It is well known that nitrogen (N) fertilization can significantly enhance cereal yield. However, unknowns remain regarding the effects of long-term N fertilization on cereal yield stability, which is as important as cereal yield in addressing the global food crisis. To address this knowledge gap, I synthesized 467 N application studies with duration ≥5 years in croplands across the world. Overall, long-term N fertilization increased both cereal yield (3099 ± 210 kg ha−1 yr−1 [95% CI] under control vs. 5163 ± 303 kg ha−1 yr−1 under N fertilization) and its stability (interannual coefficient of variation: 34 ± 3% under control vs. 28 ± 2% under N fertilization). Soil properties mostly explained the variations of the responses of cereal yield (62%) and its stability (50%) to N fertilization. From fertilizer management perspective, the highest and most stable cereal yield were produced when N was applied with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Overall, this study suggests that long-term N fertilization can contribute to relieving the global food crisis by not only enhancing cereal yield but also promoting its stability.