Due to the tunable nonlinear optical properties of the Bi₂Te₃/graphene heterostructure, stable solid state pulsed lasers based on the Bi₂Te₃/graphene saturable absorber have attracted intensive attention. In this work, the Bi₂Te₃/graphene heterostructure with good nonlinear absorption characteristics was synthesized by a self-assembly solvothermal route, and the optical saturable absorption properties of the saturable absorber were investigated. Owing to the large modulation depth of Bi₂Te₃ nanosheets and the high thermal conductivity of graphene, the Bi₂Te₃/graphene heterostructure saturable absorber shown good nonlinear saturable absorber performance and contributed the improved passively Q-switched Yb³⁺: GdAl₃(BO₃)₄ pulsed laser when compared with that of the pure Bi₂Te₃ based Yb³⁺: GdAl₃(BO₃)₄ laser, no matter pulse width or pulse energy. Our work demonstrates that the Bi₂Te₃/graphene heterostructure was a promising saturable absorber in ~1 μm solid-state pulsed lasers.