Inverness created the first opening of the match after nine minutes when a Richie Hart corner was met by the head of player-boss Craig Brewster eight yards from goal, but the ball crashed off the post and away to safety.
The home side took an unlikely lead after 14 minutes when Noel Whelan cushioned the ball into the path of Kevin McNaughton. He drove forward before delivering the ball right on to the head of Darren Mackie, who looped the ball over the advancing Mark Brown and into the net.
After 23 minutes Inverness equalised when Barry Wilson clipped a free-kick into the danger area. The home side allowed the ball to bounce, and it was Craig Brewster who was first to react as he prodded the ball home from eight yards.
Just minutes later it almost got worse for the home side when a Barry Wilson cross-cum-shot cannoned off the bar with Ryan Esson beaten.
The Dons hit back after 31 minutes when Chris Clark picked out Steven Craig at the far post, and he controlled well before firing goalwards, bringing out a great save from Brown.
The Dons regained the lead in the 33rd minute when a thunderous Jamie Winter shot from 22 yards was stopped by Brown, but he could only palm the ball back into the danger area. It was Mackie who was first to react to power the ball home from 10 yards for his second goal of the match.
Aberdeen should have sealed the game after 51 minutes when Clark reached the by-line before cutting the ball back to Whelan six yards from goal. However, the big striker somehow managed to send the ball back to where it came from. It was again crossed by Clark , this time to the far post for Craig who also should have scored, but with the goal at his mercy headed the ball against the bar.
The game then developed into a nervy affair, but after 76 minutes Whelan again should have sealed the game for the Dons after Mackie sent him clear on goal, but he could only drag his shot wide from 10 yards.