McDonald's gave its 1968 hamburger the name Big Mac.
The Big Mac was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald's franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle layer of bread, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and sauce. The sandwich's distinctive three-part bun and layered construction made it visually different from a standard hamburger.
McDonald's introduced the Big Mac nationally in 1968 after regional testing. The product quickly became more than a menu item: its name, packaging, advertising, and distinctive appearance gave McDonald's another highly recognizable brand within the larger brand.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with later oversized or premium burgers from other chains. Its defining historical facts are its McDonald's origin, its 1968 national introduction, and its two-patty, three-bun structure. The sandwich remains one of the company's most internationally recognized products.