United have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Championship opposition this season, but there was never any real danger of Derby repeating what Bristol City achieved last month.
The hosts could have gone in at half-time 4-0 up; Lingard and Marcus Rashford both had clear sights of goal and Derby goalkeeper Scott Carson made good saves from Juan Mata and Paul Pogba free kicks.
Rashford's was the best chance of the half but he headed against the post from three yards after Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who struggled to find any kind of rhythm in the first 45 minutes, had crossed from the left with his best contribution of the game.
During a run of three straight Premier League draws over the Christmas period, Mourinho told his forwards they had to take more chances, so this was not a half to calm his frustration.
Derby's best offering was a Marcus Olsson header that Sergio Romero tipped over the bar. Manager Gary Rowett has more important things to worry about, with an unbeaten run that stretches back to November having seen his side rise to second in the Championship. The fact he made six changes suggested the FA Cup is not a priority.
But they hung in until the 83rd minute when Lingard, who once spent time at Pride Park on loan, beat Carson from 20 yards with a dipping shot. It was his eighth goal in 10 games and he is clearly United's most in-form player.
Romelu Lukaku, on as a half-time substitute for Mkhitaryan, wrapped it up in stoppage time after a counter-attack. He even celebrated, much to his manager's amusement on the touchline.
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