The home side stormed into a three-goal lead before Fulham got a late consolation, but the visitors were never able to produce the form that brought them victory against Manchester United in their last away game.
The result was sweet revenge for Charlton who lost three times to Fulham last season, twice in the league and once in the cup. The Addicks' hero was striker Jonatan Johansson who scored twice in his 100th appearance for the club and the goals were his first since February.
Charlton got off to the perfect start with a goal in the tenth minute. Johansson's low shot was pushed out by Edwin Van de Sar and Graham Stuart was on hand to put his side in front with his first goal of the season.
Charlton keeper Dean Kiely made a couple of saves from Louis Saha and Zat Knight before the break.
The second half was more cat and mouse with fewer chances, but Charlton got a second goal when Johansson hit a left-foot screamer into the bottom corner.
The Finnish striker then hit Charlton's third as he intercepted an Andy Melville back-pass to toe-poke the ball into the net and Jason Euell hit the post for the hosts before Sean Davis got a late consolation for the visitors.
Fulham manager Chris Coleman said it was probably his team's worst performance since he took over as manager towards the end of our season.
"We could have no complaints about the result and deserved to get beaten," he said.
"The players know it. I didn't have to tell them that we weren't good enough."Charlton boss Alan Curbishley, celebrating his birthday, was delighted with his team's victory and felt that once the second goal went in, his side were always going to win.