diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/dryrun.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/dryrun.go
index 647383b5540..186537d19d7 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/dryrun.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/dryrun.go
@@ -64,10 +64,6 @@ func (s *DryRunnableStorage) Get(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.G
 	return s.Storage.Get(ctx, key, opts, objPtr)
 }
 
-func (s *DryRunnableStorage) GetToList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
-	return s.Storage.GetToList(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
-}
-
 func (s *DryRunnableStorage) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
 	return s.Storage.GetList(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
 }
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/store.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/store.go
index 28e600175c2..6a090ae7b60 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/store.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/generic/registry/store.go
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ func (e *Store) ListPredicate(ctx context.Context, p storage.SelectionPredicate,
 	if name, ok := p.MatchesSingle(); ok {
 		if key, err := e.KeyFunc(ctx, name); err == nil {
 			storageOpts.Recursive = false
-			err := e.Storage.GetToList(ctx, key, storageOpts, list)
+			err := e.Storage.GetList(ctx, key, storageOpts, list)
 			return list, storeerr.InterpretListError(err, qualifiedResource)
 		}
 		// if we cannot extract a key based on the current context, the optimization is skipped
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher.go
index 362a4a8f38f..231c999b4a4 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher.go
@@ -604,23 +604,6 @@ func shouldDelegateList(opts storage.ListOptions) bool {
 	return resourceVersion == "" || hasContinuation || hasLimit || opts.ResourceVersionMatch == metav1.ResourceVersionMatchExact
 }
 
-// GetToList implements storage.Interface.
-func (c *Cacher) GetToList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
-	return c.list(ctx, key, opts, listObj, false)
-}
-
-// GetList implements storage.Interface.
-func (c *Cacher) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
-	return c.list(ctx, key, opts, listObj, true)
-}
-
-func (c *Cacher) delegateList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object, recursive bool) error {
-	if !recursive {
-		return c.storage.GetToList(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
-	}
-	return c.storage.List(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
-}
-
 func (c *Cacher) listItems(listRV uint64, key string, pred storage.SelectionPredicate, trace *utiltrace.Trace, recursive bool) ([]interface{}, uint64, string, error) {
 	if !recursive {
 		obj, exists, readResourceVersion, err := c.watchCache.WaitUntilFreshAndGet(listRV, key, trace)
@@ -635,11 +618,13 @@ func (c *Cacher) listItems(listRV uint64, key string, pred storage.SelectionPred
 	return c.watchCache.WaitUntilFreshAndList(listRV, pred.MatcherIndex(), trace)
 }
 
-func (c *Cacher) list(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object, recursive bool) error {
+// GetList implements storage.Interface
+func (c *Cacher) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
+	recursive := opts.Recursive
 	resourceVersion := opts.ResourceVersion
 	pred := opts.Predicate
 	if shouldDelegateList(opts) {
-		return c.delegateList(ctx, key, opts, listObj, recursive)
+		return c.storage.GetList(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
 	}
 
 	// If resourceVersion is specified, serve it from cache.
@@ -653,7 +638,7 @@ func (c *Cacher) list(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions,
 	if listRV == 0 && !c.ready.check() {
 		// If Cacher is not yet initialized and we don't require any specific
 		// minimal resource version, simply forward the request to storage.
-		return c.delegateList(ctx, key, opts, listObj, recursive)
+		return c.storage.GetList(ctx, key, opts, listObj)
 	}
 
