diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/add-linting.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/add-linting.ts
index 0cbe631879610..816f9be229b46 100755
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/add-linting.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/add-linting.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ export async function addLintingGenerator(
     skipFormat: true,
     rootProject: rootProject,
     addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+    addExplicitTargets: true,
   });
   tasks.push(lintTask);
 
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/schema.d.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/schema.d.ts
index 1973f8276de7a..1d9d5def326c6 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/schema.d.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/add-linting/schema.d.ts
@@ -7,4 +7,5 @@ export interface AddLintingGeneratorSchema {
   skipPackageJson?: boolean;
   unitTestRunner?: string;
   addPlugin?: boolean;
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-e2e.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-e2e.ts
index 58a98c319242e..d271cd47810d7 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-e2e.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-e2e.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ export async function addE2e(tree: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
       devServerTarget: `${options.name}:serve:development`,
       baseUrl: 'http://localhost:4200',
       rootProject: options.rootProject,
-      addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+      addPlugin: false,
+      addExplicitTargets: false, // since e2e is a separate project, use inferred targets
     });
   } else if (options.e2eTestRunner === 'playwright') {
     const { configurationGenerator: playwrightConfigurationGenerator } =
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ export async function addE2e(tree: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
       }`,
       webServerAddress: `http://localhost:${options.port ?? 4200}`,
       rootProject: options.rootProject,
-      addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+      addPlugin: false,
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-linting.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-linting.ts
index 70da0750fdfea..072598d439c5b 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-linting.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-linting.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@ export async function addLinting(host: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
     skipPackageJson: options.skipPackageJson,
     unitTestRunner: options.unitTestRunner,
     skipFormat: true,
-    addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+    addPlugin: false,
   });
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-unit-test-runner.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-unit-test-runner.ts
index 509f58934c2ba..5666204ff86a2 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-unit-test-runner.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/add-unit-test-runner.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export async function addUnitTestRunner(host: Tree, options: NormalizedSchema) {
       projectRoot: options.appProjectRoot,
       skipPackageJson: options.skipPackageJson,
       strict: options.strict,
-      addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+      addPlugin: false,
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/normalize-options.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/normalize-options.ts
index c86e4d2043b22..75bc633e6f495 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/normalize-options.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/application/lib/normalize-options.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export async function normalizeOptions(
   });
   options.rootProject = appProjectRoot === '.';
   options.projectNameAndRootFormat = projectNameAndRootFormat;
-  options.addPlugin ??= process.env.NX_ADD_PLUGINS === 'true';
+  options.addPlugin ??= process.env.NX_ADD_PLUGINS !== 'false';
 
   const e2eProjectName = options.rootProject ? 'e2e' : `${appProjectName}-e2e`;
   const e2eProjectRoot = options.rootProject ? 'e2e' : `${appProjectRoot}-e2e`;
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/cypress-component-configuration/cypress-component-configuration.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/cypress-component-configuration/cypress-component-configuration.ts
index 66b9627e82191..6a7a0654d8f63 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/cypress-component-configuration/cypress-component-configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/cypress-component-configuration/cypress-component-configuration.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ export async function cypressComponentConfigurationInternal(
   const installTask = await baseCyCTConfig(tree, {
     project: options.project,
     skipFormat: true,
-    addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+    addPlugin: false,
+    addExplicitTargets: true,
   });
 
   await configureCypressCT(tree, options);
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/library/library.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/library/library.ts
index a2c8c95d3e52f..588a25caf5fba 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/library/library.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/library/library.ts
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ async function addUnitTestRunner(
       projectRoot: options.projectRoot,
       skipPackageJson: options.skipPackageJson,
       strict: options.strict,
-      addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+      addPlugin: false,
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/__snapshots__/migrate-from-angular-cli.spec.ts.snap b/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/__snapshots__/migrate-from-angular-cli.spec.ts.snap
index 1c3ec92a0748b..0a05e6f56a312 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/__snapshots__/migrate-from-angular-cli.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/__snapshots__/migrate-from-angular-cli.spec.ts.snap
@@ -99,15 +99,16 @@ exports[`workspace move to nx layout should create nx.json 1`] = `
     ],
     "sharedGlobals": [],
   },
-  "plugins": [
-    {
-      "options": {
-        "targetName": "lint",
-      },
-      "plugin": "@nx/eslint/plugin",
-    },
-  ],
   "targetDefaults": {
+    "@nx/eslint:lint": {
+      "cache": true,
+      "inputs": [
+        "default",
+        "{workspaceRoot}/.eslintrc.json",
+        "{workspaceRoot}/.eslintignore",
+        "{workspaceRoot}/eslint.config.js",
+      ],
+    },
     "build": {
       "cache": true,
       "dependsOn": [
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/utilities/workspace.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/utilities/workspace.ts
index d81f8d2640d7a..905af4cc94a96 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/utilities/workspace.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/ng-add/utilities/workspace.ts
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export async function updateRootEsLintConfig(
   unitTestRunner?: string
 ): Promise<void> {
   await lintInitGenerator(tree, {
-    addPlugin: process.env.NX_ADD_PLUGINS !== 'false',
+    addPlugin: process.env.NX_ADD_PLUGINS === 'true',
   });
 
