The Big Mac gave McDonald’s the branding phrase “Big Mac” when it was introduced nationally in 1968.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee who operated restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle bun layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce, making it visually and commercially distinctive.
McDonald’s first tested the sandwich in selected markets before expanding it nationwide. Its name was deliberately memorable and became one of the company’s most internationally recognizable product brands.
The Big Mac is often confused with the Quarter Pounder because both are flagship McDonald’s hamburgers. The Quarter Pounder is named for the approximate pre-cooking weight of its beef patty, while the Big Mac is defined by its three-part bun and layered construction.