The Bulgarian clinched the points with a 56th-minute strike, but United had to come from behind to re-establish their advantage over Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand.
There was jubilation on Tyneside when, with just nine minutes gone, Peter Lovenkrands ended Edwin Van der Sar's record of not having conceded a league goal since November 8 after the keeper failed to cling on to Jonas Gutierrez's shot.
But it took the visitors just 11 minutes to restore parity through Wayne Rooney, and Berbatov ensured United's run of successive league wins stretched to 11 after Park Ji-Sung pounced on an error by Ryan Taylor.
As Sir Alex Ferguson's bandwagon rumbled on ominously, opposite number Chris Hughton was at least able to console himself with a spirited performance in front of an appreciative crowd of 51,636, although that will count for little if it is not transformed into points over the coming weeks.
Such have been the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs this season since they drew 1-1 at Old Trafford during the opening round of fixtures in August, that the talk before kick-off was not of if United would win, but by how many.
But with just nine minutes gone, it was Newcastle who took the lead against all odds as Van der Sar's run without conceding a Premier League goal came to an end in ignominious circumstances.
The Dutchman failed to hold Jonas' shot as it leapt up off the sodden turf and Lovenkrands stabbed the rebound home before casting an anxious glance at referee Steve Bennett's assistant and only then beginning his celebrations.
St James' Park erupted as fans who had arrived fearing a repeat of Liverpool's 5-1 demolition job at the end of December - United won on Tyneside by the same scoreline last season - dared to believe their side could emerge with something to show for their efforts.
It might have been 2-0 within four minutes when Obafemi Martins fired inches wide under pressure from Rio Ferdinand, with the Nigerian also forcing a good 31st-minute block from the England defender after Van der Sar had failed to deal with a Ryan Taylor corner.
However, by that point, United had made the most of their greater share of the possession to get themselves back on level terms in fine style.
Rooney, back in the side after recovering from a virus, turned superbly past Fabricio Coloccini on to John O'Shea's pass and blasted a left-foot shot past Steve Harper with the help of a deflection off Steven Taylor, although the defender's contribution was largely irrelevant.
United continued to enjoy the greater share of the ball and defender Nemanja Vidic header over with the goal at his mercy after the home defence had failed to deal with a 39th-minute Michael Carrick corner.
But the Magpies continued to threaten with Martins and Jonas causing problems.
Mr Bennett had to deal with an ugly incident in injury time when Steven Taylor caught Cristiano Ronaldo with a flailing arm and then careered into Carrick on the sideline, sparking a furious response from skipper Ferdinand.
After consulting his assistant, the referee booked Taylor, and Ferdinand followed him as he continued his protests following the half-time whistle.
A feisty affair continued in the same vein after the break with Vidic accusing Martins of catching him with an elbow as the pair jumped for a high ball.
Van de Sar had to race from his line to prevent Lovenkrands from latching on to a 52nd-minute through-ball, but when the second goal did arrive, it did so predictably at the other end.
Ryan Taylor slipped as he attempted to chest a deep ball back to Harper and Park got there first to square for Berbatov, who calmly slotted it into the empty net.
Newcastle were visibly deflated by the reverse as United once again assumed control, and they might have increased their lead as they powered their way towards the final whistle.
Harper had to save from Ronaldo and Berbatov in quick succession as time ran down, and then dived bravely at the Portugal international's feet after he had slipped away from Steven Taylor.
But Newcastle made one last push and it was Van der Sar who finished the busier of the two keepers as he kept out first Lovenkrands and then Martins, although without any great difficulty.
Ferguson said: "It wasn't a great performance. We got off to a terrible start, and Newcastle were pumped up for it. We expected that and we should have dealt with it better. But coming from 1-0 down was a good result for us. It required a lot of grit.
"Our football has been better, and we were maybe careless with passing of the ball. Newcastle knew it was a massive game for them and went about their job in the right way. We could have been 2-0 down actually. (Obafemi) Martins hit one by the post, and it was a hairy spell for us.''
Ferguson said: "Edwin says himself he made a mess of it, and they had a couple of near things after that. It was going to happen some time, and it is out of the road now.''
The lead lasted just 11 minutes, before Wayne Rooney blasted the visitors back on to level terms, but it was left to Dimitar Berbatov to clinch the victory after Park-Ji-Sung capitalised on Ryan Taylor's 56th-minute error to set him up.
United were not at their best but never looked likely to surrender their advantage, despite a late flurry from the hosts.
It was just the response the Carling Cup winners needed after last night's results, and Ferguson insists they can handle the pressure.
Ferguson added: "The teams who play first and get a result will always say 'Pressure on'. But it doesn't make much difference to us. You have to rely on and trust the players. You have to show patience and experience. It is nothing new to them.''
United winger Cristiano Ronaldo found himself on the wrong end of Steven Taylor's flailing arm just before the break, the defender earning a booking and Rio Ferdinand following him after calling for sterner action.
It is understood a heated debate continued in the tunnel at the break, although caretaker Newcastle boss Chris Hughton was quick to defend his player.
He said: "Anybody who has seen the incident again will have seen where he actually made contact, and he made contact on the top of his shoulder and his neck. I have had the opportunity to see it again and I am quite sure if anybody here has, they would agree.''
The defeat, despite a much-improved performance, left Newcastle just a point clear of the drop zone after wins for Stoke, Tottenham and Hull - and Blackburn's point against Everton.
Asked if he believes they will survive, Hughton said: "Yes, I do. It's vital that we put on that type of performance right through to the end of the season.
"I was delighted with the performance. In the form that Manchester United are in, to be able in a lot of periods of the game to take the game to them, take the lead and go very close to getting a second speaks volumes for this group of players.''
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