diff --git a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/texture_atlas.rs b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/texture_atlas.rs
index 18ab621a20e02..a4d82b2ca1874 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/texture_atlas.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/texture_atlas.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use bevy_asset::{Asset, AssetId, Assets, Handle};
-use bevy_ecs::{component::Component, reflect::ReflectComponent};
 use bevy_math::{URect, UVec2};
 use bevy_reflect::{std_traits::ReflectDefault, Reflect};
 #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
@@ -152,7 +151,7 @@ impl TextureAtlasLayout {
     }
 }
 
-/// Component used to draw a specific section of a texture.
+/// An index into a [`TextureAtlasLayout`], which corresponds to a specific section of a texture.
 ///
 /// It stores a handle to [`TextureAtlasLayout`] and the index of the current section of the atlas.
 /// The texture atlas contains various *sections* of a given texture, allowing users to have a single
@@ -164,8 +163,8 @@ impl TextureAtlasLayout {
 /// - [`animated sprite sheet example`](https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/blob/latest/examples/2d/sprite_sheet.rs)
 /// - [`sprite animation event example`](https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/blob/latest/examples/2d/sprite_animation.rs)
 /// - [`texture atlas example`](https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/blob/latest/examples/2d/texture_atlas.rs)
-#[derive(Component, Default, Debug, Clone, Reflect)]
-#[reflect(Component, Default, Debug)]
+#[derive(Default, Debug, Clone, Reflect)]
+#[reflect(Default, Debug)]
 pub struct TextureAtlas {
     /// Texture atlas layout handle
     pub layout: Handle<TextureAtlasLayout>,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
index 041ed36072987..0b936a38f9fa7 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     ExtractSchedule, Render,
 };
 use bevy_sprite::TextureAtlasLayout;
-use bevy_sprite::{BorderRect, ImageScaleMode, SpriteAssetEvents, TextureAtlas};
+use bevy_sprite::{BorderRect, ImageScaleMode, SpriteAssetEvents};
 
 use bevy_text::{ComputedTextBlock, PositionedGlyph, TextColor, TextLayoutInfo};
 use bevy_transform::components::GlobalTransform;
@@ -316,14 +316,13 @@ pub fn extract_uinode_images(
                 Option<&CalculatedClip>,
                 Option<&TargetCamera>,
                 &UiImage,
-                Option<&TextureAtlas>,
             ),
             Without<ImageScaleMode>,
         >,
     >,
     mapping: Extract<Query<RenderEntity>>,
 ) {
-    for (entity, uinode, transform, view_visibility, clip, camera, image, atlas) in &uinode_query {
+    for (entity, uinode, transform, view_visibility, clip, camera, image) in &uinode_query {
         let Some(camera_entity) = camera.map(TargetCamera::entity).or(default_ui_camera.get())
         else {
             continue;
@@ -336,12 +335,14 @@ pub fn extract_uinode_images(
         // Skip invisible images
         if !view_visibility.get()
             || image.color.is_fully_transparent()
-            || image.texture.id() == TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE.id()
+            || image.image.id() == TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE.id()
         {
             continue;
         }
 
-        let atlas_rect = atlas
+        let atlas_rect = image
+            .texture_atlas
+            .as_ref()
             .and_then(|s| s.texture_rect(&texture_atlases))
             .map(|r| r.as_rect());
 
