Watford scored three late goals to win Javi Gracia's first home game in charge in an "unforgettable night" for their manager and increase the pressure on Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte.
The Blues played an hour with 10 men after Tiemoue Bakayoko's red card capped off a dreadful individual 30-minute performance - in which he gifted Watford four chances.
The Hornets - who had only won one of their previous 12 Premier League games - led controversially as Gerard Deulofeu went down easily under keeper Thibaut Courtois' challenge and Troy Deeney scored the penalty.
Chelsea, who brought on Olivier Giroud for a debut in the second half, scored an undeserved equaliser when Eden Hazard curled home brilliantly from 25 yards.
But two minutes later, Daryl Janmaat scored a fantastic goal of his own when he cut in from the right wing, played a one-two with Roberto Pereyra and beat another couple of defenders before scoring with his weaker left foot.
Deulofeu added another when he ran from halfway before his shot was deflected home by Gary Cahill - and then Pereyra scored a fourth from Abdoulaye Doucoure's through ball.
The Hornets are now six points above the relegation zone.
Gracia, who replaced Marco Silva last month, told BBC Sport: "It was a great victory and a great match. I am very proud of my players today.
"We played a good match, pressed high. The match changed after the sending off but I think we played very well. Chelsea are a very big club, a big team."
It was Chelsea's second consecutive defeat by three goals in the Premier League, following their 3-0 home reverse by Bournemouth.
Wonderful Watford fully deserve win
Watford had earned just six points from 12 games since late November, with Silva losing his job and being replaced by Gracia - who lost to Southampton in the FA Cup and drew 0-0 at Stoke in his opening two games, both away from home.
They were excellent from the start against the defending champions and merited all three points.
They had plenty of chances to score before and after Deeney's opener, which came when Deulofeu was clipped by Courtois and threw himself to the ground. Gracia's side should have been out of sight before Hazard's strike looked set to rescue a late point.
As well as the four gifts from Bakayoko, Deeney missed a sitter from eight yards and Richarlison, Doucoure and Jose Holebas all forced saved from Courtois.
For a team in such bad form, many may have expected a collapse after Hazard's equaliser against the run of play - but it galvanised a phenomenal final eight minutes.
Janmaat restored their lead brilliantly, before the impressive Deulofeu - on loan from Barcelona - scored a fine individual goal of his own moments later.
Pereyra's goal was also impressive, running onto Doucoure's through ball before taking Cesar Azpilicueta out of play with his first touch and lashing past Courtois.
Before the game, Conte took the unusual step of asking the club to release a statement backing him - following their heavy home loss to Bournemouth.
If it was not coming before the Watford game, it is highly unlikely to come after it.
Having won the Premier League in the Italian's first season in charge, Chelsea are fourth and battling for the final Champions League place this term. They are one point above fifth-placed Tottenham.
Their fans were annoyed with referee Mike Dean for what they felt was a harsh Bakayoko second booking and a perceived dive for the penalty - but they were very poor and deserved nothing from the match.
The visitors were shambolic at the back at stages - and only had three shots on target, all in the final 10 minutes. Cesc Fabregas, who replaced Willian following Bakayoko's red card, forced a save just before Hazard's beautiful goal from outside of the box.
With Alvaro Morata still out with a back injury, Conte decided to start with Hazard as a false nine.
Former Arsenal striker Giroud came on in the 64th minute and he only had two chances - one blocked and one saved by Orestis Karnezis in injury time with the game long gone
Bakayoko's opening half an hour was so bad that Chelsea fans could have been excused for thinking they would be no worse off following his red card.
Having been responsible for one of Bournemouth's goals, he followed that up with an even worse performance.
Early on, the France international passed the ball to Deulofeu, who overran the ball back to Courtois.
Bakayoko then headed the ball straight at Doucoure's chest and the Watford player shot wide from the edge of the box.
The £40m summer signing from Monaco was then dispossessed before the ball broke to Deulofeu, who shot into the side netting - and Richarlison had a shot blocked by Cahill after Bakayoko had given the ball away.
Both his yellow cards came after he lost the ball too.
First of all he gave the ball to Etienne Capoue and then pulled him down in the 25th minute. And five minutes later he miscontrolled the ball to Richarlison and fouled the Brazilian while stretching to try to win it back.
In all, he had 28 touches, losing the ball seven times, and failing with four of his attempted 12 passes.
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