The Big Mac became McDonald’s signature sandwich after launching in 1967.
Franchisee Jim Delligatti created the sandwich in the Pittsburgh area as a larger alternative to McDonald’s standard hamburgers. It used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and special sauce. The combination gave the product a distinctive identity that could be marketed separately from the core McDonald’s name.
The Big Mac became nationally available in the United States in 1968. Its layered construction and recognizable sauce made it especially useful in advertising and global brand communication. The Big Mac name is sometimes confused with the date of its first test sale, but 1967 refers to its initial introduction, while 1968 marks national U.S. availability.
Today, the sandwich remains one of McDonald’s best-known branded menu items.