diff --git a/.changeset/nuxt-deprecate-route-matcher.md b/.changeset/nuxt-deprecate-route-matcher.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f297891d51a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/nuxt-deprecate-route-matcher.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+---
+'@clerk/nuxt': patch
+---
+
+Deprecate `createRouteMatcher()` in favor of Nuxt's native route matching.
+
+To protect API routes, match paths natively inside `clerkMiddleware()`:
+
+```ts
+export default clerkMiddleware(event => {
+  const { isAuthenticated } = event.context.auth();
+  const { pathname } = getRequestURL(event);
+
+  if (!isAuthenticated && pathname.startsWith('/api/admin')) {
+    throw createError({ statusCode: 401, statusMessage: 'Unauthorized' });
+  }
+});
+```
+
+To protect pages, use Nuxt's built-in route middleware with `definePageMeta({ middleware: 'auth' })`.
diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/__tests__/routeMatcher.test.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/__tests__/routeMatcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7fd4551311c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/__tests__/routeMatcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { createRouteMatcher } from '../routeMatcher';
+
+const { mockDeprecated } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  mockDeprecated: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('@clerk/shared/deprecated', () => ({
+  deprecated: mockDeprecated,
+}));
+
+describe('createRouteMatcher', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockDeprecated.mockClear();
+  });
+
+  it('should emit a deprecation warning when called', () => {
+    createRouteMatcher(['/dashboard(.*)']);
+
+    expect(mockDeprecated).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'createRouteMatcher',
+      "Use Nuxt's built-in route middleware to protect pages instead: create a named middleware that checks the user's authentication status and opt pages into it with `definePageMeta({ middleware: 'auth' })`.",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/routeMatcher.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/routeMatcher.ts
index cf3ec0471fe..1758f1f5002 100644
--- a/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/routeMatcher.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/client/routeMatcher.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { deprecated } from '@clerk/shared/deprecated';
 import { createPathMatcher, type PathMatcherParam } from '@clerk/shared/pathMatcher';
 import type { RouteMiddleware } from 'nuxt/app';
 
@@ -14,8 +15,29 @@ export type RouteMatcherParam = PathMatcherParam;
  * ['/foo', '/bar(.*)']
  * @example
  * [/^\/foo\/.*$/]
+ *
+ * @deprecated This function will be removed in the next major version. Use Nuxt's built-in
+ * route middleware to protect pages instead: create a named middleware that checks the user's
+ * authentication status and opt pages into it with `definePageMeta()`. Child routes inherit
+ * the middleware applied to their parent, so a single declaration can protect a whole section.
+ *
+ * ```ts
+ * // app/middleware/auth.ts
+ * export default defineNuxtRouteMiddleware(() => {
+ *   const { isSignedIn } = useAuth();
+ *
+ *   if (!isSignedIn.value) {
+ *     return navigateTo('/sign-in');
+ *   }
+ * });
+ * ```
  */
 export const createRouteMatcher = (routes: RouteMatcherParam) => {
+  deprecated(
+    'createRouteMatcher',
+    "Use Nuxt's built-in route middleware to protect pages instead: create a named middleware that checks the user's authentication status and opt pages into it with `definePageMeta({ middleware: 'auth' })`.",
+  );
+
   const matcher = createPathMatcher(routes);
   return (to: RouteLocation) => matcher(to.path);
 };
diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/__tests__/routeMatcher.test.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/__tests__/routeMatcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..20bb76ff391
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/__tests__/routeMatcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { getRequestURL } from 'h3';
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { createRouteMatcher } from '../routeMatcher';
+
+const { mockDeprecated } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  mockDeprecated: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock('@clerk/shared/deprecated', () => ({
+  deprecated: mockDeprecated,
+}));
+
+vi.mock('#imports', () => ({
+  getRequestURL,
+}));
+
+describe('createRouteMatcher', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockDeprecated.mockClear();
+  });
+
+  it('should emit a deprecation warning when called', () => {
+    createRouteMatcher(['/api/admin(.*)']);
+
+    expect(mockDeprecated).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'createRouteMatcher',
+      "Match API route paths natively inside `clerkMiddleware()` instead, for example: `getRequestURL(event).pathname.startsWith('/api/admin')`. To protect pages, use Nuxt's built-in route middleware.",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/routeMatcher.ts b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/routeMatcher.ts
index b949cf19133..7509cf09e13 100644
--- a/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/routeMatcher.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxt/src/runtime/server/routeMatcher.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { deprecated } from '@clerk/shared/deprecated';
 import type { PathMatcherParam } from '@clerk/shared/pathMatcher';
 import { createPathMatcher } from '@clerk/shared/pathMatcher';
 import type { H3Event } from 'h3';
@@ -15,8 +16,29 @@ export type RouteMatcherParam = PathMatcherParam;
  * ['/foo', '/bar(.*)']
  * @example
  * [/^\/foo\/.*$/]
+ *
+ * @deprecated This function will be removed in the next major version. Match API route paths natively
+ * inside `clerkMiddleware()` instead, and protect pages with Nuxt's built-in route middleware:
+ *
+ * ```ts
+ * import { clerkMiddleware } from '@clerk/nuxt/server';
+ *
+ * export default clerkMiddleware(event => {
+ *   const { isAuthenticated } = event.context.auth();
+ *   const { pathname } = getRequestURL(event);
+ *
+ *   if (!isAuthenticated && pathname.startsWith('/api/admin')) {
+ *     throw createError({ statusCode: 401, statusMessage: 'Unauthorized' });
+ *   }
+ * });
+ * ```
  */
 export const createRouteMatcher = (routes: RouteMatcherParam) => {
+  deprecated(
+    'createRouteMatcher',
+    "Match API route paths natively inside `clerkMiddleware()` instead, for example: `getRequestURL(event).pathname.startsWith('/api/admin')`. To protect pages, use Nuxt's built-in route middleware.",
+  );
+
   const matcher = createPathMatcher(routes);
   return (event: H3Event) => {
     const url = getRequestURL(event);