@@ -375,7 +376,7 @@ pub fn extract_uinode_images(
                 color: image.color.into(),
                 rect,
                 clip: clip.map(|clip| clip.clip),
-                image: image.texture.id(),
+                image: image.image.id(),
                 camera_entity: render_camera_entity,
                 item: ExtractedUiItem::Node {
                     atlas_scaling,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/ui_texture_slice_pipeline.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/ui_texture_slice_pipeline.rs
index a08bedc417f36..a46dfbc6f81f6 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/ui_texture_slice_pipeline.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/ui_texture_slice_pipeline.rs
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     Extract, ExtractSchedule, Render, RenderSet,
 };
 use bevy_sprite::{
-    ImageScaleMode, SliceScaleMode, SpriteAssetEvents, TextureAtlas, TextureAtlasLayout,
-    TextureSlicer,
+    ImageScaleMode, SliceScaleMode, SpriteAssetEvents, TextureAtlasLayout, TextureSlicer,
 };
 use bevy_transform::prelude::GlobalTransform;
 use bevy_utils::HashMap;
@@ -258,22 +257,12 @@ pub fn extract_ui_texture_slices(
             Option<&TargetCamera>,
             &UiImage,
             &ImageScaleMode,
-            Option<&TextureAtlas>,
         )>,
     >,
     mapping: Extract<Query<RenderEntity>>,
 ) {
-    for (
-        entity,
-        uinode,
-        transform,
-        view_visibility,
-        clip,
-        camera,
-        image,
-        image_scale_mode,
-        atlas,
-    ) in &slicers_query
+    for (entity, uinode, transform, view_visibility, clip, camera, image, image_scale_mode) in
+        &slicers_query
     {
         let Some(camera_entity) = camera.map(TargetCamera::entity).or(default_ui_camera.get())
         else {
@@ -287,12 +276,14 @@ pub fn extract_ui_texture_slices(
         // Skip invisible images
         if !view_visibility.get()
             || image.color.is_fully_transparent()
-            || image.texture.id() == TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE.id()
+            || image.image.id() == TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE.id()
         {
             continue;
         }
 
-        let atlas_rect = atlas
+        let atlas_rect = image
+            .texture_atlas
+            .as_ref()
             .and_then(|s| s.texture_rect(&texture_atlases))
             .map(|r| r.as_rect());
 
@@ -318,7 +309,7 @@ pub fn extract_ui_texture_slices(
                     max: uinode.calculated_size,
                 },
                 clip: clip.map(|clip| clip.clip),
-                image: image.texture.id(),
+                image: image.image.id(),
                 camera_entity,
                 image_scale_mode: image_scale_mode.clone(),
                 atlas_rect,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/ui_node.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/ui_node.rs
index c0d6e6b6017c0..88b950b7b479b 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/ui_node.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/ui_node.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use bevy_render::{
     texture::{Image, TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE},
     view::Visibility,
 };
-use bevy_sprite::BorderRect;
+use bevy_sprite::{BorderRect, TextureAtlas};
 use bevy_transform::components::Transform;
 use bevy_utils::warn_once;
 use bevy_window::{PrimaryWindow, WindowRef};
@@ -2053,15 +2053,17 @@ pub struct UiImage {
     /// Handle to the texture.
     ///
     /// This defaults to a [`TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE`], which points to a fully transparent 1x1 texture.
-    pub texture: Handle<Image>,
+    pub image: Handle<Image>,
+    /// The (optional) texture atlas used to render the image
+    pub texture_atlas: Option<TextureAtlas>,
     /// Whether the image should be flipped along its x-axis
     pub flip_x: bool,
     /// Whether the image should be flipped along its y-axis
     pub flip_y: bool,
     /// An optional rectangle representing the region of the image to render, instead of rendering
-    /// the full image. This is an easy one-off alternative to using a [`TextureAtlas`](bevy_sprite::TextureAtlas).
+    /// the full image. This is an easy one-off alternative to using a [`TextureAtlas`].
     ///
-    /// When used with a [`TextureAtlas`](bevy_sprite::TextureAtlas), the rect
+    /// When used with a [`TextureAtlas`], the rect
     /// is offset by the atlas's minimal (top-left) corner position.
     pub rect: Option<Rect>,
 }
@@ -2079,8 +2081,9 @@ impl Default for UiImage {
             // This should be white because the tint is multiplied with the image,
             // so if you set an actual image with default tint you'd want its original colors
             color: Color::WHITE,
+            texture_atlas: None,
             // This texture needs to be transparent by default, to avoid covering the background color
-            texture: TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE,
+            image: TRANSPARENT_IMAGE_HANDLE,
             flip_x: false,
             flip_y: false,
             rect: None,
@@ -2092,7 +2095,7 @@ impl UiImage {
     /// Create a new [`UiImage`] with the given texture.
     pub fn new(texture: Handle<Image>) -> Self {
         Self {
-            texture,
+            image: texture,
             color: Color::WHITE,
             ..Default::default()
         }
@@ -2103,14 +2106,24 @@ impl UiImage {
     /// This is primarily useful for debugging / mocking the extents of your image.
     pub fn solid_color(color: Color) -> Self {
         Self {
-            texture: Handle::default(),
+            image: Handle::default(),
             color,
             flip_x: false,
             flip_y: false,
+            texture_atlas: None,
             rect: None,
         }
     }
 
