Paul Lambert's team were frustrated until the 70th minute when Andrew Surman broke the deadlock and Anthony Pilkington's late strike sealed the points.
Bolton's defeat, combined with Wolves' win at QPR, left Owen Coyle's side back into the bottom three, while Norwich remain comfortably in mid-table as they look to consolidate after last season's promotion.
Norwich made the early running and American defender Zak Whitbread headed David Fox's cross wide before Grant Holt brough the first stop from Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.
Simeon Jackson then fired wide after Surman cut the ball back from an acute angle and Bogdan prevented the Canadian from scoring again minutes later after he took advantage of some poor marking to collect Holt's flick-on.
The hosts' best move of the first half came in the 24th minute when Wes Hoolahan played in Holt and he squared to Surman, but his shot struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety.
Lambert was forced into another defensive reshuffle before the break when Whitbread came off injured and was replaced by winger Elliott Bennett.
Bolton started to come into it more towards the end of the first half and went close just before the break through a deflected Martin Petrov drive.
The Canaries should have been ahead two minutes after the break when Adam Drury found Holt unmarked at the back post but his dreadful header flew 10 yards wide.
Norwich finally made the breakthrough in the 70th minute when midfielder Surman pounced on the rebound after his initial shot was blocked and drilled a fine shot past Bogdan.
Petrov tested John Ruddy with a fierce half-volley 11 minutes from time as Bolton launched a desperate bid for an equaliser.
Holt missed from close-range moments later, while striker Marvin Sordell, signed from Watford on deadline day, came on for his Bolton debut in place of David Ngog.
Norwich put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute when Russell Martin's shot rebounded into the path of Pilkington and he fired home from close-range.
Source: AFP
Source: AFP