Wash and dry the romaine and spinach thoroughly. Roughly chop the romaine into bite-sized pieces and coarsely chop the spinach. Place both into a large mixing bowl.

Halve the cherry tomatoes. Add them to the bowl.

Drain the marinated artichoke hearts well and rough-chop them into 1/2–3/4-inch pieces. Add to the bowl.

Halve the avocado, remove the pit, peel, and dice into 3/4-inch pieces. Immediately toss the avocado pieces into the bowl with a squeeze of half the lemon juice to slow browning.

Cook Protein & Bacon

If your chicken is not yet cooked: season 2 chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper and sear in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat 5–7 minutes per side (internal temp 165°F/74°C). Let rest 5 minutes, then dice or shred into 1/2–1 inch pieces.

Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, 6–8 minutes, turning as needed. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate to drain and cool, then chop into 1/2-inch pieces.

Add the warm (or cooled) chicken and chopped bacon to the large mixing bowl with the greens and vegetables.

Assemble Cheese & Dressing

Add 3/4 cup crumbled Maytag blue cheese to the bowl (reserve the optional extra 2 tbsp for garnish if desired). Gently toss to distribute.

Make the dressing

In a small bowl or measuring cup combine 1/2 cup buttermilk ranch dressing, the remaining 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Whisk until smooth and taste; adjust salt or lemon to preference.

Pour about three-quarters of the dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly, ensuring the avocado, chicken, tomatoes and artichokes are coated. Add more dressing as needed to reach desired coating (reserve some for individual servings if you like).

Finish & Serve

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Transfer the chopped salad to a serving platter or divide into 4 bowls (see servings). Sprinkle the reserved blue cheese crumbles and sliced chives over the top.

Serve immediately so the greens stay crisp and the avocado remains fresh. Pass extra dressing on the side.