A control circuit is configured to control a switching converter based on a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal. The switching converter includes a first and a second transistor coupled to a switching node for switching an inductor according to the PWM signal to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The control circuit includes: a driver circuit for generating a switching drive signal to switch the first transistor based on the PWM signal and a switching signal at the switching node; and an amplifier circuit for amplifying a difference between the switching signal and a reference signal to generate an amplified output signal during a dead time for controlling the first transistor through a linear negative feedback operation to regulate the switching signal to be not lower than a predetermined negative voltage, thereby preventing forward conduction of a body diode of the first transistor or reducing the reverse recovery charge.