Warm the olive oil in a 10-inch frying pan over medium-high heat.
Add the garlic, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, for a minute or so, until very fragrant.
Add the sausage. Cook, breaking up with a spatula into small bite-sized pieces and moving around the pan from time to time, until opaque throughout and lightly browned.
Drain well on multiple layers of paper towels.
