The Big Mac gave McDonald’s the “Big Mac” name used in its 1968 national launch.
The sandwich was created in 1967 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 special sauce, making it larger and more elaborate than McDonald’s standard hamburger.
The product first appeared in select markets before being introduced nationally in the United States in 1968. Its name quickly became a major part of McDonald’s product branding and later supported one of the company’s most famous advertising campaigns.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder because both became signature McDonald’s sandwiches. The key distinction is that the Big Mac is identified by its three-part bun and two-patty construction, while the Quarter Pounder is named for the pre-cooking weight of its beef patty.