The Bulgarian put the Cottagers ahead from the spot and then doubled the home side's lead after a Chris Samba blunder.
Loic Remy made up for a missed penalty to blast the Hoops' second and even though Steve Sidwell saw red, Martin Jol's side just about held on.
It leaves Harry Redknapp's strugglers still seven points adrift of the drop zone while Fulham move into the top half.
QPR visited Craven Cottage still dreaming of the Great Escape and fancied their chances against the side they notched their first Premier League win of the season against in December.
But their night got off to a disastrous start when mega-bucks January signing Samba brought down Ashkan Dejagah and Berbatov coolly tucked his penalty past Julio Cesar after just eight minutes.
The Congolese defender was also at fault for Fulham's second 14 minutes later as he dwelled on the ball and lost possession, leaving Berbatov clean through on goal to fire home with the outside of his boot.
But Fulham went three ahead when John Arne Risse's cross hit the shoulder of defender Hill and wrong-footed Cesar four minutes before the break.
But Taarabt — who caught the bus home that day while the match was still going — brilliantly pulled one back for the visitors with a fine swerving shot past Mark Schwarzer on the stroke of half-time.
QPR had a golden opportunity to get right back in the game when Taarabt was fouled inside the box by Giorgos Karagounis but Schwarzer brilliantly kept out Remy's spot-kick.
The French hitman soon made amends however, smashing a drive past Fulham's stopper after being played through by Stephane Mbia on 52 minuutes.
Fulham were forced to play the final 11 minutes with 10 men when Sidwell was sent off for a rash challenge of Armand Traore.
FULHAM: Schwarzer 8, Riether 6, Senderos 6, Hangeland 7, Riise 6, Duff 7, Karagounis 5, Sidwell 6, Dejagah 6, Ruiz 7, Berbatov 8. Subs: Emanuelson (Dejagah 38) 6, Frimpong (Emanuelson 80) 6. Not used: Etheridge, Richardson, Hughes, Rodallega, Frei. Sent off: Sidwell. Booked: Riether, Senderos.
QPR: Julio Cesar 6, Bosingwa 5, Samba 4, Hill 5, Traore 5, Townsend 5, Mbia 6, Jenas 6, Taarabt 6, Zamora 5, Remy 7. Subs: Onuoha (Hill 46) 6, Hoilett (Taarabt 74) 6, Mackie (Traore 83) 6. Not used: Green, Park, Granero, Ben Haim. Booked: Hill.
More Info: [Soccer Live] Granada CF - Real Betis
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