Chris Cohen struck midway through the second half for the Reds as they surpassed the number of home successes set under the legendary Brian Clough in 1980.
Forest had to withstand some late Boro pressure and were grateful to goalkeeper Lee Camp for some late saves as Gordon Strachan's team searched for an equaliser.
But the Reds held on to replace West Brom in second place in the table. However, Albion play Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Sunday.
Billy Davies named the same starting XI that beat Sheffield United in midweek but his team found it tough going in the first half as as Boro bossed the midfield.
Fellow Scot Strachan made three changes with Kyle Naughton, Emanuel Pogatetz and Julio Arca recalled at the expense of Justin Hoyte, Jonathan Grounds and Jonathan Franks, who all dropped down to the bench.
Middlesbrough started strongly and put Forest under early pressure with a flurry of corners but the likes of Pogatetz and David Wheater coming up from the back were unable to capitalise.
Radoslaw Majewski clipped the top of the crossbar with a free-kick from the edge of the area before Forest went close again when Cohen's lob landed on the roof of the net.
Camp kept Boro at bay at the start of the second half when he tipped Gary O'Neil's free-kick round a post.
Kelvin Wilson thought he had given Forest the lead when he turned home a loose ball inside the box but the Boro defence had pushed out and the big centre-back's celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
However, soon afterwards the Reds did break the deadlock.
Boro lost possession deep inside the the Forest half and a flowing counter-attack resulted in Dexter Blackstock squaring a pass across the 18-yard box for Cohen to coolly tuck the ball away.
Camp immediately preserved his side's lead when he pushed a 20-yard shot from substitute Leroy Lita wide and the Forest keeper produced another fine save five minutes from time to keep out a firm header from Pogatetz.
Boro kept pushing for an equaliser and Stephen McManus had a shot cleared off the line in the first of three minutes of injury time before Camp produced another stop to thwart Lita right at the death.
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk