The Big Mac was McDonald’s major hamburger created by franchisee Jim Delligatti.
Delligatti, who operated McDonald’s restaurants in the Pittsburgh area, introduced the sandwich in 1967. It used two beef patties, a middle bun, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce later strongly associated with the product. The sandwich addressed customers who wanted a larger, more substantial hamburger.
McDonald’s initially tested the product in the Pittsburgh region before expanding it across the United States. Its distinctive three-part bun and stacked construction gave it a visual identity different from the company’s simpler hamburgers.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder, which is defined primarily by the weight of its beef patty. The Big Mac’s branding depends instead on its layered format, special sauce, and famous name.