diff --git a/app/graphql/resolvers/boards_resolver.rb b/app/graphql/resolvers/boards_resolver.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..45c03bf0bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/graphql/resolvers/boards_resolver.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module Resolvers
+  class BoardsResolver < BaseResolver
+    type Types::BoardType, null: true
+
+    def resolve(**args)
+      # The project or group could have been loaded in batch by `BatchLoader`.
+      # At this point we need the `id` of the project/group to query for boards, so
+      # make sure it's loaded and not `nil` before continuing.
+      parent = object.respond_to?(:sync) ? object.sync : object
+
+      return Board.none unless parent
+
+      Boards::ListService.new(parent, context[:current_user]).execute(create_default_board: false)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/graphql/types/board_type.rb b/app/graphql/types/board_type.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9c95a987fe4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/graphql/types/board_type.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module Types
+  class BoardType < BaseObject
+    graphql_name 'Board'
+    description 'Represents a project or group board'
+
+    authorize :read_board
+
+    field :id, type: GraphQL::ID_TYPE, null: false,
+          description: 'ID (global ID) of the board'
+    field :name, type: GraphQL::STRING_TYPE, null: true,
+          description: 'Name of the board'
+  end
+end
+
+Types::BoardType.prepend_if_ee('::EE::Types::BoardType')
diff --git a/app/services/boards/list_service.rb b/app/services/boards/list_service.rb
index 8258d5d07d3..c6dfd62804f 100644
--- a/app/services/boards/list_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/boards/list_service.rb
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 module Boards
   class ListService < Boards::BaseService
-    def execute
-      create_board! if parent.boards.empty?
+    def execute(create_default_board: true)
+      create_board! if create_default_board && parent.boards.empty?
 
       if parent.multiple_issue_boards_available?
         boards
diff --git a/spec/graphql/resolvers/boards_resolver_spec.rb b/spec/graphql/resolvers/boards_resolver_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab77dfa8fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/graphql/resolvers/boards_resolver_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Resolvers::BoardsResolver do
+  include GraphqlHelpers
+
+  let_it_be(:user) { create(:user) }
+
+  shared_examples_for 'group and project boards resolver' do
+    it 'does not create a default board' do
+      expect(resolve_boards).to eq []
+    end
+
+    it 'calls Boards::ListService' do
+      expect_next_instance_of(Boards::ListService) do |service|
+        expect(service).to receive(:execute)
+      end
+
+      resolve_boards
+    end
+
+    it 'avoids N+1 queries' do
+      control = ActiveRecord::QueryRecorder.new { resolve_boards(args: {}) }
+
+      create(:milestone, "#{board_parent.class.name.underscore}": board_parent)
+      create(:board, resource_parent: board_parent)
+
+      expect { resolve_boards(args: {}) }.not_to exceed_query_limit(control)
+    end
+
+    describe 'multiple_issue_boards_available?' do
+      let!(:board2) { create(:board, name: 'Two', resource_parent: board_parent) }
+      let!(:board1) { create(:board, name: 'One', resource_parent: board_parent) }
+
+      it 'returns multiple boards' do
+        allow(board_parent).to receive(:multiple_issue_boards_available?).and_return(true)
+
+        expect(resolve_boards).to eq [board1, board2]
+      end
+
+      it 'returns only the first boards' do
+        allow(board_parent).to receive(:multiple_issue_boards_available?).and_return(false)
+
+        expect(resolve_boards).to eq [board1]
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#resolve' do
+    context 'when there is no parent' do
+      let(:board_parent) { nil }
+
+      it 'returns none if parent is nil' do
+        expect(resolve_boards).to eq(Board.none)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when project boards' do
+      let(:board_parent) { create(:project, :public, creator_id: user.id, namespace: user.namespace ) }
+
+      it_behaves_like 'group and project boards resolver'
+    end
+
+    context 'when group boards' do
+      let(:board_parent) { create(:group) }
+
+      it_behaves_like 'group and project boards resolver'
+    end
+  end
+
+  def resolve_boards(args: {})
+    resolve(described_class, obj: board_parent, args: args, ctx: { current_user: user })
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/shared_examples/services/boards/boards_list_service_shared_examples.rb b/spec/support/shared_examples/services/boards/boards_list_service_shared_examples.rb
index 97fe39a4494..1488027201c 100644
--- a/spec/support/shared_examples/services/boards/boards_list_service_shared_examples.rb
+++ b/spec/support/shared_examples/services/boards/boards_list_service_shared_examples.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ RSpec.shared_examples 'boards list service' do
 
       service.execute
     end
+
+    context 'when create_default_board is false' do
+      it 'does not create a new parent board' do
+        expect { service.execute(create_default_board: false) }.not_to change(parent.boards, :count)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   context 'when parent has a board' do