diff --git a/docs/generated/api-react-native/executors/build-android.md b/docs/generated/api-react-native/executors/build-android.md
index 311fc01671..03f1f3086c 100644
--- a/docs/generated/api-react-native/executors/build-android.md
+++ b/docs/generated/api-react-native/executors/build-android.md
@@ -16,3 +16,9 @@ Options can be configured in `workspace.json` when defining the executor, or whe
 Type: `boolean`
 
 Generate apk file(s) rather than a bundle (.aab).
+
+### debug
+
+Type: `boolean`
+
+Generate a debug build instead of a release build
diff --git a/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/build-android.impl.ts b/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/build-android.impl.ts
index ff41ec862e..37c9260e15 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/build-android.impl.ts
+++ b/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/build-android.impl.ts
@@ -35,9 +35,11 @@ function runCliBuild(
   options: ReactNativeBuildOptions
 ) {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const gradleCommand = getGradleCommand(options);
+
     childProcess = spawn(
       process.platform === 'win32' ? 'gradlew.bat' : './gradlew',
-      [options.apk ? 'assembleRelease' : 'bundleRelease'],
+      [gradleCommand],
       {
         cwd: join(workspaceRoot, projectRoot, 'android'),
         stdio: [0, 1, 2],
@@ -60,3 +62,19 @@ function runCliBuild(
     });
   });
 }
+
+function getGradleCommand(options: ReactNativeBuildOptions) {
+  if (options.apk && options.debug) {
+    return 'assembleDebug';
+  }
+
+  if (options.apk) {
+    return 'assembleRelease';
+  }
+
+  if (options.debug) {
+    return 'bundleDebug';
+  }
+
+  return 'bundleRelease';
+}
diff --git a/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.d.ts b/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.d.ts
index 5f42ee8024..f7ca568da1 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.d.ts
+++ b/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.d.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 export interface ReactNativeBuildOptions {
   apk?: boolean;
+  debug?: boolean;
 }
diff --git a/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.json b/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.json
index 034fae138c..985c0e5bae 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.json
+++ b/packages/react-native/src/executors/build-android/schema.json
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
     "apk": {
       "type": "boolean",
       "description": "Generate apk file(s) rather than a bundle (.aab)."
+    },
+    "debug": {
+      "type": "boolean",
+      "description": "Generate a debug build instead of a release build"
     }
   },
   "required": []