Nitrate is one of the main sources of nitrogen for plant growth. Nitrate transporters (NRTs) participate in nitrate uptake and transport, and they are involved in abiotic stress tolerance. Previous studies have shown that NRT1.1 has a dual role in nitrate uptake and utilization; however, little is known about the function of MdNRT1.1 in regulating apple growth and nitrate uptake. In this study, appleMdNRT1.1, a homolog ofArabidopsis NRT1.1, was cloned and functionally identified. Nitrate treatment induced an increased transcript level ofMdNRT1.1, and overexpression ofMdNRT1.1promoted root development and nitrogen utilization. Ectopic expression ofMdNRT1.1inArabidopsisrepressed tolerance to drought, salt, and ABA stresses. Overall, this study identified a nitrate transporter, MdNRT1.1, in apples and revealed how MdNRT1.1 regulates nitrate utilization and abiotic stress tolerance.