diff --git a/esphome/components/http_request/__init__.py b/esphome/components/http_request/__init__.py
index 7dffdae27f..eea2f0d407 100644
--- a/esphome/components/http_request/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/http_request/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from esphome.const import (
     CONF_METHOD,
     CONF_TRIGGER_ID,
     CONF_URL,
+    CONF_ESP8266_DISABLE_SSL_SUPPORT,
 )
 from esphome.core import CORE, Lambda
 
@@ -71,6 +72,9 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.Schema(
         cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(HttpRequestComponent),
         cv.Optional(CONF_USERAGENT, "ESPHome"): cv.string,
         cv.Optional(CONF_TIMEOUT, default="5s"): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+        cv.SplitDefault(CONF_ESP8266_DISABLE_SSL_SUPPORT, esp8266=False): cv.All(
+            cv.only_on_esp8266, cv.boolean
+        ),
     }
 ).extend(cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA)
 
@@ -98,6 +102,8 @@ async def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     cg.add(var.set_timeout(config[CONF_TIMEOUT]))
     cg.add(var.set_useragent(config[CONF_USERAGENT]))
+    if CORE.is_esp8266 and not config[CONF_ESP8266_DISABLE_SSL_SUPPORT]:
+        cg.add_define("USE_HTTP_REQUEST_ESP8266_HTTPS")
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
 
 
diff --git a/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.cpp b/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.cpp
index 0d4e425147..3f5bf6da87 100644
--- a/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ void HttpRequestComponent::send(const std::vector<HttpRequestResponseTrigger *>
 
 #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266
 std::shared_ptr<WiFiClient> HttpRequestComponent::get_wifi_client_() {
+#ifdef USE_HTTP_REQUEST_ESP8266_HTTPS
   if (this->secure_) {
     if (this->wifi_client_secure_ == nullptr) {
       this->wifi_client_secure_ = std::make_shared<BearSSL::WiFiClientSecure>();
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<WiFiClient> HttpRequestComponent::get_wifi_client_() {
     }
     return this->wifi_client_secure_;
   }
+#endif
 
   if (this->wifi_client_ == nullptr) {
     this->wifi_client_ = std::make_shared<WiFiClient>();
diff --git a/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h b/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h
index 740a4580b4..fa29f8aa3a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h
+++ b/esphome/components/http_request/http_request.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "esphome/components/json/json_util.h"
 #include "esphome/core/automation.h"
 #include "esphome/core/component.h"
+#include "esphome/core/defines.h"
 #include <list>
 #include <map>
 #include <utility>
@@ -13,8 +14,10 @@
 #endif
 #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266
 #include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>
+#ifdef USE_HTTP_REQUEST_ESP8266_HTTPS
 #include <WiFiClientSecure.h>
 #endif
+#endif
 
 namespace esphome {
 namespace http_request {
@@ -53,7 +56,9 @@ class HttpRequestComponent : public Component {
   std::list<Header> headers_;
 #ifdef ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP8266
   std::shared_ptr<WiFiClient> wifi_client_;
+#ifdef USE_HTTP_REQUEST_ESP8266_HTTPS
   std::shared_ptr<BearSSL::WiFiClientSecure> wifi_client_secure_;
+#endif
   std::shared_ptr<WiFiClient> get_wifi_client_();
 #endif
 };
diff --git a/esphome/const.py b/esphome/const.py
index 92d18cde3a..a74068ab77 100644
--- a/esphome/const.py
+++ b/esphome/const.py
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ CONF_ENABLE_PIN = "enable_pin"
 CONF_ENABLE_TIME = "enable_time"
 CONF_ENERGY = "energy"
 CONF_ENTITY_ID = "entity_id"
+CONF_ESP8266_DISABLE_SSL_SUPPORT = "esp8266_disable_ssl_support"
 CONF_ESP8266_RESTORE_FROM_FLASH = "esp8266_restore_from_flash"
 CONF_ESPHOME = "esphome"
 CONF_ETHERNET = "ethernet"
diff --git a/esphome/core/defines.h b/esphome/core/defines.h
index 45bb3b82a5..e3976d378e 100644
--- a/esphome/core/defines.h
+++ b/esphome/core/defines.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #define USE_ESP8266_PREFERENCES_FLASH
 #define USE_FAN
 #define USE_HOMEASSISTANT_TIME
+#define USE_HTTP_REQUEST_ESP8266_HTTPS
 #define USE_I2C_MULTIPLEXER
 #define USE_JSON
 #define USE_LIGHT