Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are characteristic of high specific surface area, abundant metal nodes, diverse organic ligands, and ordered pore structure. More importantly, its composition and structure are easy to be designed and controlled, so it is very promising to become a new class of catalytic carrier materials. In recent years, the composites of metal nanoparticles encapsulated by MOFs have attracted great attention in the field of catalysis due to their unique structural features. However, more in-depth and systematic research is still needed in terms of its precise preparation and the relationship of the structure and catalytic performance. Based on above, the recent research progress on the preparation methods of metal nanoparticles encapsulated by MOFs and their catalytic applications are systematically summarizd. First, the synthesis methods of metal nanoparticles encapsulated by MOFs are summarized. Then, the catalytic applications are discussed in term of synergy among metal nanoparticles, pore structure, organic ligands or/and metal nodes of MOFs. Moreover, the relationships among active component, structure and their properties are illustrated. Finally, the challenges, opportunities and future development prospects of this research direction are discussed from the aspects of synthesis methods and catalytic applications.