The Big Mac was introduced in 1968 and became one of McDonald’s most recognizable brand icons.
Franchised operator Jim Delligatti created the sandwich in the late 1960s. It used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce later strongly associated with the product.
The sandwich first appeared in select locations before expanding across the United States. Its distinctive three-part bun and layered construction gave McDonald’s a flagship product that could be marketed separately from the basic hamburger.
The Big Mac should not be confused with the Quarter Pounder, another major McDonald’s sandwich introduced earlier. The Quarter Pounder debuted in 1971, while the Big Mac dates to 1968.