McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac in 1967, after franchisee Jim Delligatti created the sandwich.
Delligatti operated McDonald’s restaurants in the Pittsburgh area and developed a larger hamburger with two beef patties, a middle bun layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and special sauce. The sandwich was first sold in the Pittsburgh region before becoming a national menu item.
The Big Mac became one of McDonald’s most important branded products. Its name, distinctive three-part bun, and special sauce gave the company a signature item that could be recognized beyond the basic hamburger category. The product’s later advertising also reinforced McDonald’s use of memorable names and concise product descriptions.
Some sources distinguish between the regional introduction in 1967 and the national rollout in 1968. The canonical introduction year is 1967, while 1968 marks its wider national availability. That distinction explains why both dates may appear in accounts of the Big Mac’s branding history.