diff --git a/Rakefile b/Rakefile
index 07e738f2113..189d6d5d5dd 100755
--- a/Rakefile
+++ b/Rakefile
@@ -113,12 +113,21 @@ task 'dlls', [:plat] do |t, args|
 
   out = GrpcBuildConfig::CORE_WINDOWS_DLL
 
+  # propagate env variables with ccache configuration to the rake-compiler-dock docker container
+  # and setup ccache symlinks as needed.
+  # TODO(jtattermusch): deduplicate creation of prepare_ccache_cmd
+  prepare_ccache_cmd = "export GRPC_BUILD_ENABLE_CCACHE=\"#{ENV.fetch('GRPC_BUILD_ENABLE_CCACHE', '')}\" && "
+  prepare_ccache_cmd += "export CCACHE_SECONDARY_STORAGE=\"#{ENV.fetch('CCACHE_SECONDARY_STORAGE', '')}\" && "
+  prepare_ccache_cmd += "export PATH=\"$PATH:/usr/local/bin\" && "
+  prepare_ccache_cmd += "source tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_symlinks_rc "
+
   build_configs.each do |opt|
     env_comp = "CC=#{opt[:cross]}-gcc "
     env_comp += "CXX=#{opt[:cross]}-g++ "
     env_comp += "LD=#{opt[:cross]}-gcc "
     env_comp += "LDXX=#{opt[:cross]}-g++ "
     run_rake_compiler(opt[:platform], <<~EOT)
+      #{prepare_ccache_cmd} && \
       gem update --system --no-document && \
       #{env} #{env_comp} make -j#{nproc_override} #{out} && \
       #{opt[:cross]}-strip -x -S #{out} && \
@@ -152,6 +161,13 @@ task 'gem:native', [:plat] do |t, args|
     # use env variable to set artifact build paralellism
     nproc_override = ENV['GRPC_RUBY_BUILD_PROCS'] || `nproc`.strip
 
+    # propagate env variables with ccache configuration to the rake-compiler-dock docker container
+    # and setup ccache symlinks as needed.
+    prepare_ccache_cmd = "export GRPC_BUILD_ENABLE_CCACHE=\"#{ENV.fetch('GRPC_BUILD_ENABLE_CCACHE', '')}\" && "
+    prepare_ccache_cmd += "export CCACHE_SECONDARY_STORAGE=\"#{ENV.fetch('CCACHE_SECONDARY_STORAGE', '')}\" && "
+    prepare_ccache_cmd += "export PATH=\"$PATH:/usr/local/bin\" && "
+    prepare_ccache_cmd += "source tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_symlinks_rc "
+
     supported_windows_platforms = ['x86-mingw32', 'x64-mingw32']
     supported_unix_platforms = ['x86_64-linux', 'x86-linux', 'x86_64-darwin', 'arm64-darwin']
     supported_platforms = supported_windows_platforms + supported_unix_platforms
@@ -178,6 +194,7 @@ task 'gem:native', [:plat] do |t, args|
 
     windows_platforms.each do |plat|
       run_rake_compiler(plat, <<~EOT)
+        #{prepare_ccache_cmd} && \
         gem update --system --no-document && \
         bundle && \
         bundle exec rake clean && \
@@ -196,6 +213,7 @@ task 'gem:native', [:plat] do |t, args|
 
     unix_platforms.each do |plat|
       run_rake_compiler(plat, <<~EOT)
+        #{prepare_ccache_cmd} && \
         gem update --system --no-document && \
         bundle && \
         bundle exec rake clean && \
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile.template
index 8ae3691e959..ab112a7adb1 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:buster
+  FROM debian:11
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../csharp_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../csharp_dotnetcli_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
+
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
   
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile.template
index 8ae3691e959..ab112a7adb1 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:buster
+  FROM debian:11
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../csharp_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../csharp_dotnetcli_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
+
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
   
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile.template
index 82dc1d16243..4dfe72e5e1c 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:jessie
+  FROM debian:11
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../cxx_deps.include"/>
-  <%include file="../../cmake_jessie_backports.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
+
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
   