+    /// Create a [`UiImage`] from an image, with an associated texture atlas
+    pub fn from_atlas_image(image: Handle<Image>, atlas: TextureAtlas) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            image,
+            texture_atlas: Some(atlas),
+            ..Default::default()
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Set the color tint
     #[must_use]
     pub const fn with_color(mut self, color: Color) -> Self {
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/widget/image.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/widget/image.rs
index 91a024c08075e..60a0ac5292738 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/widget/image.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/widget/image.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use bevy_ecs::prelude::*;
 use bevy_math::{UVec2, Vec2};
 use bevy_reflect::{std_traits::ReflectDefault, Reflect};
 use bevy_render::texture::Image;
-use bevy_sprite::{TextureAtlas, TextureAtlasLayout};
+use bevy_sprite::TextureAtlasLayout;
 use bevy_window::{PrimaryWindow, Window};
 use taffy::{MaybeMath, MaybeResolve};
 
@@ -97,15 +97,7 @@ pub fn update_image_content_size_system(
     textures: Res<Assets<Image>>,
 
     atlases: Res<Assets<TextureAtlasLayout>>,
-    mut query: Query<
-        (
-            &mut ContentSize,
-            &UiImage,
-            &mut UiImageSize,
-            Option<&TextureAtlas>,
-        ),
-        UpdateImageFilter,
-    >,
+    mut query: Query<(&mut ContentSize, &UiImage, &mut UiImageSize), UpdateImageFilter>,
 ) {
     let combined_scale_factor = windows
         .get_single()
@@ -113,10 +105,10 @@ pub fn update_image_content_size_system(
         .unwrap_or(1.)
         * ui_scale.0;
 
-    for (mut content_size, image, mut image_size, atlas_image) in &mut query {
-        if let Some(size) = match atlas_image {
+    for (mut content_size, image, mut image_size) in &mut query {
+        if let Some(size) = match &image.texture_atlas {
             Some(atlas) => atlas.texture_rect(&atlases).map(|t| t.size()),
-            None => textures.get(&image.texture).map(Image::size),
+            None => textures.get(&image.image).map(Image::size),
         } {
             // Update only if size or scale factor has changed to avoid needless layout calculations
             if size != image_size.size
diff --git a/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs b/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs
index ecd09bbf31ed1..ee623982db189 100644
--- a/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs
+++ b/examples/3d/auto_exposure.rs
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ fn setup(
 
     commands.spawn((
         UiImage {
-            texture: metering_mask,
+            image: metering_mask,
             ..default()
         },
         Node {
diff --git a/examples/stress_tests/many_animated_sprites.rs b/examples/stress_tests/many_animated_sprites.rs
index a89e86382ded3..c2282a293f566 100644
--- a/examples/stress_tests/many_animated_sprites.rs
+++ b/examples/stress_tests/many_animated_sprites.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ fn setup(
             commands.spawn((
                 Sprite {
                     image: texture_handle.clone(),
+                    texture_atlas: Some(TextureAtlas::from(texture_atlas_handle.clone())),
                     custom_size: Some(tile_size),
                     ..default()
                 },
@@ -92,7 +93,6 @@ fn setup(
                     rotation,
                     scale,
                 },
-                TextureAtlas::from(texture_atlas_handle.clone()),
                 AnimationTimer(timer),
             ));
         }
@@ -112,13 +112,16 @@ struct AnimationTimer(Timer);
 fn animate_sprite(
     time: Res<Time>,
     texture_atlases: Res<Assets<TextureAtlasLayout>>,
-    mut query: Query<(&mut AnimationTimer, &mut TextureAtlas)>,
+    mut query: Query<(&mut AnimationTimer, &mut Sprite)>,
 ) {
-    for (mut timer, mut sheet) in query.iter_mut() {
+    for (mut timer, mut sprite) in query.iter_mut() {
         timer.tick(time.delta());
         if timer.just_finished() {
-            let texture_atlas = texture_atlases.get(&sheet.layout).unwrap();
-            sheet.index = (sheet.index + 1) % texture_atlas.textures.len();
+            let Some(atlas) = &mut sprite.texture_atlas else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            let texture_atlas = texture_atlases.get(&atlas.layout).unwrap();
+            atlas.index = (atlas.index + 1) % texture_atlas.textures.len();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas.rs b/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas.rs
index 307b9541c855d..b0156e5d71f1a 100644
--- a/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas.rs
@@ -44,14 +44,13 @@ fn setup(
         })
         .with_children(|parent| {
             parent.spawn((
-                UiImage::new(texture_handle),
+                UiImage::from_atlas_image(texture_handle, TextureAtlas::from(texture_atlas_handle)),
                 Node {
                     width: Val::Px(256.),
                     height: Val::Px(256.),
                     ..default()
                 },
                 BackgroundColor(ANTIQUE_WHITE.into()),
-                TextureAtlas::from(texture_atlas_handle),
                 Outline::new(Val::Px(8.0), Val::ZERO, CRIMSON.into()),
             ));
             parent
@@ -65,13 +64,12 @@ fn setup(
         });
 }
 
