The Big Mac gave McDonald’s one of its first nationally advertised adult burger brands. Jim Delligatti created the sandwich in 1967 at a McDonald’s franchise in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
The Big Mac used two beef patties, a middle slice of bread, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce. Its distinctive three-part bun and layered construction made it easy to recognize in advertising and packaging.
The sandwich was introduced nationally in the United States in 1968. It is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder, which was introduced later, in 1971. The Big Mac became especially important to McDonald’s branding because it was both a menu item and a major character in the company’s product identity.