Which Pennsylvania franchisee created the Big Mac for McDonald’s?

Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac for McDonald’s.

Delligatti was a McDonald’s franchisee who operated restaurants in western Pennsylvania. He developed a larger sandwich with two beef patties and a middle slice of bun because he believed some customers wanted a more substantial hamburger.

The sandwich was first tested in the Pittsburgh area and became known as the Big Mac. Its combination of a three-part bun, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions gave it a distinctive appearance and flavor that separated it from McDonald’s regular hamburgers.

Ray Kroc is sometimes incorrectly credited as the inventor because he led McDonald’s national expansion. Kroc helped approve and promote the product, but Delligatti is the franchisee associated with creating the sandwich itself.