In this study, a rapid and sensitive analytical method has been developed to detect tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) using manganese-doped carbon dots (Mn-CDs) prepared by one-step hydrothermal procedure using 1-(2-pyridinylazo)-2-naohthalenol (PAN) and MnCl2 as precursor reagents. The obtained Mn-CDs showed an ultraviolet emission at 360 nm with an excitation wavelength of 300 nm. TC has a strong characteristic absorption peak at 356 nm, which has a large spectral overlap with the emission band of the Mn-CDs. The fluorescence intensity (FI) of Mn-CDs at 360 nm is linearly quenched within the TC concentration range of 0.1-200 µM. The developed assay for the detection of TC was based on an inner filter effect (IFE) mechanism and is rapid, sensitive, and was successfully applied for the determination of TC in different poultry meat samples with satisfactory results.