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile.template
index 3bcc1b97ad6..0ab69691882 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile.template
@@ -20,3 +20,6 @@
   RUN ln -s $(which python3) /usr/bin/python
 
   <%include file="../../gcp_api_libraries.include"/>
+
+  <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile.template
index 6f528510ee3..e0c51ebe9b3 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile.template
@@ -20,3 +20,6 @@
   RUN ln -s $(which python3) /usr/bin/python
 
   <%include file="../../gcp_api_libraries.include"/>
+
+  <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile.template
index 67f8cd3b19f..e53ac1c7ff1 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,12 +14,15 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:buster
+  FROM debian:11
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../ruby_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
+
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
   
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
similarity index 94%
rename from templates/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64/Dockerfile.template
rename to templates/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
index 0b647f4590e..016c074d5e6 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,13 +14,15 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:buster
+  FROM debian:11
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../csharp_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../csharp_dotnetcli_deps.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
+
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
   
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_x64/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
similarity index 92%
rename from templates/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_x64/Dockerfile.template
rename to templates/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
index 2f05c70f479..a3fe030644a 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_x64/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_x64/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,15 +14,14 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
   
-  FROM debian:buster
+  FROM debian:11
   
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_python_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../ruby_deps.include"/>
   <%include file="../../cmake.include"/>
+  <%include file="../../ccache.include"/>
   <%include file="../../run_tests_addons.include"/>
 
-  RUN python3 -m pip install virtualenv==16.7.9
-
   # Define the default command.
   CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile.template b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile.template
index e8afb5ee6e9..576f8473070 100644
--- a/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile.template
+++ b/templates/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile.template
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
   # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   # limitations under the License.
 
-  FROM debian:bullseye
+  FROM debian:11
 
   <%include file="../../apt_get_basic.include"/>
   <%include file="../../cxx_deps.include"/>
diff --git a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x64-mingw32/Dockerfile b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x64-mingw32/Dockerfile
index 66637714d84..fd1f6dcf4ae 100644
--- a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x64-mingw32/Dockerfile
+++ b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x64-mingw32/Dockerfile
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
 FROM larskanis/rake-compiler-dock-mri-x64-mingw32:1.1.0
 
 RUN find / -name win32.h | while read f ; do sed -i 's/gettimeofday/rb_gettimeofday/' $f ; done
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
diff --git a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-linux/Dockerfile b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-linux/Dockerfile
index 50aaae24150..812bd23e7b3 100644
--- a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-linux/Dockerfile
+++ b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-linux/Dockerfile
@@ -1 +1,15 @@
 FROM larskanis/rake-compiler-dock-mri-x86-linux:1.1.0
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
diff --git a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-mingw32/Dockerfile b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-mingw32/Dockerfile
index 6a2880a9fee..ab855eb2251 100644
--- a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-mingw32/Dockerfile
+++ b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86-mingw32/Dockerfile
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
 FROM larskanis/rake-compiler-dock-mri-x86-mingw32:1.1.0
 
 RUN find / -name win32.h | while read f ; do sed -i 's/gettimeofday/rb_gettimeofday/' $f ; done
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
diff --git a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86_64-linux/Dockerfile b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86_64-linux/Dockerfile
index ede37a24083..78966e2dbcf 100644
--- a/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86_64-linux/Dockerfile
+++ b/third_party/rake-compiler-dock/rake_x86_64-linux/Dockerfile
@@ -1 +1,15 @@
 FROM larskanis/rake-compiler-dock-mri-x86_64-linux:1.1.0
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_linux_armv7/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_linux_armv7/Dockerfile
index aec40006ea6..b06af3b329d 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_linux_armv7/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_linux_armv7/Dockerfile
@@ -26,8 +26,36 @@ RUN /scripts/install_python_for_wheel_crosscompilation.sh "3.6.13" "3.6.13" /opt
 RUN /scripts/install_python_for_wheel_crosscompilation.sh "3.7.10" "3.7.10" /opt/python/cp37-cp37m
 RUN /scripts/install_python_for_wheel_crosscompilation.sh "3.8.8" "3.8.8" /opt/python/cp38-cp38
 RUN /scripts/install_python_for_wheel_crosscompilation.sh "3.9.2" "3.9.2" /opt/python/cp39-cp39
-RUN /scripts/install_python_for_wheel_crosscompilation.sh "3.9.2" "3.9.2" /opt/python/cp39-cp39
 RUN /scripts/install_python_for_wheel_crosscompilation.sh "3.10.0" "3.10.0rc1" /opt/python/cp310-cp310
 
