diff --git a/.changelog/38870.txt b/.changelog/38870.txt
index 0d2d1b938fb6..3f5b57bf65f7 100644
--- a/.changelog/38870.txt
+++ b/.changelog/38870.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 ```release-note:bug
-resource/aws_ecs_task_definition: Remove `null`s from `container_definition` array fields
\ No newline at end of file
+resource/aws_ecs_task_definition: Remove `null`s from `container_definition` array fields
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.changelog/38872.txt b/.changelog/38872.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..377f86506a50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/38872.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+resource/aws_ecs_task_definition: Fix perpetual `container_definitions` diffs on `healthCheck`'s default values
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions.go b/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions.go
index 7c71b88841da..18bcd4df83b3 100644
--- a/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions.go
+++ b/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions.go
@@ -54,11 +54,25 @@ func (cd containerDefinitions) reduce(isAWSVPC bool) {
 	// Compact any sparse lists.
 	cd.compactArrays()
 
+	// Deal with special fields which have defaults.
+	// See https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonECS/latest/developerguide/task_definition_parameters.html#container_definitions.
 	for i, def := range cd {
-		// Deal with special fields which have defaults.
 		if def.Essential == nil {
 			cd[i].Essential = aws.Bool(true)
 		}
+
+		if hc := def.HealthCheck; hc != nil {
+			if hc.Interval == nil {
+				hc.Interval = aws.Int32(30)
+			}
+			if hc.Retries == nil {
+				hc.Retries = aws.Int32(3)
+			}
+			if hc.Timeout == nil {
+				hc.Timeout = aws.Int32(5)
+			}
+		}
+
 		for j, pm := range def.PortMappings {
 			if pm.Protocol == awstypes.TransportProtocolTcp {
 				cd[i].PortMappings[j].Protocol = ""
diff --git a/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions_test.go b/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions_test.go
index abd43d8de9cb..dbefbab1bed7 100644
--- a/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions_test.go
+++ b/internal/service/ecs/container_definitions_test.go
@@ -624,3 +624,76 @@ func TestContainerDefinitionsAreEquivalent_sparseArrays(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("Expected definitions to be equal.")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestContainerDefinitionsAreEquivalent_healthCheck(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	cfgRepresentation := `
+[
+    {
+        "cpu": 512,
+        "environment": [],
+        "healthCheck": {
+            "command": [
+                "CMD-SHELL",
+                "curl -f http://localhost:8080/health || exit 1"
+            ]
+        },
+        "image": "nginx",
+        "memory": 2048,
+        "name": "nginx",
+        "startTimeout": 10,
+        "logConfiguration": {
+            "logDriver": "awslogs",
+            "options": {
+                "awslogs-group": "foo-bar-e196c99",
+                "awslogs-region": "region-1",
+                "awslogs-stream-prefix": "nginx"
+            }
+        }
+    }
+]`
+
+	apiRepresentation := `
+[
+    {
+        "cpu": 512,
+        "environment": [],
+        "essential": true,
+        "healthCheck": {
+            "command": [
+                "CMD-SHELL",
+                "curl -f http://localhost:8080/health || exit 1"
+            ],
+            "interval": 30,
+            "retries": 3,
+            "timeout": 5
+        },
+        "image": "nginx",
+        "logConfiguration": {
+            "logDriver": "awslogs",
+            "options": {
+                "awslogs-group": "foo-bar-e196c99",
+                "awslogs-region": "region-1",
+                "awslogs-stream-prefix": "nginx"
+            }
+        },
+        "memory": 2048,
+        "mountPoints": [],
+        "name": "nginx",
+        "portMappings": [],
+        "startTimeout": 10,
+        "systemControls": [],
+        "volumesFrom": []
+    }
+]
+`
+
+	equal, err := containerDefinitionsAreEquivalent(cfgRepresentation, apiRepresentation, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !equal {
+		t.Fatal("Expected definitions to be equal.")
+	}
+}