Which McDonald’s sandwich was named after the company’s quarter-pound beef patty?

The Quarter Pounder was named after McDonald’s quarter-pound beef patty.

The sandwich was created by franchisee Al Bernardin and introduced in 1971. Its name made the patty’s size the central selling point, giving customers a simple numerical description of what distinguished it from smaller hamburgers.

The Quarter Pounder became an important part of McDonald’s menu branding because it emphasized a larger beef portion rather than a character, slogan, or promotional toy. It also helped establish a recognizable product name that could be adapted for different markets.

The name refers to the patty’s pre-cooked weight, not the finished sandwich. Cooking reduces weight through moisture and fat loss, so the cooked patty does not weigh a quarter pound.