The Big Mac is the McDonald’s sandwich introduced in 1967 that became one of the company’s signature branded products.
Franchisee Jim Delligatti developed the sandwich for McDonald’s restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle slice of bread, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce. The unusual three-part bun helped distinguish it from the company’s simpler hamburgers.
The sandwich first appeared in selected Pennsylvania restaurants before receiving a wider United States launch. Its name became a major part of McDonald’s international identity, and the Big Mac Index later used its price as a lighthearted comparison of purchasing power between currencies.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder because both are flagship McDonald’s sandwiches. They differ in construction: the Big Mac is defined by two patties and a center bun, while the Quarter Pounder is associated with its quarter-pound beef patty before cooking.