Leonardo Ulloa scored his third goal of the season to earn Nigel Pearson's Leicester side their first win since they returned to the Premier League.
Ulloa scores his third goal in four Premier League games
The £8m summer signing from Brighton showed fantastic technique to check his run and tuck in Paul Konchesky's cross.
Hosts Stoke bossed the first half but Peter Crouch missed their best chance.
Former Inter Milan player and Argentina international Esteban Cambiasso, 34, impressed after making his Foxes debut as a substitute at half-time.
Stoke will be kicking themselves after controlling the first 45 minutes and missing several good opportunities.
Mark Hughes' side had been aiming to make it back-to-back wins after a famous victory last time out at champions Manchester City.
But Stoke, usually so strong at the Britannia Stadium, lost for the second successive time on home soil after defeat by Aston Villa on the opening day.
It was a hugely satisfying afternoon for Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who got his tactics spot on.
Well-organised and resilient, the Foxes were content to sit back and soak up the pressure in the opening 45 minutes before Pearson introduced Cambiasso at half-time.
The veteran midfielder caught the eye immediately with some neat touches and always wanted the ball.
He provided the impetus for Leicester to show more ambition and they were rewarded when Ulloa struck on 64 minutes.
It was a classic counter-attack move, Danny Drinkwater feeding Konchesky on the left and Ulloa making a difficult finish look easy as he halted mid-run and stretched backwards to meet the ball with his left foot.
Referee Michael Oliver had played advantage when Drinkwater was scythed down after releasing the ball.
Ulloa, 28, has already scored against Arsenal and Everton this season and looks an early contender for bargain buy of the summer.
Stoke had their best moment in the first half when Crouch connected with a Victor Moses corner but missed the target with the goal gaping.
The 33-year-old was Stoke's top scorer last season but has not netted in the league since March, although he also came close with a spectacular volley which flashed over the bar.
Stoke were a little lacklustre after the break but showed more urgency towards the end and piled on the pressure in the closing minutes.
Victor Moses had two good chances but was denied by Ben Hamer as the 26-year-old former Charlton keeper, playing because of a knee injury to Kasper Schmeichel, marked his Premier League debut with a clean sheet.
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson said: "To do well in any division you have to score goals and for Ulloa to get three already is great for him.
"He is very popular among the players and he has settled in very well and is delivering at the moment.
"The more experience the players get in this division the better, and the better I can see us performing, but there is a long way to go."
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: "It was frustrating. On the balance of play we certainly deserved something but Leicester, to their credit, got loads of people behind the ball and cleared their lines well.
"We understood what their game-plan was going to be and we need to find a way to break down teams that are resolute.
"But we can't have any complaints about their game-plan because we did the same at Manchester City a couple of weeks ago."
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson says matchwinner Ulloa is popular among the players
Paul Konchesky set up Leicester's winner
Peter Crouch is without a Premier League goal since March
Stoke have lost both their league matches at home
BBC Sport
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