Big Mac became McDonald’s signature hamburger brand in 1968.
The Big Mac was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee, and was first introduced in the United States in 1967. After testing in selected markets, it was added to the national menu in 1968. Its distinctive structure used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and sauce.
The product’s name became an important part of McDonald’s branding because it was short, memorable, and readily recognizable in international advertising. The Big Mac later became a widely used reference point for comparing prices between countries through the informal Big Mac Index.
The Quarter Pounder is another major McDonald’s hamburger, but it is a separate product and was introduced earlier, in 1971. The Big Mac’s two-patty construction and middle bun are the features that most clearly distinguish it.