•Polysaccharide nanocomposites can be prepared using a number of methods.•Polysaccharide nanocomposites often rely on green chemistry for their preparation.•Commonly used preparation methods include electrospinning and film casting.•Polysaccharide nanocomposites are commonly used as biomaterials.•Other applications of nanocomposites are electrical devices and packaging materials. Polysaccharide nanocomposites have become increasingly important materials over the past decade. Polysaccharides offer a green alternative to synthetic polymers in the preparation of soft nanomaterials. They have also been used in composites with hard nanomaterials, such as metal nanoparticles and carbon-based nanomaterials. This mini review describes methods for polysaccharide nanocomposite preparation and reviews the various types and diverse applications for these novel materials.