Ian Moore and David Healy headed a 4-4-2 formation, and the game was just three minutes old when the Whites produced the opening goal.
Moore's pass found Forest old boy Steve Stone out wide, and he reached the byline before hitting a low cross which Healy side-footed past Paul Smith.
Healy nearly doubled the lead when another fine pass from Moore allowed him to angle the ball across the face of goal.
Leeds were fortunate to see a Sammy Clingan shot slip beyond Neil Sullivan's post but Forest did equalise four minutes before the break.
Nathan Tyson, who had earlier been involved in a heated exchange of words with Sullivan, reacted quickly to beat the former Scotland international to a header from Grant Holt and ease the ball into an empty goal.
Leeds then replaced centre-back Matthew Kilgallon with Sean Gregan at the interval, but they had barely time to organise when Grant Holt gave Forest the lead two minutes into the half.
Julian Bennett's cross from the left escaped United's static defence, and Holt timed his run perfectly with a powerful header beyond Sullivan.
The Whites pulled themselves level on the hour mark after a piece of opportunism from Eirik Bakke.
The Norwegian international claimed the ball quickly after United were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and as Smith prepared to line up a wall, Bakke stroked an effort into the Forest keeper's unguarded net.
Then substitute Jack Lester wasted a good opportunity when he drove the ball wide from a great position inside the box.
Neil Harris also had a chance to score for the hosts after coming off the bench late on, but he shot straight at Sullivan, but Forest's failure to take their chances allowed Leeds to settle the match eight minutes from time.
Bakke attempted to test Smith with another long-range effort, but the ball deflected off Wes Morgan and went high over the keeper before nestling in the back of the net.
Forest: Smith, Cullip (Lester h/t), Bennett, Gary Holt, Morgan, Breckin (Thompson h/t), Southall, Perch, Tyson, Grant Holt (Harris 73), Clingan (Eaden 63).
Subs Unused: Pedersen, Padula.
Whites: Sullivan (Ward 87), Kelly, Butler, Lewis (Morris h/t), Harding, Kilgallon (Gregan h/t), Stone (Bailey 73), Carole, Bakke (Howson 89), Moore (Beckford 56), Healy (Blake 60).