The name of McDonald’s large hamburger introduced nationally in 1968 was the Big Mac.
The sandwich was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti, who operated McDonald’s restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle piece of bread, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and special sauce, giving it a distinctive three-part bun structure.
The product had appeared in select markets before its national rollout. McDonald’s introduced it across the United States in 1968, and the Big Mac soon became one of the company’s most recognizable branded menu items.
The Big Mac is often confused with the Quarter Pounder because both are signature McDonald’s hamburgers. The Quarter Pounder is defined by the weight of its beef patty before cooking, while the Big Mac is defined by its layered construction and special sauce. Its name became so familiar that “Big Mac Index” is used in an international economic comparison.