Which McDonald’s burger was introduced nationally in 1973 as a quarter-pound beef patty?

The Quarter Pounder was introduced nationally by McDonald’s in 1973 as a burger built around a quarter-pound beef patty before cooking.

Al Bernardin developed the sandwich while working for McDonald’s, and the product had been tested before its national rollout. Its name communicated the patty’s approximate pre-cooking weight, giving customers a simple numerical way to distinguish it from the standard hamburger.

The Quarter Pounder strengthened McDonald’s branding around customization and recognizable menu names. It became one of the chain’s signature burgers and was adapted in different markets, including versions with cheese and local naming conventions.

The burger is sometimes confused with the Big Mac, which launched earlier and uses two smaller patties plus a middle bun. The Quarter Pounder’s defining feature is the single larger patty, not its number of toppings or its advertising campaign.