McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac in 1967, making that year a major milestone in the brand’s product history.
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 the sauce later known popularly as Big Mac sauce. The product was designed to give customers a larger, more distinctive hamburger.
The Big Mac first appeared in the Pittsburgh area before being introduced nationally in 1968. That regional-to-national rollout is why some accounts cite both 1967 and 1968. The earlier year refers to its initial introduction, while 1968 marks its broader national availability.
The Big Mac name became one of McDonald’s strongest product brands. Its advertising, packaging, and later index-based comparisons helped make it recognizable beyond the restaurant menu itself.