Chievo scored their first goal in February, but had to withstand Atalanta pressure after the sending-off of Luca Rigoni.
Sergio Pellissier's deflected shot a minute before the break decided the contest and kept Atalanta second bottom of the Serie A table, three points from safety.
The hosts struck the post before the 77th-minute dismissal of Rigoni and twice came mighty close to a leveller afterwards, but could not stop Chievo bouncing back from consecutive 1-0 defeats.
Chievo boss Domenico Di Carlo had demanded an improved performance from their showing in losing at home to basement boys Siena last weekend and, if the winning goal was fortunate, he was certainly rewarded with a spirited defensive showing which earned his side a first away win since early December.
Atalanta came into the contest having taken four points from their last two games, but their lack of potency in front of goal - this was their fourth blank in five games - was again all too evident.
They rarely threatened in a first half devoid of clear-cut chances and desperately lacking in inspiration.
Luciano's header was saved by home keeper Andrea Consigli in the 14th minute, while at the other end Tiberio Guarente nodded wide after a quick Atalanta break.
Gyorgy Garics was then forced to concede a corner to stop Pellissier's ball from reaching Giampiero Pinzi, who was alone in the middle of the area.
Pellissier went for goal himself in the 44th minute and his shot from the edge of the area found the net with the help of a deflection.
There was still time for Guarente to get a shooting chance, but he blasted his effort over the top.
Garics went close to finding an equaliser for Atalanta with a volley shortly after the hour mark, the ball hitting the ground and then looping up to hit the goal frame.
Consigli kept the deficit to just one by keeping out Michele Marcolini's shot, and Atalanta were handed a further lifeline with 13 minutes to go when Rigoni was shown a second yellow card.
The hosts poured forward in search of an equaliser, but Simone Tiribocchi was denied in the 79th minute when Chievo keeper Stefano Sorrentino pulled off a superb save from the half-time substitute's header.
The defence came to Sorrentino's rescue three minutes later as they scrambled the ball off the line with the keeper beaten to leave Atalanta frustrated.
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