This research investigates microstructure, texture, and thermal properties of Al/Ni/Al composites fabricated by cross-accumulative roll bonding (CARB) process. According to the microstructural results, ultra-fine grain structure was observed in severely deformed layers. More grain refinement occurred when the content of Ni increased. In addition, shear texture components became stronger by increasing the CARB passes and Ni content even though the Copper-based texture components of {112} existed in all deformed samples. Also, despite an improvement in thermal features of deformed aluminum and nickel layers versus temperature rise, the TD, and TC decreased as the number of passes increased. However, by increasing the rolling passes, the measured thermal capacity values modestly increased while the thermal expansion values first decreased and then increased. Regarding composites, all thermal features decreased with an increase in Ni volume fraction. Due to the restricting effect of harder reinforcement layers, the measured thermal expansion declined from 17.01 × 10−6 1/k in Al/0.2 Vf Ni to 15.4 × 10−6 1/k in Al/0.8 Vf Ni. •Processing the Al/Ni/Al multilayered composites by cross-accumulative roll bonding.•Obtaining a grain refinement in Al and Ni layers.•Evaluation of texture evolution in Ni layers.•Evaluation of thermal properties of deformed layers and composites.