Who created the Big Mac before McDonald's added it to the national menu?

Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac before McDonald's added it to the national menu.

Delligatti was a McDonald's franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. He developed the sandwich in 1967 as a larger alternative to the chain's existing hamburgers. The Big Mac used two beef patties, a sesame-seed bun with an additional middle layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a distinctive sauce.

McDonald's introduced the sandwich across the United States in 1968 after testing it successfully. It became one of the company's most recognizable menu items and an important part of McDonald's product branding. Delligatti's creation shows how franchisees could influence the chain's national menu.

Some sources and trivia questions use Jim Delligatti's full name, Michael James Delligatti. “Jim Delligatti” is the commonly used name associated with the Big Mac's creation. Ray Kroc was McDonald's chief executive and expansion leader, but he did not invent the sandwich.