Wendy's introduced the Baconator hamburger in 2007.
The Baconator is a Wendy's hamburger built around beef patties, bacon, cheese, and condiments. Wendy's added it to its menu in 2007 as a substantial bacon-focused sandwich, and the product became one of the chain's best-known signature burgers.
The sandwich's name follows Wendy's practice of using distinctive menu branding rather than a generic description. Variations have appeared over time, including versions with different sizes or ingredients, but the original concept centered on beef, bacon, and cheese.
It is easy to confuse the Baconator with other bacon-heavy fast-food burgers because many chains offer similar products. The Baconator name, however, belongs specifically to Wendy's and is protected as part of the chain's branded menu identity.