Who created the Big Mac, McDonald’s signature sandwich brand?

Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac, McDonald’s signature sandwich brand.

Delligatti was a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area who developed the sandwich in the 1960s. He used two beef patties, a middle bun, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the sauce that became closely associated with the product.

The sandwich was introduced in the Pittsburgh area in 1967 and became available throughout the United States in 1968. Its name and distinctive construction gave McDonald’s a flagship product that could be recognized independently from the broader menu.

A common mix-up is crediting Ray Kroc with inventing the Big Mac. Kroc led McDonald’s corporate expansion, but Delligatti was the franchisee who created the sandwich. The product’s branding later became an important part of McDonald’s identity and advertising.