemplate() (errs *apis.FieldError) {
 	if a.InstanceProfile != nil {
 		errs = errs.Also(apis.ErrMultipleOneOf(launchTemplatePath, instanceProfilePath))
 	}
-	if a.UserData != nil {
-		errs = errs.Also(apis.ErrMultipleOneOf(launchTemplatePath, userDataPath))
-	}
 	if len(a.BlockDeviceMappings) != 0 {
 		errs = errs.Also(apis.ErrMultipleOneOf(launchTemplatePath, blockDeviceMappingsPath))
 	}
@@ -256,14 +251,3 @@ func (a *AWS) validateVolumeSize(blockDeviceMapping *BlockDeviceMapping) *apis.F
 	}
 	return nil
 }
-
-func (a *AWS) validateUserData() *apis.FieldError {
-	if a.UserData == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	// Only support UserData with Bottlerocket for now.
-	if *a.AMIFamily != AMIFamilyBottlerocket {
-		return apis.ErrInvalidValue(fmt.Sprintf("not supported with %v", *a.AMIFamily), userDataPath)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 41a8a0d0576e..f657e6abecb7 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/apis/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -159,31 +159,6 @@ func (in *BlockDeviceMapping) DeepCopy() *BlockDeviceMapping {
 	return out
 }
 
-// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *ConfigMapUserDataSource) DeepCopyInto(out *ConfigMapUserDataSource) {
-	*out = *in
-	if in.Name != nil {
-		in, out := &in.Name, &out.Name
-		*out = new(string)
-		**out = **in
-	}
-	if in.Namespace != nil {
-		in, out := &in.Namespace, &out.Namespace
-		*out = new(string)
-		**out = **in
-	}
-}
-
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new ConfigMapUserDataSource.
-func (in *ConfigMapUserDataSource) DeepCopy() *ConfigMapUserDataSource {
-	if in == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := new(ConfigMapUserDataSource)
-	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
-	return out
-}
-
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *LaunchTemplate) DeepCopyInto(out *LaunchTemplate) {
 	*out = *in
@@ -208,11 +183,6 @@ func (in *LaunchTemplate) DeepCopyInto(out *LaunchTemplate) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if in.UserData != nil {
-		in, out := &in.UserData, &out.UserData
-		*out = new(UserData)
-		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
-	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new LaunchTemplate.
@@ -259,23 +229,3 @@ func (in *MetadataOptions) DeepCopy() *MetadataOptions {
 	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
 	return out
 }
-
-// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
-func (in *UserData) DeepCopyInto(out *UserData) {
-	*out = *in
-	if in.ConfigMap != nil {
-		in, out := &in.ConfigMap, &out.ConfigMap
-		*out = new(ConfigMapUserDataSource)
-		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
-	}
-}
-
-// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new UserData.
-func (in *UserData) DeepCopy() *UserData {
-	if in == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := new(UserData)
-	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
-	return out
-}
diff --git a/website/content/en/preview/AWS/provisioning.md b/website/content/en/preview/AWS/provisioning.md
index e9a967dbb8f7..43d88b00f60e 100644
--- a/website/content/en/preview/AWS/provisioning.md
+++ b/website/content/en/preview/AWS/provisioning.md
@@ -207,33 +207,39 @@ spec:
 
 ### UserData
 
-The `userData` field in a Provisioner can be used to control the UserData that Karpenter will use when provisioning nodes.
-Your UserData must be specified via a ConfigMap, and it will be processed differently based on the AMIFamily selected.
+In order to specify custom user data, you must include it within the AWSNodeTemplate resource. You can then reference the AWSNodeTemplate resource through `spec.providerRef` in your provisioner.
 
 **Examples**
 
-You can specify which ConfigMap to retrieve your userData from -
+Your UserData can be added to `spec.userData` in the `AWSNodeTemplate` resource like this -
 ```
-  provider:
-    amiFamily: Bottlerocket
-    userData:
-      configMap:
-        name: my-userdata
-        namespace: karpenter
-```
-
-The UserData can be specified within your ConfigMap under a single arbitrarily named key. Binary contents are not supported.
-```
-data:
-  userData.toml: |
+apiVersion: karpenter.k8s.aws/v1alpha1
+kind: AWSNodeTemplate
+metadata:
+  name: mynodetemplate
+spec:
+  userData:  |
     [settings.kubernetes]
     kube-api-qps = 30
     [settings.kubernetes.eviction-hard]
     "memory.available" = "20%"
-kind: ConfigMap
 ```
 
-*This field is currently only supported for the Bottlerocket AMIFamily*.
+The AWSNodeTemplate CRD can then be referenced within the provisioner through `providerRef` -
+```
+spec:
+  provider:
+    amiFamily: Bottlerocket
+    instanceProfile: MyInstanceProfile
+    subnetSelector:
+      karpenter.sh/discovery: my-cluster
+    securityGroupSelector:
+      karpenter.sh/discovery: my-cluster
+  providerRef:
+    name: mynodetemplate
+```
+
+*Supporting UserData via the providerRef is currently only supported for the Bottlerocket AMIFamily*.
 
 **Semantics for Bottlerocket**
 * Your UserData must be valid TOML.