 ENV AUDITWHEEL_ARCH armv7l
 ENV AUDITWHEEL_PLAT linux_armv7l
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN unset CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE && unset AS AR CC CPP CXX LD \
+    && curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
+# The dockcross base of this image sets CC and CXX to absolute paths, which makes it impossible to redirect their invocations
+# to ccache via a symlink. Use relative paths instead.
+ENV CC ${CROSS_TRIPLE}-gcc
+ENV CXX ${CROSS_TRIPLE}-g++
+
+# For historical reasons, task_runner.py the script under docker container using "bash -l"
+# which loads /etc/profile on startup. dockcross/linux-armv7 is based on an image where
+# /etc/profile overwrites contents of PATH (for security reasons) when run as root.
+# That causes the crosscompiler binaries located under /usr/xcc/armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabi/bin
+# to be removed from PATH. Since in our builds we don't need the /etc/profile for anything, we can just
+# truncate it.
+# TODO(jtattermusch): Remove this hack when possible.
+RUN echo "# file contents removed to avoid resetting PATH set by the docker image" >/etc/profile
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_manylinux2014_aarch64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_manylinux2014_aarch64/Dockerfile
index 1aee9c12f84..d249c03c38d 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_manylinux2014_aarch64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_artifact_python_manylinux2014_aarch64/Dockerfile
@@ -25,9 +25,29 @@ RUN /opt/python/cp38-cp38/bin/pip install --upgrade cython
 RUN /opt/python/cp39-cp39/bin/pip install --upgrade cython
 RUN /opt/python/cp310-cp310/bin/pip install --upgrade cython
 
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN unset CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE && unset AS AR CC CPP CXX LD \
+    && curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
 # the dockcross docker image sets variables like CC, CXX etc.
 # to point to the crosscompilation toolchain, but doesn't set corresponding
 # variables for the "strip" and "objcopy" tools.
 # see https://github.com/dockcross/dockcross/blob/4349cb4999401cbf22a90f46f5052d29be240e50/manylinux2014-aarch64/Dockerfile.in#L23
 ENV STRIP=${CROSS_ROOT}/bin/${CROSS_TRIPLE}-strip \
     OBJCOPY=${CROSS_ROOT}/bin/${CROSS_TRIPLE}-objcopy
+
+# The dockcross base of this image sets CC and CXX to absolute paths, which makes it impossible to redirect their invocations
+# to ccache via a symlink. Use relative paths instead.
+ENV CC ${CROSS_TRIPLE}-gcc
+ENV CXX ${CROSS_TRIPLE}-g++
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile
index 6b58b964f82..a22c69a4049 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharp/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:buster
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -119,8 +119,23 @@ RUN mkdir warmup \
     && cd .. \
     && rm -rf warmup
 
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
+
 # Define the default command.
 CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile
index 6b58b964f82..a22c69a4049 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_csharpcoreclr/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:buster
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -119,8 +119,23 @@ RUN mkdir warmup \
     && cd .. \
     && rm -rf warmup
 
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
+
 # Define the default command.
 CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile
index e59499f80e6..7722bd891e5 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_cxx/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:jessie
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -85,16 +85,28 @@ RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-auth==1.23.0 google-api-python-clien
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get -y install libc++-dev clang && apt-get clean
 
 #=================
-# Use cmake 3.6 from jessie-backports
-# should only be used for images based on debian jessie.
+# Install cmake
+# Note that this step should be only used for distributions that have new enough cmake to satisfy gRPC's cmake version requirement.
 
