Objective The aim is to explore the feasibility and environmental risks of water-based drilling cuttings desert soilization. Methods The basic properties, soil fertility, and heavy metal and organic pollutant characteristics of water-based drilling cuttings were systematically analyzed. Further, planting experiments were carried out after mixing water-based drilling cuttings with desert soil and carbon sink forest soil. Results The contents of available potassium, available zinc and available magnesium in the water-based drilling cuttings are high, while pH, contents of salt cation exchange capacity and soluble chlorine are the main restriction factors of soilization, and the contents of heavy metals and organic pollutants are lower than the standard values. After planting, pH, the contents of salt, soluble chlorine, and quick-acting potassium have decreased by 6.95%, 60.67%, 62.42%, and 11.00% on average, respectively. Conversely, cation exchange capacity and organic matter contents have increased by 557.98% and 41.95% on average, respectively. The results showed that the physical and chemical properties of soil have been significantly improved, and the growth of plants in mixed soil is better than that in water-based drilling cuttings and desert soil. The mixing mass ratio of water-based drilling cuttings to desert soil was recommended to be 8∶2 or 7∶3. Conclusions Soilization utilization of water-based drilling cuttings is feasible and environmentally safe is high. Further research is needed on soil amendments that break through the restrictive factors, improve fertility, monitor the risk of biological enrichment, and realize more efficient and safe utilization of water-based drilling cuttings soilization.