Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 4 minutes.

Rinse the asparagus spears under lukewarm water then pat them dry with a paper towel.

Trim the woody ends off of the raw asparagus (roughly 1.5 to 2 inches off the bottom) using a sharp knife on a cutting board. Discard the barky ends of the asparagus.

Transfer the trimmed asparagus spears to a large plate, large bowl, or sheet pan and drizzle with avocado oil. Sprinkle it with sea salt and garlic powder. Use your hands to toss everything together such that the asparagus stalks are coated in oil and seasonings.

Transfer the asparagus to the basket of the air fryer and arrange the spears in a single layer.

Air fry at 400 degrees F for 6-8 minutes, shaking halfway through, or until the asparagus is golden brown. For very thin asparagus spears, air fry for 4 to 6 minutes. Thicker spears may take more time (8-10 minutes) depending on your desired level of doneness.

Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve with fresh lemon zest and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes (of desired). You can also grate fresh parmesan cheese over the asparagus for a delicious side dish. You can whip up hollandaise sauce or melted butter for an easy dipping sauce if you'd like.