Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a nitrite composite substitute (NSCS) composed of several natural substances (0.03% monascus red, 0.04% Nisin, and 0.03% rosemary) on the eating quality, total bacterial count, nitrite residue, and other indices of yak meat sausages during storage (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 d), and to clarify the substitution effect of NSCS on nitrite in minced meat products. Results showed that NSCS exerted positive effects on improving the eating quality of yak meat sausages, reducing the total bacterial count and nitrite residues by substituting nitrite. Specifically, on day 9, the NSCS-treated group exhibited the highest water-holding capacity (86.1%), which was 15.5% higher than that of the nitrite-treated group (P<0.05). The cooking loss rate of the NSCS-treated group was significantly lower than that of the nitrite-treated group (P<0.05), and also significantly lower than that of the control group except on day 7 (P<0.05). During the storage period of 1~9 d, there was no significant difference in the total bacterial count between the NSCS group and the nitrite group, and both were significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). On day 1, the nitrite residue in the nitrite-treated group reached the maximum of 28.3 mg/kg, which was significantly higher than those in the NSCS-treated group and the control group (P<0.05). On day 9, the nitrite residue in the nitrite-treated group dropped to the minimum of 11.2 mg/kg. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in nitrite residue between the NSCS-treated group and the control group. In conclusion, NSCS can replace nitrite to a certain extent in the processing of yak meat sausages. This finding provides important reference significance for the development of green and organic yak meat products, and also offers theoretical references for research on nitrite substitutes in other minced meat products.