In this work, carbon coated copper nanoparticles and nanowires were synthesized as a ligand free nanocatalyst that naturally contains ppm levels of Pd with no post-modification via a two-steps reduction-hydrothermal process. Transmittance electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and Raman spectroscopy were employed for the characterization of the nano-catalyst. The utilization of the synthesized Cu/C nano-catalyst in Suzuki cross coupling reaction showed a high performance in the synthesis of various biaryls in water. Moreover, this catalyst reused successfully with no significant yield decrease even after four subsequently runs. •Inexpensive copper/carbon nanocomposite for the cross-coupling reaction is proposed.•The Suzuki reactions of various halobenzenes are performed in aqueous media.•High catalytic activity of the copper-based heterogeneous catalyst•The catalyst could be recycled up to four times without loss in activity.