diff --git a/.changeset/serious-pens-matter.md b/.changeset/serious-pens-matter.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0569e2ef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/serious-pens-matter.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'create-astro': minor
+---
+
+Add "initialize git repository" step to simplify our next steps suggestion. We now give you a one-liner to easily paste in your terminal and start the dev server!
diff --git a/packages/create-astro/src/index.ts b/packages/create-astro/src/index.ts
index 3c4e3e1a0..dab8e7a3b 100644
--- a/packages/create-astro/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/create-astro/src/index.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
-import { bold, cyan, gray, green, red, yellow } from 'kleur/colors';
+import { bgCyan, black, bold, cyan, gray, green, red, yellow } from 'kleur/colors';
 import prompts from 'prompts';
 import degit from 'degit';
 import yargs from 'yargs-parser';
@@ -181,19 +181,17 @@ export async function main() {
 		process.exit(0);
 	}
 
-	if (installResponse.install) {
+	if (installResponse.install && !args.dryrun) {
 		const installExec = execa(pkgManager, ['install'], { cwd });
 		const installingPackagesMsg = `Installing packages${emojiWithFallback(' 📦', '...')}`;
 		spinner = ora({ color: 'green', text: installingPackagesMsg }).start();
-		if (!args.dryrun) {
-			await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
-				installExec.stdout?.on('data', function (data) {
-					spinner.text = `${installingPackagesMsg}\n${bold(`[${pkgManager}]`)} ${data}`;
-				});
-				installExec.on('error', (error) => reject(error));
-				installExec.on('close', () => resolve());
+		await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+			installExec.stdout?.on('data', function (data) {
+				spinner.text = `${installingPackagesMsg}\n${bold(`[${pkgManager}]`)} ${data}`;
 			});
-		}
+			installExec.on('error', (error) => reject(error));
+			installExec.on('close', () => resolve());
+		});
 		spinner.succeed();
 	}
 
@@ -227,26 +225,36 @@ export async function main() {
 		);
 	}
 
-	console.log('\nNext steps:');
-	let i = 1;
-	const relative = path.relative(process.cwd(), cwd);
-	if (relative !== '') {
-		console.log(`  ${i++}: ${bold(cyan(`cd ${relative}`))}`);
+	const gitResponse = await prompts({
+		type: 'confirm',
+		name: 'git',
+		message: 'Initialize a git repository?',
+		initial: true,
+	});
+
+	if (!gitResponse) {
+		process.exit(0);
 	}
 
-	if (!installResponse.install) {
-		console.log(`  ${i++}: ${bold(cyan(`${pkgManager} install`))}`);
+	if (gitResponse.git && !args.dryrun) {
+		await execaCommand('git init', { cwd });
 	}
-	console.log(
-		`  ${i++}: ${bold(
-			cyan('git init && git add -A && git commit -m "Initial commit"')
-		)} (optional step)`
-	);
-	const runCommand = pkgManager === 'npm' ? 'npm run dev' : `${pkgManager} dev`;
-	console.log(`  ${i++}: ${bold(cyan(runCommand))}`);
+
+	console.log(`\n${bgCyan(black(' Next steps '))}\n`);
+
+	const relative = path.relative(process.cwd(), cwd);
+	const startCommand = [];
+	if (relative !== '') {
+		startCommand.push(bold(cyan(`cd ${relative}`)));
+	}
+	if (!installResponse.install) {
+		startCommand.push(bold(cyan(`${pkgManager} install`)));
+	}
+	startCommand.push(bold(cyan(pkgManager === 'npm' ? 'npm run dev' : `${pkgManager} dev`)));
+	console.log(startCommand.join(' && '));
 
 	console.log(`\nTo close the dev server, hit ${bold(cyan('Ctrl-C'))}`);
-	console.log(`\nStuck? Visit us at ${cyan('https://astro.build/chat')}\n`);
+	console.log(`Stuck? Visit us at ${cyan('https://astro.build/chat')}\n`);
 }
 
 function emojiWithFallback(char: string, fallback: string) {
diff --git a/packages/create-astro/test/astro-add-step.test.js b/packages/create-astro/test/astro-add-step.test.js
index b46d836cc..73d963ed0 100644
--- a/packages/create-astro/test/astro-add-step.test.js
+++ b/packages/create-astro/test/astro-add-step.test.js
@@ -23,13 +23,14 @@ describe('[create-astro] astro add', function () {
 	});
 
