Cutting fluids are meant to reduce the frictional wear and to dissipate the heat generated at the tool–workpiece interface, during machining operations. Conventionally applied cutting fluids are mineral-based oils, which pose grave environmental and health hazards. The traditional flood cooling systems result in cleaning and disposal issues apart from a lot of water consumption. In recent years, research work is focused on exploring sustainable techniques with the use of biodegradable oils as cutting fluids and the supply concepts like minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). Vegetable oils, apart from being bio degradable, have strong potential by virtue of their superior lubrication properties. Moreover, addition of nanoparticles in vegetable oils exhibits better performance. The present work conducts experimental-based investigations of machining SS410 for minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) condition. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles with palm oil and coconut oil are used as cutting fluids. The experimentations are carried out under selected conditions, and machining performance is measured. Analysis is done to identify the combination for optimum machining performance. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.