 	trace := utiltrace.New("cacher list", utiltrace.Field{Key: "type", Value: c.objectType.String()})
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher_whitebox_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher_whitebox_test.go
index 58fcab02d61..a359e5befd7 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher_whitebox_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/cacher/cacher_whitebox_test.go
@@ -311,9 +311,6 @@ func (d *dummyStorage) Watch(_ context.Context, _ string, _ storage.ListOptions)
 func (d *dummyStorage) Get(_ context.Context, _ string, _ storage.GetOptions, _ runtime.Object) error {
 	return d.err
 }
-func (d *dummyStorage) GetToList(_ context.Context, _ string, _ storage.ListOptions, _ runtime.Object) error {
-	return d.err
-}
 func (d *dummyStorage) GetList(_ context.Context, _ string, _ storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
 	podList := listObj.(*example.PodList)
 	podList.ListMeta = metav1.ListMeta{ResourceVersion: "100"}
@@ -363,7 +360,7 @@ func TestGetListCacheBypass(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGetToListCacheBypass(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGetListNonRecursiveCacheBypass(t *testing.T) {
 	backingStorage := &dummyStorage{}
 	cacher, _, err := newTestCacher(backingStorage)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -381,20 +378,20 @@ func TestGetToListCacheBypass(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Inject error to underlying layer and check if cacher is not bypassed.
 	backingStorage.err = errDummy
-	err = cacher.GetToList(context.TODO(), "pods/ns", storage.ListOptions{
+	err = cacher.GetList(context.TODO(), "pods/ns", storage.ListOptions{
 		ResourceVersion: "0",
 		Predicate:       pred,
 	}, result)
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("GetToList with Limit and RV=0 should be served from cache: %v", err)
+		t.Errorf("GetList with Limit and RV=0 should be served from cache: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	err = cacher.GetToList(context.TODO(), "pods/ns", storage.ListOptions{
+	err = cacher.GetList(context.TODO(), "pods/ns", storage.ListOptions{
 		ResourceVersion: "",
 		Predicate:       pred,
 	}, result)
 	if err != errDummy {
-		t.Errorf("List with Limit without RV=0 should bypass cacher: %v", err)
+		t.Errorf("GetList with Limit without RV=0 should bypass cacher: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store.go
index 77d6cdcce84..c4e80aa8e4e 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store.go
@@ -456,11 +456,6 @@ func (s *store) GuaranteedUpdate(
 	}
 }
 
-// GetToList implements storage.Interface.GetToList.
-func (s *store) GetToList(ctx context.Context, key string, listOpts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
-	return s.list(ctx, key, listOpts, listObj, false)
-}
-
 func getNewItemFunc(listObj runtime.Object, v reflect.Value) func() runtime.Object {
 	// For unstructured lists with a target group/version, preserve the group/version in the instantiated list items
 	if unstructuredList, isUnstructured := listObj.(*unstructured.UnstructuredList); isUnstructured {
@@ -559,10 +554,7 @@ func encodeContinue(key, keyPrefix string, resourceVersion int64) (string, error
 
 // GetList implements storage.Interface.
 func (s *store) GetList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error {
-	return s.list(ctx, key, opts, listObj, true)
-}
-
-func (s *store) list(ctx context.Context, key string, opts storage.ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object, recursive bool) error {
+	recursive := opts.Recursive
 	resourceVersion := opts.ResourceVersion
 	match := opts.ResourceVersionMatch
 	pred := opts.Predicate
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store_test.go
index a47a1e84e0b..2bc616db2c3 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/etcd3/store_test.go
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ func TestPreconditionalDeleteWithSuggestion(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGetToList(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGetListNonRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, store, _ := testSetup(t)
 	prevKey, prevStoredObj := testPropogateStore(ctx, t, store, &example.Pod{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "prev"}})
 
@@ -640,7 +640,13 @@ func TestGetToList(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			out := &example.PodList{}
-			err := store.GetToList(ctx, tt.key, storage.ListOptions{ResourceVersion: tt.rv, ResourceVersionMatch: tt.rvMatch, Predicate: tt.pred}, out)
+			storageOpts := storage.ListOptions{
+				ResourceVersion:      tt.rv,
+				ResourceVersionMatch: tt.rvMatch,
+				Predicate:            tt.pred,
+				Recursive:            false,
+			}
+			err := store.GetList(ctx, tt.key, storageOpts, out)
 
 			if tt.expectRVTooLarge {
 				if err == nil || !storage.IsTooLargeResourceVersion(err) {
@@ -650,7 +656,7 @@ func TestGetToList(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("%s: GetToList failed: %v", tt.name, err)
+				t.Fatalf("GetList failed: %v", err)
 			}
 			if len(out.ResourceVersion) == 0 {
 				t.Errorf("%s: unset resourceVersion", tt.name)
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/interfaces.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/interfaces.go
index d2bcf199740..6e77ea700db 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/interfaces.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/interfaces.go
@@ -190,12 +190,6 @@ type Interface interface {
 	// match 'opts.ResourceVersion' according 'opts.ResourceVersionMatch'.
 	Get(ctx context.Context, key string, opts GetOptions, objPtr runtime.Object) error
 
