In one example, a method for forming an environmental barrier coating (EBC) and/or abradable coating on a substrate. The method may include depositing a coating on a ceramic or ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate to form an as-deposited coating, wherein the coating includes at least one of an environmental barrier coating (EBC) and an abradable coating. The method further comprises heat treating the as-deposited coating at or above a first temperature for a first period of time following the deposition of the as-deposited coating on the substrate, wherein heat treating the as-deposited coating includes heating the as-deposited coating to or above the first temperature at a controlled rate. The heat treatment may be configured to at least one of decrease the open pores and/or microcracks of the heat-treated coating compared to the as-deposited coating or control a grain size of the heat-treated coating.