diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index ab3dc643f..5c051b5de 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - ./tmp/serverless-integration-test-aws-scala-sbt:/app
   aws-csharp:
-    image: microsoft/dotnet:2.0-sdk
+    image: mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/core/sdk:3.1
     volumes:
       - ./tmp/serverless-integration-test-aws-csharp:/app
   aws-fsharp:
diff --git a/docs/providers/aws/examples/hello-world/csharp/README.md b/docs/providers/aws/examples/hello-world/csharp/README.md
index 4e041c4b0..42bac58c5 100644
--- a/docs/providers/aws/examples/hello-world/csharp/README.md
+++ b/docs/providers/aws/examples/hello-world/csharp/README.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Using the `create` command we can specify one of the available [templates](https
 
 The `--path` or shorthand `-p` is the location to be created with the template service files. Change directories into this new folder.
 
-## 2. Build using .NET Core 2.X CLI tools and create zip package
+## 2. Build using .NET Core 3.1 CLI tools and create zip package
 
 ```
 # Linux or Mac OS
diff --git a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/Handler.cs b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/Handler.cs
index cf4ff9549..4c526b5d0 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/Handler.cs
+++ b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/Handler.cs
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 using Amazon.Lambda.Core;
-using System;
-
-[assembly:LambdaSerializer(typeof(Amazon.Lambda.Serialization.Json.JsonSerializer))]
 
+[assembly:LambdaSerializer(typeof(Amazon.Lambda.Serialization.SystemTextJson.DefaultLambdaJsonSerializer))]
 namespace AwsDotnetCsharp
 {
     public class Handler
@@ -29,11 +27,5 @@ namespace AwsDotnetCsharp
       public string Key1 {get; set;}
       public string Key2 {get; set;}
       public string Key3 {get; set;}
-
-      public Request(string key1, string key2, string key3){
-        Key1 = key1;
-        Key2 = key2;
-        Key3 = key3;
-      }
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/aws-csharp.csproj b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/aws-csharp.csproj
index a4001e115..c5b12e6c0 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/aws-csharp.csproj
+++ b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/aws-csharp.csproj
@@ -1,19 +1,15 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
 
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp2.1</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>netcoreapp3.1</TargetFramework>
     <GenerateRuntimeConfigurationFiles>true</GenerateRuntimeConfigurationFiles>
     <AssemblyName>CsharpHandlers</AssemblyName>
     <PackageId>aws-csharp</PackageId>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Amazon.Lambda.Core" Version="1.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Amazon.Lambda.Serialization.Json" Version="1.3.0" />
-  </ItemGroup>
-
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <DotNetCliToolReference Include="Amazon.Lambda.Tools" Version="2.2.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Amazon.Lambda.Core" Version="1.1.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Amazon.Lambda.Serialization.SystemTextJson" Version="2.0.1" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
 </Project>
diff --git a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.cmd b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.cmd
index cf1bf29bc..61537bee6 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.cmd
+++ b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.cmd
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 dotnet restore
-dotnet lambda package --configuration release --framework netcoreapp2.1 --output-package bin/release/netcoreapp2.1/hello.zip
+dotnet tool install -g Amazon.Lambda.Tools --framework netcoreapp3.1
+dotnet lambda package --configuration Release --framework netcoreapp3.1 --output-package bin/Release/netcoreapp3.1/hello.zip
diff --git a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.sh b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.sh
index 5769c5e0b..daadffd82 100755
--- a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.sh
+++ b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/build.sh
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ then
 fi
 
 dotnet restore
-dotnet lambda package --configuration release --framework netcoreapp2.1 --output-package bin/release/netcoreapp2.1/hello.zip
+dotnet tool install -g Amazon.Lambda.Tools --framework netcoreapp3.1
+dotnet lambda package --configuration Release --framework netcoreapp3.1 --output-package bin/Release/netcoreapp3.1/hello.zip
diff --git a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/serverless.yml b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/serverless.yml
index 2c6a21380..8d3042644 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/serverless.yml
+++ b/lib/plugins/create/templates/aws-csharp/serverless.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ service: aws-csharp # NOTE: update this with your service name
 
 provider:
   name: aws
-  runtime: dotnetcore2.1
+  runtime: dotnetcore3.1
 
 # you can overwrite defaults here
 #  stage: dev
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ functions:
 
     # you can add packaging information here
     package:
-      artifact: bin/release/netcoreapp2.1/hello.zip
+      artifact: bin/Release/netcoreapp3.1/hello.zip
     #  exclude:
     #    - exclude-me.js
     #    - exclude-me-dir/**