The TiC-TiB2-Ni metal-ceramic composite coatings were synthesized in situ on stainless steel substrates by plasma cladding technique using Ni60A, Ti and B4C powders as raw materials. The microstructure and microhardness of the coatings were investigated based on the analyses of XRD, SEM and microhardness test. The results show that the TiC-TiB2-Ni clad coatings contain main phases such as TiC and TiB2. The TiB2 mainly precipitates in long strip or rod form, and the TiC mainly presents in small spherical shape. With the increase of Ni60A in pre-coating powder, microhardness of the TiC-TiB2-Ni composite coating decreases significantly. The microhardness value of the clad coating reaches climax 1409HV0.2 when the quantity of Ni60A alloy accounts for 65wt.% in pre-coating powder. After cladding process, the part of the substrate near the coating shows a lower microhardness compared with that of untreated substrate.