The Big Mac was McDonald’s flagship burger introduced nationally in 1968. It used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and Big Mac sauce.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee who operated restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It had been tested regionally before becoming part of the national menu.
Its name became an important part of McDonald’s product branding. The Big Mac’s distinctive three-part bun and layered construction made it visually different from simpler hamburgers and cheeseburgers.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder because both became major McDonald’s menu brands. The Quarter Pounder is defined by the stated weight of its beef patty, while the Big Mac is defined by its special layered design and sauce.