-	// GetToList unmarshals json found at key and opaque it into *List api object
-	// (an object that satisfies the runtime.IsList definition).
-	// The returned contents may be delayed, but it is guaranteed that they will
-	// match 'opts.ResourceVersion' according 'opts.ResourceVersionMatch'.
-	GetToList(ctx context.Context, key string, opts ListOptions, listObj runtime.Object) error
-
 	// GetList unmarshalls objects found at key into a *List api object (an object
 	// that satisfies runtime.IsList definition).
 	// If 'opts.Recursive' is false, 'key' is used as an exact match. If `opts.Recursive'
@@ -267,8 +261,8 @@ type ListOptions struct {
 	ResourceVersionMatch metav1.ResourceVersionMatch
 	// Predicate provides the selection rules for the list operation.
 	Predicate SelectionPredicate
-	// Recursive determines whether the watch is defined for a single object or for the whole set
-	// of objects. The option is ignored for non-watch requests.
+	// Recursive determines whether the list or watch is defined for a single object located at the
+	// given key, or for the whole set of objects with the given key as a prefix.
 	Recursive bool
 	// ProgressNotify determines whether storage-originated bookmark (progress notify) events should
 	// be delivered to the users. The option is ignored for non-watch requests.
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/tests/cacher_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/tests/cacher_test.go
index 3d4511fe892..93bea21fc1a 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/tests/cacher_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/tests/cacher_test.go
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func TestGet(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGetToList(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGetListNonRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 	server, etcdStorage := newEtcdTestStorage(t, etcd3testing.PathPrefix())
 	defer server.Terminate(t)
 	cacher, _, err := newTestCacher(etcdStorage)
@@ -212,15 +212,15 @@ func TestGetToList(t *testing.T) {
 		key         string
 		pred        storage.SelectionPredicate
 		expectedOut []*example.Pod
-	}{{ // test GetToList on existing key
+	}{{ // test non-recursive GetList on existing key
 		key:         key,
 		pred:        storage.Everything,
 		expectedOut: []*example.Pod{storedObj},
-	}, { // test GetToList on non-existing key
+	}, { // test non-recursive GetList on non-existing key
 		key:         "/non-existing",
 		pred:        storage.Everything,
 		expectedOut: nil,
-	}, { // test GetToList with matching pod name
+	}, { // test non-recursive GetList with matching pod name
 		key: "/non-existing",
 		pred: storage.SelectionPredicate{
 			Label: labels.Everything(),
@@ -235,9 +235,9 @@ func TestGetToList(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for i, tt := range tests {
 		out := &example.PodList{}
-		err := cacher.GetToList(context.TODO(), tt.key, storage.ListOptions{Predicate: tt.pred}, out)
+		err := cacher.GetList(context.TODO(), tt.key, storage.ListOptions{Predicate: tt.pred, Recursive: false}, out)
 		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("GetToList failed: %v", err)
+			t.Fatalf("GetList failed: %v", err)
 		}
 		if len(out.ResourceVersion) == 0 {
 			t.Errorf("#%d: unset resourceVersion", i)
diff --git a/test/integration/apiserver/apiserver_test.go b/test/integration/apiserver/apiserver_test.go
index eeb67f900dd..02ca413203f 100644
--- a/test/integration/apiserver/apiserver_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/apiserver/apiserver_test.go
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ func testListOptionsCase(t *testing.T, rsClient appsv1.ReplicaSetInterface, watc
 	}
 	count := int64(len(items))
 
-	// Cacher.GetToList defines this for logic to decide if the watch cache is skipped. We need to know it to know if
+	// Cacher.GetList defines this for logic to decide if the watch cache is skipped. We need to know it to know if
 	// the limit is respected when testing here.
 	pagingEnabled := utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.APIListChunking)
 	hasContinuation := pagingEnabled && len(opts.Continue) > 0