Meat products are rich in nutrition but prone to corruption. Therefore, it is urgent to explore green and efficient technology for meat preservation. ε-Poly-L-lysine is a kind of natural antimicrobial peptide that possesses high antibacterial activity, strong stability, high biodegradability as well as good safety, which has great potential for food preservation and antisepsis. Currently, the composite films prepared by ε-poly-L-lysine and film-forming materials have become one of the research interests. Firstly, the basic properties, antibacterial activity and antibacterial mechanism of ε-poly-L-lysine are reviewed. Subsequently, the effects of ε-poly-L-lysine on the quality of meat products are discussed. Furthermore, the characteristics of the composite film prepared by ε-poly-L-lysine and proteins, polysaccharides and polyvinyl alcohol and their applications in the meat preservation are emphatically introduced. It will provide a reference for the high value development and utilization of ε-poly-L-lysine and the preservation of meat products.