The Big Mac was introduced by McDonald’s in 1967 and became one of the company’s most recognizable branded menu items. Its name refers to the sandwich’s larger size and substantial construction.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle slice of bread, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce later widely associated with the product.
The Big Mac began as a regional offering before being introduced nationally in the United States in 1968. Its distinctive name and three-part bun made it especially useful as a recognizable product brand within McDonald’s broader identity.
The Big Mac is sometimes confused with the Quarter Pounder, which was introduced later and is named for the approximate pre-cooking weight of its beef patty. The Filet-O-Fish is also an older branded sandwich, but it is a fish product rather than the large double-patty item.