-RUN echo "deb http://archive.debian.org/debian jessie-backports main" | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jessie-backports.list
-RUN echo 'Acquire::Check-Valid-Until "false";' > /etc/apt/apt.conf
-RUN sed -i '/deb http:\/\/deb.debian.org\/debian jessie-updates main/d' /etc/apt/sources.list
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -t jessie-backports -y cmake && apt-get clean
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
 
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
+
 # Define the default command.
 CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile
index 7445b7112df..b42fc13848c 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_python/Dockerfile
@@ -67,3 +67,23 @@ RUN ln -s $(which python3) /usr/bin/python
 # These are needed for uploading test results to BigQuery (e.g. by tools/run_tests scripts)
 RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-auth==1.23.0 google-api-python-client==1.12.8 oauth2client==4.1.0
 
+
+#=================
+# Install cmake
+# Note that this step should be only used for distributions that have new enough cmake to satisfy gRPC's cmake version requirement.
+
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile
index 14961a678c8..2b481570932 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_pythonasyncio/Dockerfile
@@ -67,3 +67,24 @@ RUN ln -s $(which python3) /usr/bin/python
 # These are needed for uploading test results to BigQuery (e.g. by tools/run_tests scripts)
 RUN python3 -m pip install --upgrade google-auth==1.23.0 google-api-python-client==1.12.8 oauth2client==4.1.0
 
+
+#=================
+# Install cmake
+# Note that this step should be only used for distributions that have new enough cmake to satisfy gRPC's cmake version requirement.
+
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile
index b121504da5f..d05ee85bf14 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/interoptest/grpc_interop_ruby/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:buster
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -97,8 +97,29 @@ RUN /bin/bash -l -c "echo 'export PATH=/usr/local/rvm/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc"
 RUN /bin/bash -l -c "echo 'rvm --default use ruby-2.5' >> ~/.bashrc"
 RUN /bin/bash -l -c "gem install bundler --no-document -v 1.9"
 
+#=================
+# Install cmake
+# Note that this step should be only used for distributions that have new enough cmake to satisfy gRPC's cmake version requirement.
+
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
+
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
+
 # Define the default command.
 CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
similarity index 86%
rename from tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64/Dockerfile
rename to tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
index 774ce0840c9..952d65db8c1 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:buster
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -119,8 +119,23 @@ RUN mkdir warmup \
     && cd .. \
     && rm -rf warmup
 
+#=================
+# Install ccache
+
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
+
 
 RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
 
+
 # Define the default command.
 CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
similarity index 84%
rename from tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_x64/Dockerfile
rename to tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
index 912a89137af..d05ee85bf14 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:buster
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
@@ -103,11 +103,23 @@ RUN /bin/bash -l -c "gem install bundler --no-document -v 1.9"
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake && apt-get clean
 
+#=================
+# Install ccache
 
-RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
+# Install ccache from source since ccache 3.x packaged with most linux distributions
+# does not support Redis backend for caching.
+RUN curl -sSL -o ccache.tar.gz https://github.com/ccache/ccache/releases/download/v4.5.1/ccache-4.5.1.tar.gz \
+    && tar -zxf ccache.tar.gz \
+    && cd ccache-4.5.1 \
+    && mkdir build && cd build \
+    && cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DZSTD_FROM_INTERNET=ON -DHIREDIS_FROM_INTERNET=ON .. \
+    && make -j4 && make install \
+    && cd ../.. \
+    && rm -rf ccache-4.5.1 ccache.tar.gz
 
 
-RUN python3 -m pip install virtualenv==16.7.9
+RUN mkdir /var/local/jenkins
+
 
 # Define the default command.
 CMD ["bash"]
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile
index 2ade5228494..665602d4c21 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/test/sanity/Dockerfile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-FROM debian:bullseye
+FROM debian:11
 