   if (!existingEsLintConfig) {
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/storybook-configuration/lib/generate-storybook-configuration.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/storybook-configuration/lib/generate-storybook-configuration.ts
index 556b9c8784b40..5f825f2dbd458 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/storybook-configuration/lib/generate-storybook-configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/storybook-configuration/lib/generate-storybook-configuration.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ export async function generateStorybookConfiguration(
   tree: Tree,
   options: StorybookConfigurationOptions
 ): Promise<GeneratorCallback> {
-  const { configurationGenerator } = ensurePackage('@nx/storybook', nxVersion);
+  const addPlugin = process.env.NX_ADD_PLUGINS === 'true';
+
+  const { configurationGenerator } = ensurePackage<
+    typeof import('@nx/storybook')
+  >('@nx/storybook', nxVersion);
   return await configurationGenerator(tree, {
     project: options.project,
     uiFramework: '@storybook/angular',
@@ -17,5 +21,7 @@ export async function generateStorybookConfiguration(
     interactionTests: options.interactionTests,
     configureStaticServe: options.configureStaticServe,
     skipFormat: true,
+    addPlugin: addPlugin,
+    addExplicitTargets: !addPlugin,
   });
 }
diff --git a/packages/angular/src/generators/utils/add-jest.ts b/packages/angular/src/generators/utils/add-jest.ts
index e2ecd6d25be0d..1535a97e9de96 100644
--- a/packages/angular/src/generators/utils/add-jest.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/src/generators/utils/add-jest.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ export async function addJest(
     skipSerializers: false,
     skipPackageJson: options.skipPackageJson,
     skipFormat: true,
-    addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+    addPlugin: false,
+    addExplicitTargets: true,
   });
 
   const setupFile = joinPathFragments(
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/component-configuration.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/component-configuration.ts
index 0dc933855339b..6875aa38a0490 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/component-configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/component-configuration.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export async function componentConfigurationGeneratorInternal(
   tasks.push(updateDeps(tree, opts));
 
   addProjectFiles(tree, projectConfig, opts);
-  if (!hasPlugin) {
+  if (!hasPlugin || opts.addExplicitTargets) {
     addTargetToProject(tree, projectConfig, opts);
   }
   updateNxJsonConfiguration(tree, hasPlugin);
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/schema.d.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/schema.d.ts
index 11430de45c51e..bd9aef559c8b2 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/schema.d.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/component-configuration/schema.d.ts
@@ -5,4 +5,9 @@ export interface CypressComponentConfigurationSchema {
   bundler?: 'webpack' | 'vite';
   jsx?: boolean;
   addPlugin?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * @internal
+   */
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.spec.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.spec.ts
index ddd300ea49948..cd9928338142c 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.spec.ts
@@ -554,6 +554,48 @@ export default defineConfig({
         "
       `);
     });
+
+    it('should support generating explicit targets', async () => {
+      mockedInstalledCypressVersion.mockReturnValue(undefined); // ensure init is called
+      addProject(tree, { name: 'explicit-lib', type: 'apps' });
+      addProject(tree, { name: 'inferred-lib', type: 'apps' });
+
+      await cypressE2EConfigurationGenerator(tree, {
+        project: 'explicit-lib',
+        baseUrl: 'http://localhost:4200',
+        addPlugin: true,
+        addExplicitTargets: true,
+      });
+      await cypressE2EConfigurationGenerator(tree, {
+        project: 'inferred-lib',
+        baseUrl: 'http://localhost:4200',
+        addPlugin: true,
+        addExplicitTargets: false,
+      });
+
+      expect(readProjectConfiguration(tree, 'explicit-lib').targets.e2e)
+        .toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+        {
+          "configurations": {
+            "ci": {
+              "devServerTarget": "explicit-lib:serve-static",
+            },
+            "production": {
+              "devServerTarget": "explicit-lib:serve:production",
+            },
+          },
+          "executor": "@nx/cypress:cypress",
+          "options": {
+            "cypressConfig": "apps/explicit-lib/cypress.config.ts",
+            "devServerTarget": "explicit-lib:serve",
+            "testingType": "e2e",
+          },
+        }
+      `);
+      expect(
+        readProjectConfiguration(tree, 'inferred-lib').targets.e2e
+      ).toBeUndefined();
+    });
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
index 6c29bc895aaa5..9177cc2229063 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export interface CypressE2EConfigSchema {
   webServerCommands?: Record<string, string>;
   ciWebServerCommand?: string;
   addPlugin?: boolean;
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }
 
 type NormalizedSchema = ReturnType<typeof normalizeOptions>;
@@ -56,7 +57,10 @@ export function configurationGenerator(
   tree: Tree,
   options: CypressE2EConfigSchema
 ) {
-  return configurationGeneratorInternal(tree, { addPlugin: false, ...options });
+  return configurationGeneratorInternal(tree, {
+    addPlugin: false,
+    ...options,
+  });
 }
 
 export async function configurationGeneratorInternal(
@@ -86,13 +90,15 @@ export async function configurationGeneratorInternal(
   );
 
   await addFiles(tree, opts, projectGraph, hasPlugin);
-  if (!hasPlugin) {
+  if (!hasPlugin || options.addExplicitTargets) {
     addTarget(tree, opts);
   }
 
   const linterTask = await addLinterToCyProject(tree, {
     ...opts,
     cypressDir: opts.directory,
+    addPlugin: opts.addPlugin,
+    addExplicitTargets: opts.addExplicitTargets,
   });
   tasks.push(linterTask);
 
