diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-assert.yaml
index 4e436bda4cfe..c642c02c28e4 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-bootstrap
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
   - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
index 71a10d9decbc..10f6e70db403 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-assert.yaml
index 00fa7d2038a4..659b6ca783c3 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-bootstrap
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
     - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
index 416b29d52723..947c244b5490 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-bootstrap/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-assert.yaml
index 2d2bf570d440..19721b50f5aa 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-drift
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
   - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
index ba35efce811b..a75b2e964623 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-drift/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-assert.yaml
index 07401def9495..16c1122957e1 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-tls
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
   - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
index ea6ef9357d53..4ecd3d0ec6c9 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-assert.yaml
index a971699848e4..7e879828ba51 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-tls
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
     - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
index 9606e972a536..27f695651b6a 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-assert.yaml
index a971699848e4..7e879828ba51 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-tls
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
     - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-redpanda-cluster-simple-tls.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-redpanda-cluster-simple-tls.yaml
index eec986b2ff61..9e45fbe8d800 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-redpanda-cluster-simple-tls.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/03-redpanda-cluster-simple-tls.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-assert.yaml
index a971699848e4..7e879828ba51 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration-tls
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
     - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
index ea6fe26f7db7..8371f7879bc7 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-tls/04-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
index 589bee742eb9..7c2ae09fc36e 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "vectorized/redpanda"
   version: "v21.11.11"
-  replicas: 3
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/01-first-upgrade.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/01-first-upgrade.yaml
index 6bdbd67ba5c4..47b908ff30f8 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/01-first-upgrade.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/01-first-upgrade.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "vectorized/redpanda"
   version: "v21.11.12"
-  replicas: 3
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/02-update-to-central-config-with-prop.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/02-update-to-central-config-with-prop.yaml
index a4271452f095..3119425072a0 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/02-update-to-central-config-with-prop.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration-upgrade/02-update-to-central-config-with-prop.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 3
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-assert.yaml
index ebbe259c5dc8..f2870df2dabf 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
   - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
index 6eb1ddfe7361..b9f973db70c6 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/00-redpanda-cluster.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-assert.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-assert.yaml
index 4f8948661a68..ffcc128f02f1 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-assert.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-assert.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: Cluster
 metadata:
   name: centralized-configuration
 status:
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   restarting: false
   conditions:
     - type: ClusterConfigured
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
index 1e78c1d1944e..46aa56c654d4 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/01-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m
diff --git a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/03-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/03-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
index f4ae92d45b80..581f00a03b9d 100644
--- a/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/03-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
+++ b/src/go/k8s/tests/e2e/centralized-configuration/03-redpanda-cluster-change.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
 spec:
   image: "localhost/redpanda"
   version: "dev"
-  replicas: 1
+  replicas: 2
   resources:
     requests:
       cpu: 100m