Rational design and synthesis of advanced electrode materials are considered essential for realizing high-performance lithium-ion batteries for the fast-growing electric vehicle and energy storage applications. Herein, a novel and robust core-shell structured ZnO-based composite (denoted as ZnO@C) is prepared via the controlled growth of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF–8) on the surface of ZnO nanoparticles followed by thermal treatment under nitrogen atmosphere, and is utilized as a lithium-ion battery anode. The microstructural characterization of the ZnO@C composite reveals that ZnO particles are well-embedded within a highly conductive nitrogen-doped carbon nanolayer. The obtained ZnO@C composite exhibits a high specific capacity of 798 mA h g−1 with an initial charge/discharge efficiency of 81%, good long-term cyclability of over 300 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g−1, and enhanced rate capability up to 2 A g−1 with a LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed in the presence of the fluoroethylene carbonate additive. These results suggest that the combination of the multifunctional ZIF–8-derived carbon coating and the use of electrolyte additive as a SEI modifier significantly improves the lithium storage performance of high-capacity metal oxide anodes. Display omitted •ZnO@C composite was synthesized via growth and thermal decomposition of ZIF–8.•ZIF–8-derived carbon coating leads to volume-change mitigation and high conductivity.•LiF-rich SEI film formed by FEC provides enhanced interfacial/structural stability.•This composite demonstrates better lithium storage performance than pure ZnO.