Kris Boyd opened the scoring in the 34th minute and Rangers' second came shortly after the break from Charlie Adam's well-taken free-kick.
Play was frantic in the opening minutes and Artur Boruc dealt easily with Nacho Novo's shot.
Gary Caldwell did well to block Kevin Thomson's shot from the edge of the box before Adam failed to get enough power on his strike from Novo's pass.
Rangers' pressure paid off when Boyd skillfully speared his shot under Boruc from Novo's clever pass.
Novo then flashed a shot inches over as Celtic ended the half without even having an effort at goal.
The visitors looked more interested after the break with Kenny Miller on for the ineffectual Thomas Gravesen.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's lay-off reached Shunsuke Nakamura whose effort was bravely padded away by Allan McGregor before David Weir completed the clearance.
Rangers went further ahead after Paul Hartley carelessly conceded a free-kick 30 yards out. Adam struck his shot low under the wall to leave Boruc standing.
Filip Sebo came on for the tiring Boyd but Boruc blocked the substitute's shot after his strong run.
Alan Hutton then met Adam's corner with a powerful volley which again Boruc managed to turn behind for a corner.
Sebo's run saw him drift past both Stephen McManus and Steven Pressley before curling a shot just over as Rangers controlled proceedings.
There a flare-up near the end of the game which saw Hutton and Lee Naylor booked as well as Neil Lennon for his involvement afterwards.
However the incident could take nothing away from Rangers' comfortable victory.