The invention relates to a nickel-based glucose hydrogenation catalyst and a preparation method thereof. The catalyst is composed of main active components which are nickel and nickel oxide, an assistant, silicon oxide and zirconia, and concretely comprises 3-40 wt% of nickel, 35-72 wt% of nickel oxide, 0.1-10 wt% of the assistant, 10-39 wt% of silicon oxide, and the balance of zirconia, wherein the assistant is one or two of cobalt and iron. A catalyst precursor slurry is synthesized through a microwave-assisted co-precipitation process, and the slurry is further crystallized, and then is dried, calcined, reduced and passivated to prepare the glucose hydrogenation catalyst. The catalyst prepared in the invention has a uniform particle size distribution and an average particle size of 7-15[mu]m, and has the advantages of high activity and safety in use when used for the hydrogenation reaction of glucose; and the preparation method has the advantages of simplicity in operation, good repeatability in batch preparation, and low cost.