McDonald’s signature hamburger introduced in 1967 was the Big Mac.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the restaurant’s special sauce. Its unusual three-part bun helped distinguish it from ordinary hamburgers.
The name “Big Mac” emphasized the sandwich’s larger, more substantial image. After regional testing, it became a nationally recognized McDonald’s product and later one of the company’s most famous brand symbols.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder because both are major McDonald’s hamburgers. The Quarter Pounder is named for the weight of its beef patty before cooking, whereas the Big Mac is identified by its distinctive layered construction and branded name.