The invention discloses a method for directly synthesizing gabapentin by virtue of 1-cyanocyclohexyl acetic acid. The method comprises the following steps: dispersing immobilized cells of nitrilase genetically engineered bacteria into deionized water, adding 1-cyanocyclohexyl acetonitrile, stirring the completely react at 20-50 DEG C and 10rpm-350rpm, and carrying out suction filtration, so as to obtain filtrate a; adding the filtrate a into a hydrogenation reaction kettle, adding a catalyst and an aid, introducing nitrogen to completely react at 20-150 DEG C and 300rpm-1100rpm, and separating and purifying reaction liquid, so as to obtain gabapentin. By adding the aid and changing a heating strategy, the reaction is carried out for one batch under the optimal condition, and then the yield of gabapentin reaches 53.3%; 1-cyanocyclohexyl acetic acid is recycled and hydrogenated for five cycles, the yield of gabapentin reaches above 80% and is increased by 20% than that of a reported chemical process.