The invention belongs to the field of food antibacterial additives, and particularly relates to an intelligent release-type protein metal ion antibacterial nanoparticle and a preparation method thereof. The yarrow essential oil is wrapped in zein by adopting a nano precipitation method, the pH value of the solution is adjusted, so that the surface is negatively charged, and positively charged zincmetal ions are chelated through electrostatic interaction. The characteristics of bacterial metalloproteinase are utilized, the bacterial metalloproteinase is used as a biological switch, and when bacteria containing Zn<2+> metalloproteinase encounter chelated nanoparticles, the protease activity is activated, so that proteins on the surfaces of the nanoparticles are hydrolyzed, the wrapped yarrow essential oil is released, and the bacteria are killed. The novel antibacterial nanoparticle can effectively inhibit various bacteria such as escherichia coli O157:H7, staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, and can intelligently release an antibacterial agent.