The Londoners enjoyed a seventh victory in a row at Bolton with goals from Frank Lampard, Deco, Didier Drogba and a Zat Knight own goal.
Chelsea had sent Gary Megson's side crashing out of the Carling Cup following Wednesday night's 4-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge.
But this was a much closer contest until Jlloyd Samuel was sent off in first-half injury-time and Lampard opened the scoring from the resulting penalty.
Wanderers had not scored at home against the Blues in seven years, but Tamir Cohen could have ended that dismal record inside 60 seconds only for the midfielder to head just wide.
Jussi Jaskelainen reacted brilliantly to turn away Nicolas Anelka's drive and then, from the resulting corner, made an even better save to tip over Drogba's header.
The Bolton goalkeeper, who announced his retirement from international football this week, denied Drogba again soon after.
Cohen wasted another excellent opportunity before Branislav Ivanovic had a 'goal' disallowed on the half-hour mark after his thunderous volley for offside.
It was not all one-way traffic and Kevin Davies fired just wide after running onto Johan Elmander's flick-on.
The turning point came on the stroke of half-time when Samuel tripped Drogba in the penalty area, resulting in a straight red for the Wanderers full-back, and Lampard sent Jaaskelainen the wrong way from the spot.
It was all Chelsea second half as they took advantage of their numerical superiority.
Jaaskelainen continued to win his personal duel with Drogba, twice denying the Ivory Coast hitman, before Lampard nearly broke the crossbar with a 25-yard piledriver.
And the visitors wrapped it up on the hour mark following a stunning counter-attack. From a Bolton corner, Ricardo Carvalho fed Anelka who played in Deco and the Portuguese playmaker finished with aplomb.
Wanderers' misery was complete with eight minutes remaining when Knight turned Carvalho's cross into his own net.
But there was still time for Drogba to volley home from close range after a wonderful one-touch move involving Deco and Lampard in injury time.