 #=================
 # Basic C core dependencies
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_symlinks_rc b/tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_symlinks_rc
index eb666d53107..36e5a898f59 100644
--- a/tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_symlinks_rc
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_symlinks_rc
@@ -20,12 +20,47 @@ if [ "${GRPC_BUILD_ENABLE_CCACHE}" != "" ]
 then
   if [ -x "$(command -v ccache)" ]
   then
+    SUPPORTED_COMPILERS=(
+      # common compiler binaries
+      "gcc"
+      "g++"
+      "clang"
+      "clang++"
+      "cc"
+      "c++"
+      # ruby artifacts: rake-compiler-dock crosscompilers
+      # TODO(jtattermusch): ensure that the list of ruby crosscompilers stays up to date.
+      "x86_64-redhat-linux-gcc"
+      "x86_64-redhat-linux-g++"
+      "i686-redhat-linux-gcc"
+      "i686-redhat-linux-g++"
+      "x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc"
+      "x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++"
+      "i686-w64-mingw32-gcc"
+      "i686-w64-mingw32-g++"
+      "x86_64-apple-darwin-clang"
+      "x86_64-apple-darwin-clang++"
+      "aarch64-apple-darwin-clang"
+      "aarch64-apple-darwin-clang++"
+      # python artifacts: dockcross crosscompilers
+      "aarch64-unknown-linux-gnueabi-gcc"
+      "aarch64-unknown-linux-gnueabi-g++"
+      "armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabi-gcc"
+      "armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabi-g++"
+    )
+    CCACHE_BINARY_PATH="$(command -v ccache)"
     TEMP_CCACHE_BINDIR="$(mktemp -d)"
-    # TODO: symlinks for crosscompilers...
-    for compiler in "gcc" "g++" "clang" "clang++" "cc" "c++"
+
+    for compiler in "${SUPPORTED_COMPILERS[@]}"
     do
-      ln -s "$(which ccache)" "${TEMP_CCACHE_BINDIR}/${compiler}"
+      # create a symlink pointing to ccache if compiler binary exists
+      if [ -x "$(command -v $compiler)" ]
+      then
+        ln -s "${CCACHE_BINARY_PATH}" "${TEMP_CCACHE_BINDIR}/${compiler}"
+        echo "Creating symlink $compiler pointing to ${CCACHE_BINARY_PATH}"
+      fi
     done
+    echo "Adding ${TEMP_CCACHE_BINDIR} to PATH"
     export PATH="${TEMP_CCACHE_BINDIR}:$PATH"
   fi
 fi
diff --git a/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_run_interop_tests.sh b/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_run_interop_tests.sh
index 8b02bd05cff..0ebcf3849cb 100755
--- a/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_run_interop_tests.sh
+++ b/tools/internal_ci/linux/grpc_run_interop_tests.sh
@@ -26,4 +26,7 @@ cd $(dirname $0)/../../..
 source tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_build_linux_rc
 source tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_build_interop_rc
 
+# configure ccache
+source tools/internal_ci/helper_scripts/prepare_ccache_rc
+
 tools/run_tests/run_interop_tests.py $RUN_TESTS_FLAGS
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/artifacts/package_targets.py b/tools/run_tests/artifacts/package_targets.py
index daa19cc5a86..23be1701cce 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/artifacts/package_targets.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/artifacts/package_targets.py
@@ -96,13 +96,13 @@ class CSharpPackage:
         if self.unity:
             return create_docker_jobspec(
                 self.name,
-                'tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64',
+                'tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64',
                 'src/csharp/build_unitypackage.sh',
                 environ=environ)
         else:
             return create_docker_jobspec(
                 self.name,
-                'tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_buster_x64',
+                'tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_debian11_x64',
                 'src/csharp/build_nuget.sh',
                 environ=environ)
 
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
index 0c9bbd2e7b9..e74fdab463d 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ class RubyLanguage(object):
         return 'Makefile'
 
     def dockerfile_dir(self):
-        return 'tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_buster_%s' % _docker_arch_suffix(
+        return 'tools/dockerfile/test/ruby_debian11_%s' % _docker_arch_suffix(
             self.args.arch)
 
     def __str__(self):
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ class CSharpLanguage(object):
             _check_arch(self.args.arch, ['default'])
             self._cmake_arch_option = 'x64'
         else:
-            self._docker_distro = 'buster'
+            self._docker_distro = 'debian11'
 
     def test_specs(self):
         with open('src/csharp/tests.json') as f: