diff --git a/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs
index 62808e38a42c2..1d2a278767e18 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_asset/src/lib.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ mod info;
 mod io;
 mod loader;
 mod path;
+mod ser;
 
 pub mod prelude {
     #[doc(hidden)]
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ pub use info::*;
 pub use io::*;
 pub use loader::*;
 pub use path::*;
+pub use ser::*;
 
 use bevy_app::{prelude::Plugin, AppBuilder};
 use bevy_ecs::{
diff --git a/crates/bevy_asset/src/ser.rs b/crates/bevy_asset/src/ser.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b134570013b7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/bevy_asset/src/ser.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+use std::cell::Cell;
+
+use bevy_reflect::Uuid;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
+
+use crate::{Asset, AssetServer, Handle, HandleId, HandleUntyped};
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+thread_local! {
+    static ASSET_SERVER: Cell<Option<AssetServer>> = Cell::new(None);
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
+enum AssetRef {
+    Default,
+    /// Used for static handles like the `PBR_PIPELINE_HANDLE` or a embedded assets
+    Local(Uuid, u64),
+    /// Loads from a file
+    External(String),
+}
+
+impl<T: Asset> Serialize for Handle<T> {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: Serializer,
+    {
+        let path = ASSET_SERVER
+            .with(|cell| {
+                let server = cell.replace(None);
+                let path = server.as_ref().and_then(|server| {
+                    // TODO: `get_handle_path` does absolutely nothing issue #1290
+                    server.get_handle_path(self).map(|asset_path| {
+                        let mut path = asset_path.path().to_string_lossy().to_string();
+                        if let Some(label) = asset_path.label() {
+                            path.push('#');
+                            path.push_str(label);
+                        }
+                        AssetRef::External(path)
+                    })
+                });
+                cell.replace(server);
+                path
+            })
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| match &self.id {
+                HandleId::Id(type_uuid, id) => AssetRef::Local(*type_uuid, *id),
+                HandleId::AssetPathId(_) => AssetRef::Default,
+            });
+
+        path.serialize(serializer)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'de, T: Asset> Deserialize<'de> for Handle<T> {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        match AssetRef::deserialize(deserializer)? {
+            AssetRef::Default => Ok(Handle::default()),
+            AssetRef::Local(type_uuid, id) => {
+                Ok(HandleUntyped::weak_from_u64(type_uuid, id).typed())
+            }
+            AssetRef::External(path) => ASSET_SERVER.with(|cell| {
+                let server = cell.replace(None);
+                let handle = server
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .map(|server| server.load(path.as_str()))
+                    .unwrap_or_default();
+                cell.replace(server);
+                Ok(handle)
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl AssetServer {
+    /// Enables asset references to be serialized or deserialized
+    pub fn with_asset_refs_serialization<F, T>(&self, f: F) -> T
+    where
+        F: FnOnce() -> T,
+    {
+        ASSET_SERVER.with(|key| {
+            key.replace(Some(self.clone()));
+            let result = (f)();
+            key.replace(None);
+            result
+        })
+    }
+}