McDonald’s first introduced the Big Mac hamburger in 1967.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee who operated restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a distinctive sauce. The unusual three-part bun helped separate it from standard hamburgers.
The Big Mac began as a regional product before becoming part of the wider McDonald’s menu. Its name became a major piece of McDonald’s product branding, and the sandwich eventually became one of the chain’s best-known menu items worldwide.
A common mix-up is the difference between the Big Mac’s introduction and its national promotion. The sandwich originated in 1967, while its later advertising and international expansion made it much more widely recognizable.