-fn increment_atlas_index(
-    mut atlas_images: Query<&mut TextureAtlas>,
-    keyboard: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>,
-) {
+fn increment_atlas_index(mut ui_images: Query<&mut UiImage>, keyboard: Res<ButtonInput<KeyCode>>) {
     if keyboard.just_pressed(KeyCode::Space) {
-        for mut atlas_image in &mut atlas_images {
-            atlas_image.index = (atlas_image.index + 1) % 6;
+        for mut ui_image in &mut ui_images {
+            if let Some(atlas) = &mut ui_image.texture_atlas {
+                atlas.index = (atlas.index + 1) % 6;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas_slice.rs b/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas_slice.rs
index 8cf4590321241..e4e09772fe4da 100644
--- a/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas_slice.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/ui_texture_atlas_slice.rs
@@ -19,17 +19,19 @@ fn main() {
 
 fn button_system(
     mut interaction_query: Query<
-        (&Interaction, &mut TextureAtlas, &Children, &mut UiImage),
+        (&Interaction, &Children, &mut UiImage),
         (Changed<Interaction>, With<Button>),
     >,
     mut text_query: Query<&mut Text>,
 ) {
-    for (interaction, mut atlas, children, mut image) in &mut interaction_query {
+    for (interaction, children, mut image) in &mut interaction_query {
         let mut text = text_query.get_mut(children[0]).unwrap();
         match *interaction {
             Interaction::Pressed => {
                 **text = "Press".to_string();
-                atlas.index = (atlas.index + 1) % 30;
+                if let Some(atlas) = &mut image.texture_atlas {
+                    atlas.index = (atlas.index + 1) % 30;
+                }
                 image.color = GOLD.into();
             }
             Interaction::Hovered => {
@@ -79,7 +81,13 @@ fn setup(
                 parent
                     .spawn((
                         Button,
-                        UiImage::new(texture_handle.clone()),
+                        UiImage::from_atlas_image(
+                            texture_handle.clone(),
+                            TextureAtlas {
+                                index: idx,
+                                layout: atlas_layout_handle.clone(),
+                            },
+                        ),
                         Node {
                             width: Val::Px(w),
                             height: Val::Px(h),
@@ -91,10 +99,6 @@ fn setup(
                             ..default()
                         },
                         ImageScaleMode::Sliced(slicer.clone()),
-                        TextureAtlas {
-                            index: idx,
-                            layout: atlas_layout_handle.clone(),
-                        },
                     ))
                     .with_children(|parent| {
                         parent.spawn((
diff --git a/examples/ui/ui_texture_slice_flip_and_tile.rs b/examples/ui/ui_texture_slice_flip_and_tile.rs
index 1eaa94a4e49cb..17b149dec0230 100644
--- a/examples/ui/ui_texture_slice_flip_and_tile.rs
+++ b/examples/ui/ui_texture_slice_flip_and_tile.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ fn setup(mut commands: Commands, asset_server: Res<AssetServer>) {
             ] {
                 parent.spawn((
                     UiImage {
-                        texture: image.clone(),
+                        image: image.clone(),
                         flip_x,
                         flip_y,
                         ..default()