A fast start from the Blues paved the way for a first Premier League victory of 2018 with Eden Hazard, Willian and Victor Moses all finding the net in style.
It took just six minutes on the South Coast for Chelsea to race into a two-goal lead and banish the January goalscoring blues.
The first was a fine finish from Hazard, and the second a contender for the best goal scored this season so far by Chelsea, a sumptuous move between the front three finished off by Willian.
Brighton posed regular problems with Willy Caballero, a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois, making one excellent stop in each half.
The hosts also had two penalty appeals turned down, but the Blues stayed strong defensively to secure a sixth clean sheet in their last seven league games.
The afternoon was capped off by a stunning individual strike from Hazard and then a first league goal since November 2016 for Moses late on.