 	it('should use "astro add" when user has installed dependencies', function () {
-		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir, '--dryrun']);
+		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir]);
 		return promiseWithTimeout((resolve) => {
 			const seen = new Set();
 			const installPrompt = PROMPT_MESSAGES.install('npm');
 			stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
 				if (!seen.has(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template) && chunk.includes(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template)) {
 					seen.add(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template);
+					// respond with "enter key"
 					stdin.write('\x0D');
 				}
 				if (!seen.has(installPrompt) && chunk.includes(installPrompt)) {
@@ -44,17 +45,19 @@ describe('[create-astro] astro add', function () {
 	});
 
 	it('should use "npx astro@latest add" when use has NOT installed dependencies', function () {
-		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir, '--dryrun']);
+		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir]);
 		return promiseWithTimeout((resolve) => {
 			const seen = new Set();
 			const installPrompt = PROMPT_MESSAGES.install('npm');
 			stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
 				if (!seen.has(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template) && chunk.includes(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template)) {
 					seen.add(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template);
+					// respond with "enter key"
 					stdin.write('\x0D');
 				}
 				if (!seen.has(installPrompt) && chunk.includes(installPrompt)) {
 					seen.add(installPrompt);
+					// respond with "no, then enter key"
 					stdin.write('n\x0D');
 				}
 				if (chunk.includes(PROMPT_MESSAGES.astroAdd('npx astro@latest add --yes'))) {
diff --git a/packages/create-astro/test/install-step.test.js b/packages/create-astro/test/install-step.test.js
index fbd7f2249..d8219b520 100644
--- a/packages/create-astro/test/install-step.test.js
+++ b/packages/create-astro/test/install-step.test.js
@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@ describe('[create-astro] install', function () {
 	});
 
 	it('should respect package manager in prompt', function () {
-		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir, '--dryrun']);
+		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir]);
 		return promiseWithTimeout((resolve) => {
 			const seen = new Set();
 			const installPrompt = PROMPT_MESSAGES.install(FAKE_PACKAGE_MANAGER);
 			stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
 				if (!seen.has(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template) && chunk.includes(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template)) {
 					seen.add(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template);
+					// respond with "enter key"
 					stdin.write('\x0D');
 				}
 				if (!seen.has(installPrompt) && chunk.includes(installPrompt)) {
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ describe('[create-astro] install', function () {
 	});
 
 	it('should respect package manager in next steps', function () {
-		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir, '--dryrun']);
+		const { stdout, stdin } = setup([tempDir]);
 		return promiseWithTimeout((resolve) => {
 			const seen = new Set();
 			const installPrompt = PROMPT_MESSAGES.install(FAKE_PACKAGE_MANAGER);
@@ -47,14 +48,20 @@ describe('[create-astro] install', function () {
 			stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
 				if (!seen.has(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template) && chunk.includes(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template)) {
 					seen.add(PROMPT_MESSAGES.template);
+					// respond with "enter key"
 					stdin.write('\x0D');
 				}
 				if (!seen.has(installPrompt) && chunk.includes(installPrompt)) {
 					seen.add(installPrompt);
+					// respond with "no, then enter key"
 					stdin.write('n\x0D');
 				}
 				if (!seen.has(astroAddPrompt) && chunk.includes(astroAddPrompt)) {
 					seen.add(astroAddPrompt);
+					stdin.write('n\x0D');
+				}
+				if (!seen.has(PROMPT_MESSAGES.git) && chunk.includes(PROMPT_MESSAGES.git)) {
+					seen.add(PROMPT_MESSAGES.git);
 					stdin.write('\x0D');
 				}
 				if (chunk.includes('banana dev')) {
diff --git a/packages/create-astro/test/utils.js b/packages/create-astro/test/utils.js
index 70ad32210..964ae6a20 100644
--- a/packages/create-astro/test/utils.js
+++ b/packages/create-astro/test/utils.js
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ export const PROMPT_MESSAGES = {
 	install: (pkgManager) => `Would you like us to run "${pkgManager} install?"`,
 	astroAdd: (astroAddCommand = 'npx astro@latest add --yes') =>
 		`Run "${astroAddCommand}?" This lets you optionally add component frameworks (ex. React), CSS frameworks (ex. Tailwind), and more.`,
+	git: 'Initialize a git repository?',
 };
 
 export function setup(args = []) {
-	const { stdout, stdin } = execa('../create-astro.mjs', args, { cwd: testDir });
+	const { stdout, stdin } = execa('../create-astro.mjs', [...args, '--dryrun'], { cwd: testDir });
 	return {
 		stdin,
 		stdout,