The extensive use of antibiotics poses significant public health concerns, including the increase in drug-resistant bacteria and environmental pollution, underscoring the urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and specific antibiotic detection methods. Most current reviews on antibiotic detection primarily focus on categorizing antibiotics based on their types or the classification of sensors used, such as electrochemical, optical, or colorimetric sensors. In contrast, this review proposes a novel and systematic theoretical framework for the detection of antibiotics using sensors using seven popular molecular recognition elements-antibodies, aptamers, microorganisms, cells, peptides, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and direct recognition modalities and briefly discusses the mechanism of molecular recognition elements and antibiotic recognition. Additionally, it explores biosensors developed using these elements, offering a detailed analysis of their strengths and limitations in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and practicality. The review concludes by addressing current challenges and future directions, providing a comprehensive perspective essential for enhancing food safety and protecting public health.