The Big Mac, created by McDonald's franchisee Jim Delligatti, became a national McDonald's menu item in 1968. Its two beef patties, special sauce, middle bun, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions gave the sandwich a distinctive identity.
Delligatti had tested the sandwich in the Pittsburgh area before McDonald's adopted it nationally. The product's name and layered construction helped turn it into more than a menu choice: it became one of the most recognizable symbols of McDonald's branding.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder because both are signature McDonald's sandwiches. The Quarter Pounder is defined by its beef-patty weight before cooking, while the Big Mac is identified by its two-patty, three-bun design.