Abstract: Mining activities have caused severe degradation of mining soils, characterized by organic matter (OM) depletion, structural damage, and heavy metal contamination, posing significant challenges for ecological restoration. A key challenge in restoring these soils lies in insufficient OM inputs and unclear mechanisms underlying soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization, particularly the microbial-driven SOM formation and stabilization. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as functional microorganisms, have shown great potential in promoting plant growth, enhancing SOM accumulation, and facilitating ecological rehabilitation in mining areas. The functional groups of PGPR and the main factors influencing their survival and performance in mining soils are systematically summarized in this review. The pathways and mechanisms by which PGPR mediate SOM formation and stabilization are also highlighted, including: (1) promoting plant-derived OM inputs; (2) regulating microbial metabolism; (3) facilitating the accumulation of microbial necromass carbon; and (4) promoting organo-mineral associations and soil aggregate formation. Furthermore, the potential applications of PGPR in mine site rehabilitation and SOM stabilization are discussed, such as the development of single-strain inoculants, construction of synthetic microbial consortia, combined application with organic-inorganic amendments, and the use of artificial intelligence to assist in strain selection. Overall, this review provides a theoretical and technical foundation for developing PGPR-based, green, and sustainable ecological restoration strategies in mining areas, thereby supporting ecosystem reconstruction on degraded mined lands. The BRIEF REPORT is available for this paper at http://www.ykcs.ac.cn/en/article/doi/10.15898/j.ykcs.202603120064.