The Big Mac, introduced nationally by McDonald's in 1968, became a core part of the brand's identity.
The sandwich was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti and featured two beef patties, a special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a three-part sesame-seed bun. Its unusual name and distinctive construction gave McDonald's a highly recognizable signature product.
Delligatti tested the sandwich in the Pittsburgh area before it was added to the national menu. The product's advertising, packaging, and later museum-style memorabilia helped turn its name into a lasting piece of McDonald's branding.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder, another famous McDonald's product. The Quarter Pounder was introduced in 1971, three years after the Big Mac's national debut.