In one aspect, a calcium-magnesium alumino-silicate (CMAS)-resistant coating includes an outer coating having a plurality of columnar structures formed during material deposition due to preferential material accumulation and a plurality of generally vertically-oriented gaps separating adjacent columnar structures. The columnar structures include a plurality of randomly-oriented particle splats and a CMAS-reactive material and have a total porosity of less than five percent. The plurality of generally vertically-oriented gaps extend from an outermost surface of the outer coating to a first depth of the outer coating equal to or less than a total thickness of the outer coating. The vertically-oriented gaps have a median gap width of less than five micrometers.