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/utils/add-linter.ts b/packages/cypress/src/utils/add-linter.ts
index 5679d65da15ed..ca66c9728130b 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/utils/add-linter.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/utils/add-linter.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ export interface CyLinterOptions {
    * This is useful when adding linting to a brand new project vs an existing one
    **/
   overwriteExisting?: boolean;
+  addPlugin?: boolean;
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }
 
 export async function addLinterToCyProject(
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ export async function addLinterToCyProject(
         setParserOptionsProject: options.setParserOptionsProject,
         skipPackageJson: options.skipPackageJson,
         rootProject: options.rootProject,
+        addPlugin: options.addPlugin,
+        addExplicitTargets: options.addExplicitTargets,
       })
     );
   }
diff --git a/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.spec.ts b/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.spec.ts
index da6d554e7d0ac..342ac38ef0dee 100644
--- a/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.spec.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import {
   addProjectConfiguration,
+  readJson,
   readProjectConfiguration,
-  updateJson,
   Tree,
-  readJson,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/devkit';
 
 import { Linter } from '../utils/linter';
@@ -298,4 +298,39 @@ describe('@nx/eslint:lint-project', () => {
           "
         `);
   });
+
+  it('should support generating explicit targets on project config', async () => {
+    addProjectConfiguration(tree, 'explicit-lib', {
+      root: 'libs/explicit-lib',
+      projectType: 'library',
+      targets: {},
+    });
+    addProjectConfiguration(tree, 'inferred-lib', {
+      root: 'libs/inferred-lib',
+      projectType: 'library',
+      targets: {},
+    });
+
+    await lintProjectGenerator(tree, {
+      ...defaultOptions,
+      linter: Linter.EsLint,
+      project: 'explicit-lib',
+      addExplicitTargets: true,
+    });
+    await lintProjectGenerator(tree, {
+      ...defaultOptions,
+      linter: Linter.EsLint,
+      project: 'inferred-lib',
+      addExplicitTargets: false,
+    });
+
+    const explicitCOnfig = readProjectConfiguration(tree, 'explicit-lib');
+    expect(explicitCOnfig.targets.lint).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+      {
+        "executor": "@nx/eslint:lint",
+      }
+    `);
+    const inferredConfig = readProjectConfiguration(tree, 'inferred-lib');
+    expect(inferredConfig.targets.lint).toBeUndefined();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.ts b/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.ts
index 0a93999a88485..3e9acec2af810 100644
--- a/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.ts
+++ b/packages/eslint/src/generators/lint-project/lint-project.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ interface LintProjectOptions {
   rootProject?: boolean;
   keepExistingVersions?: boolean;
   addPlugin?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * @internal
+   */
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function lintProjectGenerator(tree: Tree, options: LintProjectOptions) {
@@ -91,7 +96,7 @@ export async function lintProjectGeneratorInternal(
   }
 
   const hasPlugin = hasEslintPlugin(tree);
-  if (hasPlugin) {
+  if (hasPlugin && !options.addExplicitTargets) {
     if (
       lintFilePatterns &&
       lintFilePatterns.length &&
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts b/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
index a786f6f9ed9ba..41c25e7ef2ab8 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ export async function configurationGeneratorInternal(
       );
     }
   });
-  if (!hasPlugin) {
+  if (!hasPlugin || options.addExplicitTargets) {
     updateWorkspace(tree, options);
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts b/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts
index e3021f1cb1d23..afc7659eae769 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ export interface JestProjectSchema {
   compiler?: 'tsc' | 'babel' | 'swc';
   skipPackageJson?: boolean;
   js?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * @internal
+   */
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type NormalizedJestProjectSchema = JestProjectSchema & {
diff --git a/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts b/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
index be3d53e8ca84a..45fa2609c92cd 100644
--- a/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
+++ b/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/configuration.ts
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export async function configurationGeneratorInternal(
 
   let devDeps = {};
 
-  if (!hasPlugin) {
+  if (!hasPlugin || schema.addExplicitTargets) {
     if (schema.uiFramework === '@storybook/angular') {
       addAngularStorybookTarget(tree, schema.project, schema.interactionTests);
     } else {
diff --git a/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts b/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts
index 81e9b5519cb0a..cc42b504cdcfa 100644
--- a/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts
+++ b/packages/storybook/src/generators/configuration/schema.d.ts
@@ -20,4 +20,9 @@ export interface StorybookConfigureSchema {
    */
   cypressDirectory?: string;
   addPlugin?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * @internal
+   */
+  addExplicitTargets?: boolean;
 }