The Big Mac became a major part of the McDonald's brand in 1968.
McDonald's introduced the Big Mac nationally in the United States in 1968 after it had been developed and tested in the Pittsburgh area. The sandwich used two beef patties, a middle bun layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and Big Mac sauce.
Its distinctive name and layered construction made it easy to promote as a signature product rather than simply another hamburger. The Big Mac later became one of McDonald's most recognizable menu items and an international symbol of the chain.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder, which is a different sandwich introduced in 1971. The Happy Meal is a packaged children's meal, while the McFlurry is a dessert product introduced decades later. The Big Mac's 1968 launch places it among McDonald's earliest globally famous branded products.