Objective We aimed to investigate the association between triglyceride glucose index and cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study dataset 2011-2018. Methods Basic characteristics of participants, including sociodemographic information, and health conditions, were acquired. Logistic regression analyses and restricted cubic spline regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association between the triglyceride glucose index and future CVD risks. Subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate potential interaction. Results Seven hundred fifty-three of 6114 (12.3%) participants have developed CVD in 2018 over an approximately 7-year follow-up. The logistic regression analysis exhibited that compared to the lowest triglyceride glucose index group, the multivariable OR for future CVD was 0.985 (95%CI 0.811-1.198) in the T2 triglyceride glucose index group and 1.288 (95%CI 1.068-1.555) in the T3 TyG index (P for trend 0.006). The restricted cubic spline regression analysis showed the nonlinear association between triglyceride glucose index and CVD incidence; the cut-off values were 8.07 and 8.57, respectively, after total adjustment. Gender, fast blood glucose, and triglycerides interacted with triglyceride glucose index and CVD except for BMI. Conclusion The triglyceride glucose index was nonlinearly related to the risk of future cardiovascular disease in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population.